l...l
Chapter Nineteen
July 23rd, 2077
Night City, Northern California
Aldecaldo Territory, Badlands
Lukewarm water slowly cascaded down Panam's filthy yet still ravishing features. The Aldecaldos had recently acquired four dozen Hex habitation pods for their clan, and already, a large number of families were able to enjoy the comforts of civilization in a studio-sized pod.
Habitation pods contained a small recreational room, and a shower fueled by solar energy.
There were no kitchen application, but Panam was willing to let that feature go. She was content with the fresh shower alone; anything else was a bonus.
Panam and Mitch were heading up the Aldecaldo retaliation strikes against the Wraiths, and hunting raffen was a bloody affair.
In the beginning the Aldecaldos executed well-coordinated raids on every Wraith encampment they could find with clinical precision. The raffen So far, their attacks had born fruit terrific outcomes in the beginning. The Wraiths had lost control of all their territories north of interstate nine in the opening stages, but they were still heavily dug in around the concrete factory.
The flawless raid Panam and her chooms executed, forced the raffen to beef up security around their primary operations' base.
This had the unintended effect of loosening their available manpower for other installations. Chop shops, outposts, and raiding stations were left lightly guarded in the North, which eventually led to their takeover by the Aldecaldos.
Nevertheless, the Raffen had taken their pound of flesh from the Nomads as well. Ten of their number were killed in a surprise attack on Dakota's garage along Interstate Nine. Saul had promptly ordered the Aldecaldo fixer to relocate to Rocky Ridge, an order that soured any chance of a swift victory.
The retreat left her garage open to new management, and the raffen were eager to expand their hold on I-95. Castle was having a helluva time coordinating the Aldecaldo security teams, and the constant dust storms served as a natural cover for raiding parties on both sides.
These events left the war to grind into a bloody retreat ensured that the Wraiths maintained access to Interstate Nine and forcing the Aldecados to re-evaluate their strategy.
It didn't take long for the war to grind into a bloody stalemate; raiding parties constantly forged into hostile territories looking for a weakness to exploit.
Exploits were becoming harder to find, and now Panam was forced to look for other opportunities while Mitch and Castle coordinated their security teams. Their fearless leader led these endeavors in the past, but he had been preoccupied as of late.
Saul had been acting off character recently, and even Castle, someone who was blinded continuously to his leader's faults, was taking notice.
Panam was half-convinced that he was still stringing up some convoluted plan to protect the clan via a Biotechnica sellout, and that was going to end with her losing her mind again.
So far, the two had managed to avoid another blowup while she was in camp, and that was thanks to Mitch and Castle's admirable efforts as mediators.
Panam loved Saul like a father, but she had concluded that he was not reliable when it came to protecting the clan's future.
Only a handful of people in the world earned Panam's absolute trust, and two of them weren't even Aldecaldos.
Speaking of…..
"So, let me get this straight. You want to acquire a Militech Panzer to use against the Wraiths?" The always helpful and somewhat smoky voice of her favorite Merc was a welcome sound to Panam's ears.
"Basically." The Aldecaldos nonchalant response left V baffled.
"I gotta tell ya, Panam, between you and Cyrus. I don't know who's crazier." She couldn't help the small smile that crossed her face; V always knew how to make a girl feel competent about her mental faculties.
"Look," Panam began gently. "I'm just spitballing here, V; I'm not going to pick a fight with Militech without calling you…. and Cyrus. Now a different subject please, how's the clouds job going. I'm still in on it, right?"
"Of course, you are girl, not even a question. Judy likes you a lot, actually, but don't tell her I said that." Panam chuckled heartily, the girl had taken to her faster than Cyrus, but that wasn't surprising.
"As for the planning, well, it's going about as well as it can be. Judy's been losing her sanity dealing with her ex, so I don't envy her at all. The TC have gone meek since Cyrus butchered his way through half of their men. Judy's scared shitless of him, but she won't admit it."
"He'll grow on her," V barked in amusement. "What, I'm serious. The whole walking death machine stick, once you get past that, he is a walking paragon of innocence."
"Innocence is not something I would say in a sentence with him; socially inept is what you're looking for, Panam."
"Whatever," The Aldecaldo rubbed traces of shampoo out of her left eye. "You know what I mean, just tell your choom to be patient with him, and they'll both come around. That or point him in the direction of Tyger Claws, I'm sure the two can bond over their love of killing those gangoons."
"That would get them past the awkward phase." Of course, it would, especially since he'd just come off blowing a Black Element base off the face of the Earth. Panam didn't even need to think about who the actual perpetrator was; she knew who was responsible on one simple glance. "God knows it's hard for him to make friends as it is."
After a moment of comfortable silence, a question crossed V's lips. "Is there anyone in this city he doesn't hate or dislike with a burning passion?"
"You've been thinking about that for a while, haven't you?" Panam stopped washing her luscious locks and glanced at her phone with a knowing look. "It's Us, V. So, we should consider ourselves lucky; a guy like that in our corner isn't something most people have the luxury of."
"Good point," V replied pleasingly. "Speaking of, heard anything from our boy lately?"
A whimsical look crossed Panam's face as she applied soap to her hands. V had an unending amount of concern regarding Cyrus's well-being, an unease that she was quite frankly just as guilty.
"You know how he is, girl," Panam said. "He enjoys his solitude as much as he enjoys killing raffen. There is no reason why you can't check on him with a simple phone call. Has he ever not picked up the phone when either one of us is calling?"
"Not yet, at least." The exasperation in V's voice wasn't lost on the Aldecaldo. Panam had only known these two gonks for little more than two weeks, give or take, but now she couldn't think of a life without either of them.
"Look, V," Panam turned off the faucet and retrieved a fresh bath towel. "He's a seven-foot-tall super-soldier, who walks like a ghost, talks like a robot, and quite frankly is the scariest bastard I have had the pleasure of laying my eyes on-."
"Uh, about that." The Aldecaldo was drying out her hair even as V tried to get her attention.
"-Despite that, even he needs a breath of fresh air like the rest of us-."
"Uh, Panam."
-"You want my opinion? He's' probably sleeping on a flat stone-cold surface and dreaming about blowing up another Black Element base or something."
"PANAM!" The Mercs voice appealing voice finally broke through her unending spiel.
"W-what," Panam nearly lost her footing. "Jesus Christ, what is it, V? Is there a fire, a fucking explosion?"
"Turn on a tv."
Panam wrapped her towel around her head and stepped out of her bathroom straight into her recreation room. If any nomad walked into her pod right then, they would have gotten an eye full of her unspoiled body.
"This better be good, V." The Aldecaldo grasped the bottom of her pod's television and switched it to a local news channel.
She was not prepared for the N54 news headline that screamed out to her more than any annoying anchor ever could.
ll BREAKING NEWS ll MAXTAC DEPLOYED ll CITY CENTER POLICE CHASE IN PROGRESS ll
There was no sound emitting from the television, but Panam didn't need sound to figure out precisely what was happening. An N54 news aerodyne was currently tailing dozens of NCPD squad cars and MAXTAC AVs who, in turn, were following a very familiar figure.
The easily recognizable armor of her favorite psycho was traversing the crowded streets of Night City with damn near the entire police force on his tail. Panam searched for the tv's volume as the onsite news anchor read off the teleprompter with more emotion than she was used to seeing.
"Welcome to N54 nightly news. I'm Gillian Jordan; we have a developing story coming out of downtown Night City. NCPD and MAXTAC units are in a massive pursuit for who has now been identified as the Northside Headhunter."
Son of a bitch.
Night City, Northern California
Downtown District, City Center
Lieutenant Melissa Rory craved the hunt like any other MAXTAC officer, herself more so than others.
Cyberpsychos and gangers were frequently helpless prey who put up an admirable effort, but they were not enough to satisfy her cravings.
Rory's favored targets were those who regarded themselves as hunters, and she was ever so willing to put those titles to the test.
For years she wandered Night City alongside her officers, murdering and maiming any who believed themselves capable of matching the NCPD's best killers.
So, when a predator like the Northside Headhunter butchered his way into their world, he drew her attention.
Rory praised his first raids on the Maelstrom for their meticulous ferocity; no one was spared, and the culprits of such savagery were dust in the wind.
While stalking his victims, the Headhunter was a ghost in every sense of the word, and when the situation called for it, he transformed into a demon that rained devastation on those he thought deserved.
Rory admired him greatly after the destruction of the Maelstrom Processing Center and the subsequent campaign of escalating violence that resulted in the booster gang being wiped off the face of the Earth.
It was damn near love at first sight when Rory came upon the remains of Royce and his personal guard. They were savaged so viciously it was similar to walking in on a supped-up Cyberpsycho attack. The only exception was that this assault was not made by a mindless savage driven solely by madness.
It was perpetrated by an individual that possessed a sound and unspoiled psyche, and such a creature mystified Rory.
Only a few of her officers were as interested in him as she was, and tonight she would finally have her chance to understand him in the best way possible.
They spoke the same language, after all.
"He's faster than I'd imagined." The static voice drew Rory's attention away from her prey to her second in command, Master Sergeant Kieran Sharpe.
"Damn straight," Her technical specialist, Sergeant Theo Reynolds, was the heart and soul of her squad. His wisecracks and carefree attitude was a welcome addition, even if she hated his guts more often than not. "He's making the whole department look like fucking amateurs."
"Takes one to know one." The patter of chuckles rang out amongst the MAXTAC operatives promptly answered by a middle finger and a contemptuous reply from Reynolds.
"Man fuck you guys." Usually, these interactions were ruthlessly stamped out by their commander before an operation began, but her focus was on a much more enticing subject.
Their quarry was rabbiting through Night City's streets; the Mayor's office had already instituted martial law in the downtown district. Every civilian and non-essential personnel were directed to shelter in place until the situation was resolved.
A few moronic civilians were still traversing the streets, but they were little more than cannon fodder in her eyes. The commissioner wanted this man in chains or a box; if Rory had it her way, he would join their ranks. They could always use more seasoned killers, and Commander Enyala would come around to the idea; Rory would just have to work her magic.
The MAXTAC officer watched as the Headhunter leaped seamlessly over an NCPD squad car, attempting a makeshift pit maneuver. The mere sight of a seven-foot-tall creature traveling at speeds of over seventy kilometers and still have the necessary agility to dodge a screaming vehicle should not have been possible.
"You don't see it do you." Sharpe tilted his head in confusion. "He's playing with his food, Sergeant. You should know that better than anyone."
"Are you sure there's a human in that thing, Ma'am?" One of her specialists, Corporal Amanda Siegfried, inquired softly to her right. Siegfried was one of two subordinates under Rory's command that used Kendachi Monowires; the other specialist was her twin sister Aliya. The only way to distinguish the twins was by the specks of hair that pocked through their helmets. Otherwise, they were completely identical.
"You were at the arms factory, Siegfried," Rory criticized sharply. "Every single one of you in this AV walked into that mausoleum. Now you doubt the authenticity of our prey by accusing it of being a simple mech?"
The MAXTAC officer curled in on herself along with her sibling. Despite their usual gregarious personalities, neither one of them enjoyed being put on the spot by their commanding officer.
Especially when it was a reprimand.
"There is not a mech in the world that can hunt with the emotions unleashed upon those gangers. The fury, the hatred, it seeped into the very structure of that factory. Every action he took, every corpse he dropped, it wasn't because they were in his way."
The rest of Rory's subordinates, lingering alongside her in the AV passenger hold, could only listen in bated anticipation. She had a way with words when describing a kill, and it was a rarity that she became lost in the thrill of a memory. This caused a jolt of adrenaline and a spike of fear to course through their veins; if their prey enamored Rory, then so were they.
"He did it because he wanted to. So, you will respect his skill and motivations because tonight, we test his mettle."
There were no words left to satisfy the void of silence that bled into the cargo hold. Instead, their atmosphere was packed with little more than bated breaths and scattered radio communications. Rory returned her attention away from her officers back towards the barely coordinated circus down below.
The NCPD radio net was a mess, officers were giving out orders, and they were rarely appropriately received. Vulture squad was in pursuit, but NCPD Captain Matthews was unwilling to clear the pursuit for MAXTAC Aerodynes until a proper barricade could be set. His reasoning was of little concern; the only thing he needed to do was set up a blockade and let her squad do the rest.
"All pursuing units, this is Captain Matthews, push the suspect to Coburn and Essex Avenues. We'll corner him there. Vulture Squad, you are green light for engagement. "
"Vulture One copies." Rory keyed off the radio and turned to her AV pilot. "Get us to Coburn and Essex now!"
"Yes, Ma'am." The AV pilot pulled away from the growing convoy of police and news aerodynes towards their designated RV.
"Goddamnit!" A patrol officer's voice came over the net. "Suspect has confiscated a Mustang!"
The MAXTAC officers salivated at the prospect of a once in the lifetime fight that grew more interesting by the second.
They would not be left wanting.
"I think we have their attention now." Chamber's comment grated on her Spartans already annoyed nerves.
"Did we ever lose it?"
Cyrus barely avoided a passing semi-truck in his confiscated armored personnel carrier. It was a Mustang class APC purchased from Militech, one of many various assets Night City purchased from the megacorporation.
Their objective of drawing the NCPD's attention was a resounding success, but in Cyrus' opinion, it was too successful. Like moths to a flame, on duty NCPD officers and even off duty were recalled for this single assignment.
The arrest or death of the Northside Headhunter.
Cyrus wasn't sure if this was a compliment to his skills. Chamber seemed to think so, but he didn't exactly enjoy making a show for a media outlet to eat up.
So far, he'd been able to take them on a wild goose chase that thankfully hadn't gotten anyone killed yet. In a rare moment of competence, the city's leadership chose to institute an immediate martial law and get every non-essential personnel off the streets.
Cyrus would have praised such a maneuver if he wasn't the reason for its initiation.
"They're trying to draw you into a trap." A single NCPD armored personnel carrier pulled up to the Spartan's right.
The top hatch swung open and revealed an NCPD SWAT officer manning a Militech Mk. 31 HMG. The police officer wasted no time turning the HMG towards Cyrus and dumping a barrage of heavy caliber shells directly into the Spartans vehicle. His armor tanked the first four shots admirably, but even that wouldn't last long under this pressure.
Thinking quickly, Cyrus hit the brakes and swerved right, performing a makeshift pit maneuver and spinning out his pursuer. The driver promptly lost control and smashed into a row of parked cars, leaving him and his crew to stew in their failure.
"I can tell; where are they drawing me too."
"They set up a cordon around Coburn and Essex Avenues." Chamber supplied on his mini-map. "Spike strips and a heavy barricade surround the intersection there forcing us too."
Cyrus spotted a thick NCPD barricade two hundred meters ahead of him; ballistic shells kicked up the pavement around his APC. He narrowly avoided a head-on collision from an explosive projectile, but it still landed a solid hit on his vehicle's frame.
The explosion rocked the inner cabin, sending shrapnel and burning fragments bouncing around the Headhunter. Cyrus strafed his head to the left, narrowly avoiding a massive piece of shrapnel embedding into his headrest.
"That was close," Chamber spoke softly. "Cops have blocked off the street and alleyways ahead of us; we're heading straight into their ambush."
"Doesn't matter," Cyrus replied. "Are Cooper and his men out of the hot zone yet?"
"Almost, there dodging in between NCPD patrol vehicles but there minutes away from the nearest safe house." His eyes narrowed as pursuing vehicles began to slow their speed.
"Spike strips ahead." The AI informed quickly. "I recommend bracing; we ain't avoiding this one."
"Understood," The Headhunter activated his armor lock module and braced for the inevitable crash. "Get the AV ready; I want to be out of this situation ASAP."
"Already on it."
Cyrus watched helplessly as his AV ran over row after row of spike strip. The spike strips shredded the tires into pieces, and the vehicle's suspension slammed into the pavement and nearly sixty kilometers an hour.
The world turned upside down as the APCs momentum slingshot the rear of the vehicle forward. Cyrus was at the mercy of gravity and the laws of physics as it finally came to a rest on its right side.
His vision finally settled after a moment or two of relative peace, and he disentangled himself from the front seat. "Well, that wasn't too bad."
Chamber's comment was met with a rough smack from her Spartan directly where her data chip was slotted. "Right, sorry."
"This is the NCPD! Step out of the vehicle and come out with your hands up!"
Cyrus retrieved his scattered weapons inside the APCs cargo hold. His partner had already begun hacking into every piece of technology in a mile radius of their position.
Chamber was moments away from finishing when a familiar contact began signaling their comms device. Their favorite Merc had seen fit to ring up her spartan, and the AI was confident it pertained to their current situation.
Chamber wisely chose to ignore the call and focus on more immediate concerns, an action she knew for a fact Cyrus would pay for.
"How many are there?" He inquired.
"I would say….. about two hundred police officers and twenty MAXTAC soldiers in total. I don't think I need to tell you the amount of guns pointed at us right now."
Chamber produced a local CCTV camera on his HUD and confirmed the precarious situation they were now in. The pair needed to exit this confrontation without killing a single NCPD officer; he'd instead leave them feeling embarrassed rather than outraged.
The Spartans training kicked in, and he vaguely recalled being pitted against a squad of ODSTs during his time at Camp Currahee. Cyrus was outnumbered and outgunned during that training exercise, and they were too experienced to be separated. Instead, he chose to blind them in the dark and confuse the ODSTS.
It worked but only just. Now, Cyrus was going to execute the same maneuver for this uncertain circumstance.
"Chamber," His partner regarded him carefully. "I want you to take control."
"Of what exactly." She questioned carefully.
"Everything."
UNSC AIs were known for being just as expressive as their human counterparts and, at times, were far more than they had any right to be. Chamber was no exception to the rule. Her expression split into a barely concealed smirk; his proposal tickled her funny bone as the human saying went.
"This is going to be fun."
Night City, Northern California
Afterlife, Little China
Night City inhabitants grew accustomed to their city's ridiculous and often violent nature with each passing day. Between the violent riots, political scandals, and gangers preying on the unfortunate souls of Night City, there were only a few instances where citizens were glued to their TV sets in anticipation of a city-defining moment.
The massive police deployment to the downtown region was enough to draw the curiosity of all who resided in its region. Street kids, nomads, mercs, and even corpos were drawn to the rising spectacle eagerly broadcasted by the nightly news for the soaring ratings.
The recognizable armor and insignia of MAXTAC officers advanced on an overturned APC with the faded markings of the NCPD emblazoned on its ravaged frame. That alone was enough to amuse the 'Queen of the Afterlife.'
Rogues Amendiares was just as interested in the drama occurring in the downtown district as anyone else. She'd seen legends come and go like the seasons, basking in the glory of their fame before it came crashing down like a stack of cards.
Mercenaries, street kids, nomads all came to Night City seeking to leave their mark. However, they often became the mark of another thrill-seeker, and they, in turn, suffered the same fate. It was an endless cycle that continued without pause; this city ate up the eager and spit out the condemned straight into a dark abyss.
But this time, the abyss sent something back.
Her curiosity into the latest sack of meat butchering their way through simple gangers barely afforded her attention. Rogue already had to deal with a Merc who bit off more than she could chew, so the Headhunter's sudden rise blindsided Night City's top fixer.
At first, Rogue was pissed that someone of his capabilities had slipped through her net, and she spent days trying to come up with a name. She never came close to that endeavor; for the first time in years, she was left in the dark, and she hated every moment of it.
The fixer almost made a grave miscalculation when she started digging a little deeper. Sending out Afterlife mercs to investigate outcasts camps he frequented daily; it was only through Regina Jones's generosity those mercs survived.
They were getting far too close for their target's liking, and Regina Jones saved their hides and Rogues when she forwarded her data. It wasn't an exceptionally detailed report, but it contained enough of a warning to sate her curiosity.
Inside the data pack was a series of numbers along with a simple message. Those details should not have been available for even the best cyberwarfare programs money could buy.
It was the contact information for her son, and emblazoned in bold was a single sentence.
I am always watching
Rogue was paralyzed with fear as eyes fell upon the security cameras that eerily flashed red. The flashing only stopped when she nodded in affirmation slowly, and the cameras suddenly went offline.
After that encounter, she forbade any Afterlife Merc from taking the contract out on the Northside Headhunter. Her final action was to send a Weyland on a suicide mission to deliver a peace offering of sorts. Whether or not the Headhunter received such a message, she did not know, but Rogue was confident she wasn't on his shit list at the very least.
The Afterlife was packed to the brim in Mercs, but it was as silent as a graveyard. Every pair of eyes was glued to the bar TV's and Rogue could not blame them for looking.
Tonight was the night everyone would lay eyes on Night City's latest legend; this would be unedited footage. Imagery that could not be dismissed by the foolish as fabricated or fake was mere moments away from being corroborated.
"I've never seen this city like this before." Rogue's right-hand man Weyland had seen many things growing up, but this entire night took the cake.
"I have." The fixer rose from her cushioned seat and took a heavy puff from her cigar. The last time the city was in such a frenzy was when Johnny attacked Arasaka Tower. Her former paramour had an enviable way with words and could fire up a crowd to do his dirty work. "But that was under different circumstances in a different time."
"Think the cops can handle him?" Rogues snort of amusement was all the answer he needed.
"I don't think anyone can."
Weyland's response was cut off when the situation downtown escalated suddenly. The overturned APCs rear was launched like a rocket, barely missing an NCPD officer before crashing into an unoccupied squad car.
A single armored foot receded into the APC for a second, and even Rogues' breath ceased in expectation. Weyland was a little better even if he didn't show it like the rest of the pale-faced Mercs.
With almost little fanfare, the Northside Headhunter stepped out of the shadows and into the light of Night City. The N54 news aerodynes were equipped with state-of-the-art cameras, giving the audience at home visuals that made it seemed they were feet away from their object of interest.
The armor he wore was out of this world, and his height alone made him stand out like a man amongst boys. The subtle curve of human muscle was hidden behind hardened titanium armor; firearms and blades of all kinds were neatly adorned across his armor, drawing whistles and shouts of approval from Weyland and the other Afterlife Mercs.
Rogue's attention, like many others, was drawn to the imperviously black visor. A single phrase fell from her lips, a phrase whose propagator was lost to time itself.
He who fights monsters should look to ensure he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.
As the whole of Night City stared in muted disbelief, the impossible occurred.
For the second time in as many weeks, the city of dreams fell into darkness.
Unease.
It's an emotional response a Spartan scarcely experiences anymore. Emotional liabilities were used as motivators during Cyrus's time at Camp Currahee.
Chief Menendez harnessed a cadet's negative emotions; rage was utilized as a primary influence to eliminate their target no matter the consequences.
Fear was used to ensure a cadet's fight or flight instincts always triggered a violent response.
Once these emotional triggers were implanted, they were thoroughly snuffed out by the Chief's brutal tactics.
And yet. Despite all the training, traumatic experiences, and years of physical and mental conditioning. Cyrus is still out of his depth when it came to being exposed to millions of people.
The eyes of an entire city laid upon him was a suffocating prospect, and his fight or flight instincts were violently kicking his composure.
Every fiber of Cyrus's being screamed at him to start cracking heads and disappear into the night, but Chamber wanted to leave a lasting impression, and he was willing to abdicate to her demands for now.
While his AI companion modified every piece of technology in a five-mile radius, he was left to his own devices. Cyrus was content to wait in silence while the two hundred or so patrol and SWAT officers shitting their pants sat behind their ring of steel surrounding the overturned APC.
The Headhunter watched the NCPD officers brace their firearms against their vehicles and barricades. Tactical units occupied adjacent skyscrapers with built-in balconies and amply leveled rooftops. Dozens of red tactical beams hovered around his frame like a swarm of bees, with a vast majority around his torso.
"ETA?" Cyrus's question was answered promptly by his AI.
"Five minutes." The distinct sound of a Jackal Mark 16 Aerodyne echoed off the urban skyscrapers. Cyrus was able to distinguish four dark-blue colored AVs descending towards him at a steady pace.
The cavalry had arrived apparently.
The reds beams lessened as the quartet of NCPD aerodynes descended from the sky and boxed Cyrus in . The emblem of a black vulture was emblazoned on each AV's nose as they landed in a box formation around his position.
Four MAXTAC officers disembarked from each hovercraft, weapons drawn and fingers resting on triggers.
The aptly named 'Psycho squad' was a tongue-in-cheek nickname. Nearly a quarter of their number was made up of former rampaging Cyberpsychos who suffered from Cyberpsychosis. The detachment lived by the 'Hit Hard and Shoot to Kill' motto. In many ways, they are as much a danger to society as those they are deployed to eliminate.
And now, he was surrounded by nearly twenty amply skilled MAXTAC operatives belonging to their most veteran detachment.
"We admire your work."
Oddities were a constant presence in Cyrus's life since his arrival to the god-forsaken city. It shouldn't have surprised him that someone took a liking to the way he operated, but he didn't expect them to wear a police uniform.
On the other hand, if there was one group that would take pleasure in his line of work, it most likely would have been MAXTAC. Their leader was eager to communicate with the Headhunter even as her men were seconds away from sparking a gunfight.
"Do you relish it?" The Spartan couldn't stop the tilt of his head in confusion.
"The hunt." She underlined sharply. "That feeling of ecstasy when you snatch the life out of your prey, like a scavenger plying corpses. Do you relish that split second when the blood is still flowing, but their light has gone out?"
The verbose MAXTAC officer was Lieutenant Melissa Rory; she commanded Vulture Squad and directly reported to Commander Enyala. Her entire history was covered in black ink, but that didn't stop Chamber from prying open that box of crazy and dumping him a detailed dossier.
Cyrus wasn't stunned to find out she was a former Cyberpsycho. The woman certainly gave off that impression if not with her appearance; it was the line of questioning she wished to explore.
"I don't dwell on it." The Spartans reply barely reached Rory's ears, but that didn't disappoint her. On the contrary, she seemed to take pleasure that he was willing to converse with her.
"Not to worry," Mantis blades shot out of her forearm, and she fell into a relaxed stance. "Once we're done. You will be mine, and I will personally educate you in the glory of a hunt, just like I do."
"Not likely." Cyrus gripped his holstered Nue tightly, the powder keg was seconds away from lighting up, and he wasn't sure he'd come out of this engagement unscathed. "Chamber, how much longer?"
His AI partner was executing a daunting task even by her standards; Cyrus wanted her to disable every NCPD Firearm and Vehicle in a five-mile radius. She upped the ante further by introducing a focused blackout to give their AV a cleaner extraction zone.
The Headhunter didn't want to pressure his partner too much, but these MAXTAC goons had itchy trigger fingers from his observations.
"Almost…. Ah ha, finished." The UNSC AI spoke with barely contained glee. "So ready to cause some anarchy?"
"Execute."
The word had barely left his lips before she unleashed chaos on the cities power grid. Street lights and flickered on and off, eerily basking the city center in an uncoordinated festival of illuminations.
Seconds later, a focused electrical pulse consumed everyone around him, overloading electrical appliances and targeting the Kiroshi implants given to NCPD officers.
It took the combined processing power of Cyrus' MJOLNIR and every single device that Chamber could get her hands on to unleash a cyberattack of this magnitude.
Damn, she was good.
Chambers' attack centered on the NCPD forces encircling their position; firearms were one of two objects she struck with ferocious intent. Barrels overheated to the point they were melting off their frame; safeties were hard locked into place, leaving their owners panicked and frustrated.
The secondary attack was focused on the NCPD AVs and ground vehicles. Aerodynes lost control of their spotlight and weapon systems, forcing their pilots to withdraw from the airspace towards their landing pads for repairs.
Squad cars and APCs suffered complete electrical failure; batteries were either burned out or inoperable, leaving them little more than scraps of metal.
The police radio band that moments ago was filled with anxious voices; had suddenly gone silent. In little more than a few measly seconds, Chamber had utterly destabilized the NCPD and left them a drooling mess.
Most of them, at least. The MAXTAC officers were surprisingly resilient.
"AARRRGGGHHH!"
And incredibly bloodthirsty.
Rory jumped towards him like a cannonball; electricity licked off the edges of her Mantis blades as they sliced through the air with reckless abandon. Her subordinates were mere seconds behind her, discharging rifles or joined their leader in a full-frontal assault.
Cyrus chose to take the initiative and slid directly underneath Rory's assault, narrowly avoiding a Mantis blade in the process. The Spartan snatched her right foot as the limb flew past him and tossed her towards a rifleman, knocking him to the ground and infuriating the MAXTAC Officer in the process.
He pulled his Tsunami sidearm and fired four successive shots that disabled three MAXTAC officers, bringing their number to seven in total. Cyrus was in the process of engaging the other MAXTAC specialists, but his AI companion shrieked out a warning.
"On your right!" Her point was emphasized by a thermal monofilament wire wrapping around his right arm. His energy shields flared dangerously as it pushed back the foreign object at the cost of five percent shield strength.
Two MAXTAC specialists flew at him with a burst of mystifying attacks from their Kendachi Monowires. Chamber had warned him weeks ago that MAXTAC employed every dirty trick in the book. She subsequently ran him through simulations to counteract their CQC specialists' equipment, but reality and training are two distinct subjects.
The specialists worked in tandem to keep the Spartan off balance forcing him on his back foot and allowing them to dictate the terms of combat. This turn in fortunes frustrated Cyrus to no end; here he was operating on restricted ROE's and these guys were giving him all he could handle.
Luckily, Cyrus spotted a gap in their form. The two specialists were a well-coordinated tandem, but they operated to cover each other's vulnerabilities not because it looked pretty. He capitalized on this weakness with complete savagery, albeit far more restrained than what anyone else would have received.
When the blond-haired specialist initiated a vertical assault, Cyrus countered violently. He snatched one of the Monowires before her partner could cover her withdrawal. The Spartan yanked on the filament wire, ignoring Chambers' warnings, and launching the officer towards him.
"Aliya!"
Cyrus ignored the specialist's shriek and proceeded to clothesline his prey with brutal efficiency. Her body was sent head over heels before finally landing roughly on her back. The rise and fall of her chest was the only indication she wasn't another name on his long list of kills.
Despite the fact Cyrus was holding back tremendously, the damage he dealt to the officer was still significant. Her visor cracked under the Spartan's strength, knocking her out cold.
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" Her partner didn't take kindly to his actions.
The specialist's speed and ferocity increased exponentially, and Cyrus barely had enough time to react. He rolled to his right and lunged at her, slamming directly into her torso and allowing him to fire off four rounds from his Tsunami.
Oxygen was hammered out of her lungs with ruthless efficiency, leaving her a driveling mess before Cyrus finished her off with a concentrated blow to the back of her head.
A lull formed in the battle as MAXTAC officers fell back towards their ring of stationary AVs. The operators were content to regroup and reevaluate their tactics, and Cyrus was eager to exploit their formation even as their rifleman unloaded their magazines.
"Take it down! Take it down!" Voices and gunfire mixed like a symphony, basking the darkened streets of Night City in a parade of bright flashes.
His shields flared up as a barrage of ballistic shells impacted along his frame, forcing Cyrus to rip off the APC rear doors and using it as a makeshift shield. The feat of strength stunned the MAXTAC officers, however as a credit to their training, they reacted swiftly.
Six officers pushed his exposed flank while the rest suppressed his movement with a well-coordinated onslaught of bullets.
Cyrus snapped off six shots from his sidearm, disabling four operators in quick succession. Two MAXTAC officers tossed a pair of fragmentation grenades at the Headhunter while he was engaging their compatriots.
He could barely react in time, dropping his makeshift shield onto the frags and smothering the explosion before he was set upon by the MAXTAC Lieutenant. With clinical precision, Rory unleashed an assault enhanced by wanton aggression.
The Spartan leaped backward when the former Cyberpsycho slashed at his feet. Acting quickly, he raised his right knee, parrying the lethal swipes, and kicked out his foot.
The limb barely missed her torso by a few inches, leaving him open to four slashes from her Mantis blades.
All fours attacks bounced off his energy shields, but they still removed a sizeable chunk and forced him back once again. Rory snarled in dissatisfaction, mouth turning into an ugly frown as she regarded the Headhunter.
"Your armor is a source of weakness. Why do you wear it?" His lack of response only served to frustrate her further. "Fine, I will pry you out of that shell with my bare hands."
"You will not be the first, nor the last." Before the pair of killer could come to blows, headlights drew the Spartans attention.
Evidently, a MAXTAC operator broke away from engaging the Spartan and instead repaired an NCPD armored car.
The Ironclad slammed into Cyrus at nearly seventy kilometers an hour; the driver was accompanied by a passenger who was discharging shell after shell from their firearm straight into the Spartans forehead.
"How's my bumper taste, asshole!"
Cyrus was unable to reply to the taunt as his body was crushed against the side of an adjacent building. The kinetic force momentarily shattered his energy shields, and his armor was left to take the brunt of the damage.
"Ouch," Chamber grimaced as she carefully observed her Spartans vitals. "I did not see that coming. You alright, CY?"
After a few seconds of silence, Chamber noticed his breathing level out; he was still combat fit by all indications, but he just wasn't moving. Then Chamber heard it, a drawn-out and irritated groan. One filled with a mixture of pain and exasperation that only Cyrus could ever truly drum up.
"I…..really…..hate…cops." While he stewed in his own misery, the MAXTAC officer driving the vehicular torpedo let out a scream of delight. Cyrus figured the best way to end this ridiculous charade was to play dead and let them make an error.
"Told you it'd work, Sharpe." The enthusiastic remark was met with a scathing reply, most likely from his superior.
"Shut up, Reynolds, and get out of the fucking car." Two doors were thrown open and shut in quick succession. A staccato of scattered footsteps approached the pinned Spartan, and his motion tracker lit up with five new contacts.
"Lieutenant?"
"Archaic but effective Sergeant."
"Thank you, Ma'am." Cyrus would have snorted in amusement if he wasn't the one suffering from such a simple means of debilitation.
The MAXTAC strategy of success wasn't filled with a ton of intellect; it consisted of taking one object and using it to break another object. In this case, they took a one-ton vehicle and used it to shatter a seven-foot-tall killing machine.
The officer was correct, archaic but effective.
"I wouldn't get too close," A rifleman warned. "Thing might wake up any second now."
Cyrus watched as one particular contact separated from the leading group and approached his pinned frame. His upper body was sprawled on top of the squad car's front hood, motionless and docile; most individuals would rightfully assume that the Headhunter was incapacitated and unable to provide resistance. This instance would be a complete outlier.
A solitary finger tapped at the Spartans helm, hoping to instigate some level of response but received none in return. A dainty hand wrapped around the back of Cyrus's head and roughly twisted it towards the offending party.
"Call for a containment bus," The Lieutenant ordered. "I want him back at HQ for rehabilitation ASAP."
Rory let the exotic helmet rest against the hood, playfully crossing the visor with an x mark. "I said you would be mine."
"Chamber." She leaned in with an expression befitting a cat that ate the canary.
"Who?" He dipped his head towards her, one killer face to face with another.
"I wasn't talking to you."
The AI uploaded a daemon directly into the surrounding officer's nerves, deactivating their cyberware and causing an electrical charge to crawl up their nervous system. Rory attempted to fight through the agonizing sensation, but her movements were left uncoordinated and lost.
His hand snatched her forearm, and the Spartans helmet snapped up mere inches from her astonished visage. Cyrus's left hand produced a pair of flashbangs, tossing one on either side and kicking the vehicle away from his frame.
Rory's compatriots were left completely flat-footed; their quarry should not even be awake, let alone alive, after Reynolds slammed into it with a fucking car. The flash grenades went off, stunning the rest of her team and leaving her helpless to the Spartan's retaliation. There was no respite to save her from her captor; all her subordinates were left sprawled on the floor like bumbling children.
"This is nothing more than a setback. You only delay the inevitable." The Headhunter brought the formerly smug Lieutenant closer, visor enveloping her grimacing features.
"Not likely."
Cyrus let the MAXTAC officer fall to the floor like a doll cut from their strings. Satisfied, he turned away from the women and made for the top of the skyscraper he was implanted in mere minutes ago.
"Get me out of here," Cyrus demanded quietly.
"Already on it, CY." The AI sent out a signal for their stealth aerodyne to follow. "Look on the bright side, you didn't kill anyone, and that is something to celebrate cause you're ya know… you."
"Chamber." The grave tone in his voice caused her to cringe on the inside.
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
On the night of July 23rd, 2077, the 'Northside Headhunter' was given a new designation by the citizens of Night City.
The 'Night City Headhunter' was christened through the embarrassment of the NCPD and MAXTAC. It was a designation that Cyrus cared little for, but his partner was delighted in it.
More power to her; he needed to get back to work.
July 25th, 2077
Night City, Northern California
Hideout, Charter Hills
Two days passed in a blur since his engagement with Night City's finest, Chamber kept a keen eye on the reactions around the sprawling megacity, and she was not disappointed.
Corporations were scrambling to cover up their illicit activities. Criminals were running scared off the streets, and Merc were pausing before taking on a contract that might cross the Headhunter's attention. It was the perfect introduction to the outside world, and all in all, this was turning out to be one of the best weeks of Chambers's life. Now, if only she could get him to talk to the few people in his life, he gave more than a passing glance.
"You've been ignoring them."
"I've been busy." The chortle of amusement slipped from Chamber's lips. ONI could teach Cyrus how to drive a tank, disassemble a rifle, and operate power armor that cost a fortune. But, when it came to essential social interaction and etiquette, he was a chicken with his head cut off.
"No," Chamber chastised her Spartans ignorance. "You've been distracting yourself and coming up with excuses. Panam and V have been worried sick about you since we paraded ourselves on live television, and you won't even give them the time of day."
"There is," The AI snapped at him like a mother scolding her disobedient child.
"So, help me, god," Chamber warned. "If you say, 'there is work to be done.' I will very much lose my goddamn mind."
"What do you want from me, Chamber?" The question drew a long sigh of exasperation from his companion.
"I just want you to talk to them," she confessed delicately. "That's all I'm asking; they've gotten nothing but straight to voice mail the last few days, and you're not answering their texts. Call them and get it over with."
The Spartan stopped all motions, hands freezing as he performed standard maintenance on his MJOLNIR's camo module. "What exactly am I getting over?"
"You'll find out in a second." Chamber replied as she prepared to place a call to her favorite Aldecaldo. "You ready?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"No." The phone call barely ringed for more than a few seconds before an irate Panam answered the call.
"You fucking piece of shit! You better be dying or crawling out of a god damn ditch with your lungs hanging out!"
Ah, that's what Chamber meant.
"Hello to you too." The AI gave him a skeptical look that he pointedly ignored.
"Hello! You ghost V and me for two days after that stunt you pulled on TV and have the nerve to say hello." Cyrus foolishly believed at that moment; honesty would go a long way.
"Yes."
It was a critical failure.
"You know what, I'm going to fucking hurt you the next time I see you. Don't think I fucking won't, Cyrus; I guarantee you me hitting your ass over in my Thorton will hurt."
Chamber utilized the workstation monitors to save her bumbling monkey from his ineptitude. The word apologize was plastered across each screen, drawing Cyrus's attention even as he shot her a dirty look. A battle of wills broke out between a Spartan and his AI, but as usual, Cyrus found himself on the losing side once again.
"I," The words were practically caught in his throat as the monitors tried to egg him on "…apologize for my negligence."
Critical failure.
"No, no, no, no, no. Negligence is when you forget to lock the door on your way out of the house. What you did was a total fucking dick move, and I," The Aldecaldo, let out a growl of frustration.
"Goddamnit! I'll rip you a new asshole later. Right now, we have bigger problems."
Cyrus latched onto the subject change like a lifeline. "What kind?"
"Much like you fuckface," Chamber winced in discomfort pain; this was going to be more challenging than even she thought. "V has fallen off the grid. I can't find her anywhere, and Judy has no clue where that gonk disappeared off, too, either."
Panam's words sobered his thought process, propelling Cyrus into a familiar routine. "Clarify."
"We were supposed to meet at Judy's apartment for a night out. Judy's been all strung up planning the clouds job with Maeda, and she was running on fumes. V had a good idea to take her out on the town and loosen her up. But we were supposed to meet up two hours ago, and V isn't answering the fucking phone. "
Cyrus glances at Chamber sharply, the AI immediately tried establishing a connection to V's Kiroshi optic, but it went straight to voicemail. He cursed under her breath, returning his attention to the increasingly irritated Aldecaldo.
"I'll find her."
"How?"
"The CCTV cameras," He supplied without pause. "A compatriot of mine has direct access to the cities telecommunication and surveillance network. I'll retrace her steps and find her last known location."
Chamber immediately scoured the whole of Night City, adamantly searching for her favorite Mercenary. She was just as concerned about V's safety as Panam, the woman was an essential piece to Cyrus's life now, and she was not willing to let her go so easily.
"Fine, while you're waiting on your choom, get your ass to Lizzies. Judy and I will meet you there, end of discussion."
"We can cover more ground if-" The Aldecaldo was having none of what he was referring to.
"End of discussion, Cyrus," she bit out sharply. "You have ten minutes before I drag your ass there myself! And leave the goddamn armor behind; I don't need you drawing the whole goddamn city to us!"
Wisely, the Spartan chose not to point out he could traverse the megacity in his armor without anyone noticing. Whether or not Cyrus was capable was no longer the issue; now, he was consenting to the demands of an irate woman.
"Understood." Panam cut the connection, leaving Cyrus to stew in silence while Chamber focused on finding their lost compatriot.
The Headhunter threw down his maintenance gear and went about donning his civilian apparel. It hadn't changed much since the last time he went out on the town, but Chamber ordered extra materials to make his clothing more….protective.
The Leather coat had an advanced lightweight kevlar fabric sewn into it, allowing him more flexibility without disregarding protection. His combat shirt also had these protections sewn into it, along with his combat gloves. Otherwise, he was rolling out in the same gear, albeit modified to his preferences.
"Transportation?" Cyrus inquired as he wrapped a Militech AIG eyepiece around his right ear. The AIG was a cutting-edge tactical device, able to act as both a telecommunication gadget and provide adequate visual applications, such as night vision and thermal imagery.
"Take the Phantom nothing more subtle than a camouflaged AV. I'll let you know when I sniff out V's trail." He was halfway to the bunker exit when Chamber called out to him. "And Cyrus."
Cyrus stopped his gait, turning his head slightly towards his companion; even from a distance, he could still pick out traces of worry that marred her otherwise optimistic outlook. "Good luck."
The Spartan only nodded in response; his hulking frame disappeared down the darkened stairway and out of sight. Chamber couldn't help the negative emotions rolling off her frame; anytime the pair were separated, a piece of her left with him. She supposed it was due to the very nature of a UNSC AI's integration into their MJOLNIR Armor that linked the two on a subconscious level.
Regardless of her reservations, they both had a task to complete. One of the few individuals in this god-forsaken land that had earned her Spartans trust was missing. She would be damned before she'd let this transgression pass without retaliation.
Chamber cleared her mind of any ailing thoughts and went to work with the discipline fit a UNSC AI. She started by bringing up a holographic map of Night City, centering on the Westbrook district. V's final call was a mere twenty meters from Mega building H8, which helped narrow the search but not by much.
Now, she had the pleasure of searching through the highest concentration of inhabitants in Night City. Over one million people crammed in a space that was a little over fifty square miles and contained the most populous Mega building in Night City.
Life was rarely a dull moment for a UNSC AI.
Welcome to the world Spartan. Not much to add, but we are slowly marching on the path to 400 followers which is an incredible achievement. We will have one more chapter on the 14th, then I will go on vacation for a week.
I hope you enjoy the story so far, and any critiques are welcomed.
Have a great rest of the week and stay safe out there.
Reviews:
tamagat: You got half of the reaction for this chapter.
2Rule179: Thank you.
Guest: I mean he kind of did.
MEleeSmasher: It was a tough go, but he got the job done.
Next Chapter: March 14th