l...l
Chapter Twenty
July 25th, 2077
Night City, Northern California
Lizzies Bar, Kabuki
A Headhunter walks into a bar.
ONI would strangle Cyrus if they ever discovered he was wasting his time even setting foot in such an establishment without dropping bodies. He wasn't entirely certain if that said more about him or his superiors.
It was best not to dwell on such thoughts. The Headhunter wasn't here to partake in any drinks or enjoy the pain of a killer hangover. He was here on business, and if he had his way, he wouldn't be here for long.
Lizzie's bar was the heart and soul of the Mox Clan; no location meant as much to the gang's psyche as this tavern. Despite being a relatively small and unassuming tribe with little over four hundred members in total, they demanded respect in their regard.
It was typical for scavers and gangers to test the Mox's mettle on a weekly basis. Some gangs attacked them for sport others tested their resolve, and they were rarely left wanting.
The Mox were a vicious opponent to their adversaries and were more than capable of defending their land without question. They rarely chose to expand their territories unless provoked to do so, and even then, they never stayed long enough to maintain their claim.
They were the youngest established gang in Night City, dating their origins to a little more than ten years ago. The clan was formed after the 2067 riots after the brutal death of Elizabeth "Lizzie" Borden, a well-known strip club owner and former prostitute who was rational when it came to the treatment of her workers.
This rationale was tested when one of her girls was brutally raped and murdered by Tyger Claw gangers. Lizzie butchered three of the assailants with an axe and hung their bodies outside her club to warn the next group, who tested her patience.
That same night the Tyger Claws retaliated with a vengeance, attacking her bar and dragging her out to the city streets by her hair. The gangers set fire to the establishment and tossed Lizzie into the back of a waiting truck.
That was the last time anyone saw her alive.
Her body was found hours later nailed to the end of an alleyway by her hands and feet. The Tyger claws had exacted the same treatment upon Lizzie as they did the woman she avenged. What the claws could never know was that this would prove to be their undoing.
Their savage actions sparked an uproar of defiance and fury they could not have foreseen. Lizzie's death set off a wave of lengthy riots all over Night City, and Tyger Claws' members and businesses became victims of brutal retribution.
Elizabeth Borden became a symbol of defiance against the TC's lawlessness and brutality. Her former subordinates commemorated her memory by rebuilding her bar one piece at a time, branding it "Lizzie's Bar," and forming a gang whose sole purpose was to protect sex workers and any whose bodies and minds were taken advantage of.
Cyrus hoped they could play a crucial part in the Tyger Claws' destruction, but that diplomacy would be left to Judy and V once the latter was located. He just needed to get inside without drawing too much attention.
"Taller than our usual customers, don't ya think, Anna."
Mission failed in that regard.
Two Mox's blocked his path into Lizzie's; both were female with patches of cyberware scattered along their bodies. Neither had much in the way of clothing, but that's just how they dressed around these parts. The defining differences between the two was their hair color, weaponry, and, sure enough, clothing.
His AIG went to work identifying the pair of women, and he was not disappointed in Chamber's recommendation on this piece of hardware. It still allowed her to maintain her cyber warfare and data collection duties without compromising her capabilities, but he still preferred his MJOLNIR armor to boot.
The woman to his left was Rita Wheeler, a bouncer who screened visitors to ensure they had the best intentions when entering the club. She possessed purple hair done up into two buns with bangs hanging loosely over her face. Glittering emerald eyes were set appealingly within their sockets, listlessly observing their latest guest carefully.
Her partner is Anna Nox, a Mox lieutenant that ran a warehouse in Longshore North. She runs the operations out of that depot, supplying BD's and other entertainment items to any who desired them. Her head's left side was shaved while the rest of her black hair was swept to her right. She wore a visor over her eyes, blocking any passerby from staring into her pair of brown eyes.
"Take off the mask choom," Wheeler emphasized her point by tapping his chin with her bat. "Can't wear that piece of clothing in here; it's for our girl's safety and ours."
Reluctantly, Cyrus grasped the top of his gaiter and pushed it down to his collarbone. Wheeler and Nox both welcomed the sight; they rarely got anyone worth a second glance to walk through this place.
Nox let out a long whistle as her eyes drank in his features. "Where have you been all my life."
"Anywhere but around here, apparently," Rita stated with a grin, her eyes fell to below his waist. "Think he's packing?"
Her question made Cyrus's eyes blink once in confusion, but not her compatriot, whose smile only grew.
"I'd stake my life on that," his concerns grew when Nox provocatively bit her lip. "What'd ya say handsome care to take me for a ride later tonight."
The AIG allowed him to hear Chamber's reaction to this…conversation, and she found the exchange entirely amusing if her laughter was anything to go by. He muted his compatriots, cackling with single a thought, and turned his attention towards the two…..women.
"I'll have to pass," his statement disappointed them, but not enough to discourage their leering eyes. "I'm here to meet a…..friend of mine."
Cyrus struggled to classify the relationship between him and Judy, so he went with a friend. He wasn't entirely sure if Panam had arrived yet or was here either, so meeting up with the Mox was the following conclusion.
"Friend got a name?"
"Judy Alvarez." That got a reaction from Nox, and if he could describe it one word, it would be sour. Clearly, she had reservations when it came to her erstwhile sister in arms, though not for the reasons he assumed at first.
"Why is it always Judy that gets the cute ones," Nox threw up her arms in exasperation. "First it was the Merc, then it was the nomad, now it's this guy. This some bullshit."
Wheeler rolled her eyes at her companion's smile still plastered across her face. "Judy's in her den with a choom of hers; they told us they were waiting on someone else. Follow me; I'll take you to them."
The Mox turned on a dime, bat hanging off her left shoulder as she stepped through the sliding doors into the lobby. Cyrus took two steps to follow when a hand landed roughly on his rear. It took every fiber of willpower not to deck Nox's grinning and unapologetic face.
"See ya around, handsome." Cyrus gave her a sideways glance before stepping into the bar lobby and following Wheelers trail. The rude women's eyes only fell away after the sliding doors shut behind him; god, he hated people.
The Spartans hulking form drew the eyes of a great many patrons and workers alike. Most gave him a long glance before returning to their previous activities, while others could not look away until he was out of sight.
Wheeler was quick to pick up on this. "You seem to draw a crowd; does that happen often?"
"More than I like."
"You sound like Judy," she stated as they entered a corridor containing private rooms. "Probably why you're chooms with her."
"Friends is a loose designation," Cyrus admitted, drawing a curious eye from Wheeler. "We are friends by association."
"Is it the merc?" Wheeler drew a security card as they approached a set of security doors; at the very top was a warning sign that indicated employees only. "That woman's got some spunk to her; Judy is enamored by her more than she realizes."
"Possibly." Cyrus wouldn't elaborate further, and Rita was willing to let the conversation die out.
The pair cut through a dressing room filled with half-naked workers that gave him either a stink eye or a curious gaze. He couldn't wait to get out of this place, and hopefully, it would happen sooner rather than later.
Mercifully, they arrived at the workshop where Judy was having a heated conversation with a woman he was familiar with through a dossier provided by Chamber. Panam was leaning against the doorway, mind clearly occupied with other concerns as she fiddled with a small knife.
Susanna Quinn was the current leader of the Mox, and she was gradually pushing away from the ideals the gang was built on. This change in ethics is because of fear that the Mox is one bad day away from annihilation, and he couldn't disagree with this temperament.
The Mox, while capable fighters, didn't have the numbers or resources for a short or prolonged gang war. So, this left them hampered in their ability to provide a haven for the less fortunate. Susanna treats the gang less like a group of like-minded individuals and more like a business to keep the clan afloat.
No matter how influential and empowering the stories less than a decade ago were, they did little to assist their needs in the present. This state of opinion is not something all Mox's agree with, and it has caused quarrels with a great many idealists, one of them being Alvarez.
But that wasn't his problem to solve.
Wheeler gave Cyrus a passing wink before scampering back up the stairway to the upper level. He turned his attention towards the Aldecaldo, whose expression indicated she noticed the exchange of one-sided pleasantries.
"Don't ask." Her eyes lit up with amusement that slipped away as he regarded the confrontation ahead of them. "What's all this about."
Panam gave out an exasperated sight before replying. "Judy's been pushing her boss on the Clouds job. She got her to sign on because of V, but now that she's missing, Susie wants to back out."
"I'm not here about the Clouds job, Panam." The growl in his voice was plain to hear as frustration practically leaked out of the man's body like a storm. Panam wisely chose to let him pass by; her expression was a complete mirror to his own.
The Spartan's presence alone silenced any further argument between Susie Q and Judy. His domineering presence unsettled the Mox leader but not enough to stop her from running her mouth.
"Who the fuck are-," Crimson orbs snapped to Susie before she could blink; Chamber often noted that his eyes reflected his emotions. The more emotional he became, the brighter his eyes burned.
Fury leaked out of Cyrus's stare, robbing what little confidence the woman had in her body. A cold voice in complete contrast to his burning gaze finished off any chance of resistance.
"Leave." One word was all it took for the Mox leader to run with her tail between her legs. Leaving behind a trail of fear that permeated their tense environment further down the rabbit hole.
"Cyrus," Panam cautiously wrapped a hand around his right forearm, pulling it away from where his Kukri was sheathed. "Stay focused; we're here for V, remember."
Like a cold shower, his wrath was snuffed out, eyes turning more docile with each passing second. Panam's warming touch was the necessary catalyst to cooling his nerves.
With a ragged exhale, the Spartan was able to come down from his emotional high and lock eyes on an incredibly nervous Judy Alvarez.
"When's the last time you spoke to her?" Judy leaned into her chair, worries deescalating as she latched onto the inquiry like a lifeline.
"Eight hours ago," Judy began. "She was running some side jobs in Japantown, but last I heard, she was investigating a Merc running TC product out of the complex."
"Either of you catch a name?" Panam chose to chip in this time.
"No, but we do know she was looking for a BD courier out of Cherry Blossom Market." The Aldecaldo stated. "We should start there."
Judy leaned forward, hands going to work on her console as she gathered a list of potential suspects. "That's a lot of ground to cover. CBM is the most crowded market on this side of Night City; all kinds of gangs front their products through this area."
"I can start a low-level search on the CCTV cameras to narrow down our search area, but it might take some-." The Spartan's sudden movement towards Judy's console caught both women off guard.
"We don't have time, Alvarez," He stopped a mere two feet from Judy's chair and motioned to her workstation. "May I."
"Knock yourself out, my man." Hands raised in mock surrender, Judy kicked her chair back, giving Cyrus the necessary space to work.
With practiced ease, Cyrus linked his MAC Ten phone to the workstation's network. Giving Chamber the necessary access to utilize her network and Judy's in a mass pool of processing power.
"Chamber you online." His question drew raised looks from both of his compatriots. Judy motioned to intervene, not appreciating a third-party tinkering with her gear, but Panam stopped her with a wave of her hand.
"Up and running. What are we looking for?"
"Execute a broad search for V at the Cherry Blossom Market; she was working a case locating a Merc smuggling product for the Tyger Claws."
"Narrowing search….give me a moment." Two seconds passed before Chamber got back to him. "Ok, I was able to locate a feed of her entering the market in the south end; she talked up a few locals and made for the exit on the west side. But here's the problem, all the camera feeds in the market went down five minutes after she entered. The adjacent street and upper-level CCTVs are clear, so she never exited through those locations and-"
"She never backtracked to the south end." Cyrus came to the same conclusion she had.
"Exactly, somewhere in between the market and the side alley, V goes missing."
"Narrows down the search area," he surmised quietly. "Thanks, Chamber. I'll be in touch." Cyrus disconnected his phone and turned to the anxiously waiting duo, who were content to wait in silence up until now. Panam was leaning against the desk, her proximity enabled her to pick out bits and pieces of his conversation, but Judy was left in the dark.
"What do you got?" The Mox asked immediately as Cyrus vacated her desk space.
"I found where she went missing." The reply sent a jolt of excitement up Panam and Judy's spines. "But we need to retrace her steps if we're going to locate her."
"Finally!" The Aldecaldos pushed off her resting spot, hands snatching up a rifle and some body armor. "I'll grab my Thornton, and we'll head over there."
"No," His words stopped Panam in her tracks. "We're taking my AV; we need to get in and out quick and quiet."
She complied with his demands and continued arming herself in Judy's den; the Mox, to the Spartan's surprise, found her feet as well. The intriguing look Cyrus shot her was enough to draw a wry reply.
"If you think I'm sitting this one out," Judy replied sternly. "Than you got your head up your ass." A small smile graced Panam's lips as she tossed Judy a pair of Unity's and some Kevlar.
"Then gear up, girl," The nomad replied in earnest. "Doubt those clothes will do good against lead poisoning."
The Mox graciously accepted Panam's gifts, but her gaze never left the contemplating look adorning Cyrus's features. He had a minor internal conflict within himself over the prospect of having Alvarez join them.
On the one hand, letting her assist would lend them an extra pair of eyes and a gun. On the other, Cyrus wasn't too keen in working with someone who may or may not know how to use a firearm.
In the end, he allowed Judy to do as she pleased, leaving her with a single demand that she needed to meet.
"Try and keep up."
Night City, Northern California
Cherry Blossom Market, Japantown
Cherry Blossom Market was the beating heart of Japantown; all residents of the Westbrook district gathered here for trade and commerce. Civilians, mercs, gangers, you name the occupation they arrived here in droves.
It didn't matter the merchandise or the distributor; if a family needed groceries, they came here. If a drug addict needed a product, they roamed the market until they located a shop that could give them their fix.
The market was an enormous all you can buy buffet, and everything was on the menu. However, the unlikely wasn't there to go on a shopping spree; they were there to hunt for a missing friend.
Chamber parked the Phantom AV in an adjacent alleyway from their search zone, and a few bums had the souls scared out of them when the aerodyne touched down. A few calming words from Panam subdued their flight or fight instincts, allowing her to inquire about their missing companion.
The bums had only recently started squatting in the alleyway and could provide no details on V's whereabouts. With little choice, the trio broke apart to investigate on their own; Alvarez and Panam went to the market to ask any shoppers or vendors if they'd seen her.
While the duo went along their route, Cyrus investigated the perimeter. To his front was a broad flight of stairs to the CBM's upper level, but the surveillance cameras would have picked her up, so that was out of the equation.
To Cyrus's right was the west entryway to the market; this particular entrance wasn't the most active. That is partly due to its odd location and lack of necessity as a more convenient option was a hundred meters to the east.
The location that drew his interest and the most likely location of V's disappearance was a parking lot being used as a makeshift garbage dump. The lot contained a tourist kiosk no longer in use and a large ventilation fan servicing adjacent structures.
Underneath that vent was a small Vagrant camp of a little over two dozens outcasts. It was a surprise to see a homeless camp so close to the market, but Cyrus supposed the west entrance's nature made its removal a hassle, if anything.
The vagrants sheltering in the camp tried their best to avoid Cyrus's attention, but that was a moot point. Their camp was put together decently well, indicating to him that it was present for at least the last few months—enough time to bear witness what happened to their missing Merc.
Cyrus approached the outcasts, hoping to avoid causing unnecessary stress. He flexed out hands away from his pockets, he lowered his gaiter around his neck, and he put on the best passive expression he could muster.
Homeless and outcasts were easy to spook and almost always tried to stay out of other people's business. Three exiles were the first to notice his approach, the rest curled into their jackets, giving off an aura of dread. In reality, it was a ploy, and they were grasping hidden blades and sidearms underneath their clothing.
"Jack." A female outcast taped on a tent of scraps, drawing the attention of the occupant inside. A middle-aged male with slashes of grey hair and an unkempt look slowly regarded the approaching Headhunter in disguise.
Jack put on a face of timidness, an expression used to ease the more violent tempered Night City citizens. The only way for outcasts to survive in the streets was to stick together and give off an atmosphere of no resistance. When it didn't work, things got bloody.
"We didn't see anything." It was a routine explanation, spoken a dozen times to all kinds of individuals.
Cyrus stood a few meters away, opting to give them space even as they quietly waved him off. After a few moments of silence, the outcasts pleaded with the Spartan to walk away and leave them in peace.
"Come on, man," Jack said, hoping to dissolve this conversation before it got them into trouble. "We're just trying to get some sl-," His sentence was cut into by Cyrus, a phrase only outcasts knew slipped from his lips.
"Nos cura nostra." A rough Latin sentence granted to those who had earned their keep in the ranks of the forgotten. It translated into a set of six words that meant everything to the outcasts of Night City.
'We take care of our own.'
Jack's expression changed on a dime, his reservations were gone in an instant and his posture straightened out. The atmosphere of anxiety was replaced with one of content, and all the vagrants let out a ragged sigh of relief.
"We can talk inside." The outcast leader subtly motioned for Cyrus to follow, opening his tent for him to step through.
The tent reminded Cyrus of Dana's shelter when he first met her, relatively spartan with enough space to live in and host meetings with other vagrants. At the center was a dirty dining table with four pull-out chairs surrounding it.
Jack pulled a Unity from his waist, unloading the magazine and laying the sidearm on the table. He motioned for Cyrus to do the same, and the Headhunter disarmed as quickly as possible. The outcast leader chose not to comment on the amount of weaponry he was carrying.
"So," Jack began as he pulled out a chair to sit on. "What camp you from?"
Cyrus reciprocated the gesture, opting to sit across from the outcast. "Dana Parker's, but I'm not a vagrant. I assist them with animal problems on occasion."
Jack gave him a wry look but chose not to reply to the statement; he was certain Cyrus wasn't just a simple pest exterminator.
"I figured; you don't look like any Vagrant I've seen." His fingers flared on the table, mind losing focus as a memory of his dealings with the woman came to bear. "Haven't seen her in months; how has she been?"
"Surviving," Cyrus replied. "She set up a camp near Pershing street in Northside; if any outcasts need a new place to live, that's where they should go."
Jack's face turned into one of surprise and let out of a barrage of questions about its viability. Cyrus answered the best he could with his barebones knowledge, but seeing Camp August firsthand would settle Jack's worries.
Eventually, Cyrus was able to turn the conversation o his needs. He produced a picture of V on his phone and flashed it for the outcast leader to see. His face turned grim as he nodded towards the photo.
"Yeah," he started. "She was here about four hours ago, talking to a BD courier named Stefan Shaw. He runs with a heavy crowd."
The Headhunter's expression narrowed. "How heavy?"
"Merc heavy," Jack replied. "Shaw's just a courier for a Mercenary named Chipper; rumor is he works with a Scav gang local to Japantown, and they are instrumental to the TC trafficking ring."
"What happened to her?" Shaw's face fell in a mixture of shame and regret.
"She was giving Shaw an ass whooping when a group of Mercs got the jump on her," Crimson orbs lit brightly in silent fury. "We were going to help, but there were too many. I didn't fancy our chances against a squad of heavily armed mercs. They tossed her in a truck and took off without a second thought."
"We're you able to get eyes on the vic?"
"No, they kept our heads down pretty good with their rifles." Cyrus blew an exhale of irritation through his nose, eyes closing as he rocked his head in thought.
"I'm assuming Chipper is a cover?" Jack nodded to his query, which forced him to ask one final saving grace. "Where does Stefan Shaw live?"
Cyrus would bet his life that the courier would at least know where the Merc frequented or his actual name.
"Apartment out of Kabuki Market, couldn't tell you the room, but I know he lives there."
Kabuki market was one of the few locations in Watson Cyrus hadn't cleared of Tyger Claws. There were too many civilians that frequented the location and living in the nearby structures to risk an open engagement. They would have to execute their search carefully or risk losing their only lead to V.
Cyrus thanked the vagrant leader, retrieving his weapons and exiting the tent. Jack's voice stopped him as he reached the tent flap; turning his head, the outcast gave him a solemn look.
"Good luck." The Headhunter nodded in appreciation, sliding the flap and storming out of the camp with a purpose. He keyed his comm device to contact Chamber, who was quick to answer.
"Please tell me you got something?" The AI's voice was a welcome distraction to his broiling emotions.
"I need everything on a Stefan Shaw now Chamber," he ordered. "His job, residence, family, everything. Don't leave a single detail out."
"Understood, I'll get back to you in a minute." Cyrus cut the connection and immediately raised Panam.
"Go ahead, CY."
"Head back to the AV. I'll fill you in while we head to Kabuki Market." Panam called after Alvarez as she sprinted back towards the aerodyne.
"Is V there?" Cyrus could hear the hope emanating from her voice, and it was unfortunate he had to snuff it out.
"No, but I do have a lead."
Night City, Northern California
Kabuki Market, Kabuki
"Watch your shots; we need Shaw alive."
"Believe me; I won't kill him that quick." Cyrus glanced sternly at Panam as they braced against either side of an apartment door; Judy was directly behind her, covering their rear while they got set to breach.
Chamber was able to find Shaw's apartment, not minutes after they reached the Phantom. Unfortunately, she had good news and bad news; Shaw was at his apartment, but he wasn't alone. At least four different heat signatures were emanating from his residence, and Cyrus could hear an argument taking place inside.
"Two in the kitchen on you're right, three in the common room to your front." Chamber supplied. "Four of them are armed."
"Roger," Cyrus relayed the intel to Panam as she readjusted the grip on her Copperhead. "Take the two in the kitchen; I'll handle the common room. Judy, watch our backs."
"Got it."
"Let's go already." Cyrus flashed three fingers at Panam, slowly counting down to one. He snapped to the front of the door and kicked out his right foot, impacting just below the motion sensor.
The entire apartment exploded into action as the Spartan thundered through the door like a freight train. He ignored the two stunned mercenaries to his right, trusting Panam to cover his flank, and focused instead on the two hostiles standing in front of a frightened Shaw who was curled up on a couch.
The courier had been seconds away from getting his head blown off, and it was only due to the trios timely arrival that he wasn't a corpse.
Cyrus fired two shots from his Unity; one landed just underneath one Merc's left cheek, killing him instantly. His companion wasted no time in retaliating, firing off a burst from his Saratoga.
The Headhunter slid underneath the ballistic projectile's feet first, barely missing a lethal dose of 7.62. He fired off two more rounds from his sidearm and retrieved the Kukri sheathed to his waist.
One bullet impacted along the Mercs Saratoga, sending up a flurry of sparks to his face blinding him for a moment; the second round landed on his chest but did nothing due to the man's body armor.
Shooting to his feet, Cyrus planted the Kukri into the Merc's neck. The Spartan's momentum didn't stop until he planted the poor Merc directly into the far wall. The kinetic force left a human-sized imprint in the wall along with a splatter of crimson liquid.
The lack of gunfire indicated that Panam succeeded, and the screams of fear from Shaw reinforced that theory. Judy walked into the room, weapon at the ready, eyes taking in the gory remains of Cyrus's kill and the dead mercs in the kitchen.
"We're good." Cyrus nodded towards the Mox, who continued to provide rear security, and turned his attention to an irate Panam who was seconds away from caving in Shaw's face with the stock of her Copperhead.
"I'm only going to ask this once," the barrel of Panam's Copperhead was shoved mere inches from the courier's eye. "Who the fuck is Chipper!"
While Panam interrogated Shaw, Cyrus chose to search through the pockets of the deceased Mercs. These guys were well equipped and experienced; when the first Merc went down, the second didn't hesitate to respond. That showed a level of composure that required years of familiarity in the ways of combat.
They weren't the best-disciplined bunch when it came to operational security, but that might be because they weren't expecting any company so soon. Cyrus was searching through one Merc's pockets when he came across a patch laced into the breast pocket.
He recognized the symbol almost immediately; it was a blackened skull with two white blades crossed behind it. It was the emblem handed out to mercenaries that managed to draw the eye of the most prestigious club in Night City.
These Mercs were Afterlife.
That was information that made his blood boil; as far as he knew, Rogue Amendiares didn't delve into the human trafficking ring. Cyrus had a feeling their situation was about to become more complicated, but he could care less for the implications.
He wanted answers.
The Headhunter ripped the insignia off the mercs jacket, striding over to the ongoing interrogation with a purpose. He came to a slow stop next to Panam, who unfortunately made little progress in her attempts to make Shaw talk.
The badge was tossed onto the courier's chest, and for the first time since bursting into the apartment, Shaw was able to lay proper eyes on Cyrus. Somehow that frightened him more than Panam ever could.
His presence alone suffocated the oxygen out of the courier's lungs, and Panam was forced to take a step back out of fear and pure instinct. Crimson eyes bore into the gaze of a frightened Shaw who tried his best to sink into the couch.
"Give me his name."
The couriers will broke.
Night City, Northern California
Afterlife, Little China
Rogue was in the middle of a business deal with Wakako when a disturbance was occurring at their entrance.
She motioned for Weyland, one of her lieutenants, to handle the issue, figuring the combined might of Bronson and Weyland was enough to manage any growing problems.
The contract with Wakako was essential to the Afterlife, and it involved the growing number of Tyger Claw casualties in Night City.
It was through sheer luck that Wakako hadn't lost any of her kids to the Headhunters campaign of escalating violence, and she was eager to prevent such a tragedy from taking place.
The Japantown fixer was attempting to smuggle three of her sons out of the city, but she needed assistance from the Queen of the Afterlife to execute such a feat. Rogue figured there was some merit to the woman's fears, especially after the events that took place two days ago.
Weyland was confident that as long as they stayed away from any contracts that contained morally questionable ends. Then the Headhunter should, in theory, ignore their very existence; his MO suggested he didn't have an issue worth Mercs.
Just those who took the wrong jobs, that thought process led to an argument between Weyland and one of her more prestigious Mercs, Gideon Brooks.
Brooks was part of a loud minority of Afterlife Mercs eager to take on the growing contract against the Headhunter. He was a fool whose only thoughts only went as far as the zeros on a paycheck.
Aside from Brooks's constant need to take on questionable contracts that she hadn't vetted, he still was one of her best earners. However, he was slowly becoming a liability in his constant desire to question Rogue's authority.
Sooner or later, she'd have to deal with the moron before he brought too much heat on this place as Weyland predicted. The last thing any sane Afterlife Merc wanted was to have the source of all headaches storming through their doors.
There wasn't a soul in the city who hadn't bared witness to the NCPD's embarrassment. By not killing a single NCPD officer, the Headhunter's legend grew to extraordinary heights, and she was eager to keep the Afterlife out of his sights for as long as possible.
Rogue was seconds away from completing the contract when the lights went out, and she could almost feel the tension in her bar skyrocket. Weyland and most of the Mercs in the club reached for their weapons and were seconds away from rushing to the entrance when the doors were broken down.
Emmerick Bronson was one of the best fighters she had; it was half the reason he was the club's head of security. The man possessed a keen intellect that was able to spot undercover assets and underaged idiots from entering the club.
Seeing the six-foot-four head of security being lifted into the air so effortlessly was a frightening prospect. Even worse was the man holding him like he was nothing more than a disobedient child.
The Headhunter was every bit the monster they said he was.
Easily as tall or taller than that psychopath Adam Smasher and covered in armor and gear she had only seen glimpses of on TV or 'the Net.'
The Afterlife Mercs were seconds away from making a massive mistake, and it was only through Rogue's timely reaction that saved them all from an early grave.
"Hold your fire." Thankfully, her trained killers were more disciplined than the rest of the Night City rabble. She had hoped that the large number of trained Mercenaries would make their first meeting more reasonable.
Now, Rogue was left wondering how to navigate this minefield dumped on her front lawn. Emmerick's choking was plain for the whole club to hear, but she could nothing for him right now. Except placate the massive killing machine.
The man gave no attention to the massive amount of firearms being pointed directly at him; his entire focus was solely placed on the Queen of the Afterlife.
Rogue had never been more terrified in her entire livelihood.
"Boss." Weyland's concerns were waved off as the seven-foot-tall killing machine came closer. "Are you sure about this?"
"No," Rogue admitted. "But if we want to live to see tomorrow, you will all do what I say."
Her tone was loud enough for their guest and mercenaries to hear; this was her worse nightmare coming true. She could have predicted the action of a man like Adam Smasher coming through, but this walking enigma she had no play on.
At the very least, she knew that the Headhunter didn't act on a whim. His actions were focused and given plenty of logic that indicated an induvial who rarely acted without proper reason.
So, it was a correct assumption in Rogue's mind that he was here for a reason. All she had to do was dig a little and hope that she could resolve this situation without a one-sided massacre taking place.
"What are you here for?" A million thoughts rang through her head about the motivations behind his visit.
Was it a bad contract? Maybe he found out about the deal she was making with Wakako and disagreed with the contract taking place?
Hell, did one of her Mercs shit on his fucking lawn?
Or maybe it was-
"Where is Gideon Brooks?"
Fuck.
Rogue should have fucking killed the idiot when she had the chance.
Still technically March 7th and for some reason I wanted to hit the twenty chapter mark now and not later. That and spoiling you all with an unscheduled chapter is good for the soul.
So enjoy the extra chapter, I will respond to all reviews before and after this chapter on the 14th.
Have a great rest of the week and stay safe out there.
Next Chapter: March 14th