They were going down to Afterlife, in part because the kids wanted to take the woman to their favorite bar, and in part so that he could thank Rogue for keeping the scavs in one place (more or less) for that first crusade. It would take quite a few purging raids of similar scale to actually wipe them out completely, they were large and decentralized afterall, but what they did yesterday was a good start.
They were free today, Arasaka wanted to consolidate their reclaimed territory a bit more and allow them time to either scatter on their own or rally. Either would be beneficial here, either they scatter and he has an easier time butchering the remaining meat, or they consolidate and he has a more fun time butchering the remaining meat. Everything was coming up aces for Adam, and the team was getting a lot of good experience.
If they kept it up, the meatfucker would be butchered in no time.
He was in his gemini this time, he told Rogue to expect them. If she betrayed them then he and the kids were still more than enough for a couple of up-jumped gangers. If she didn't then the kids wouldn't have to find a new bar to go to. Should he make the interior decorating joke again? Nah, that one was getting old, he'd put it on the mental shelf for a rainy day.
The reason he was in his gemini? To be less obvious allegedly. His body looked perfectly human like this, but it still had the same face that his actual body did, so that was a bit of a moot point. He was also still eight feet tall and nearly four-hundred pounds (two hundred less than the dragoon frame, click here for weight loss tips) of pure metal interior.
His gemini wasn't one of those that stuck to human baseline in combat prowess either though. It just looked human from the outside, inside it was packed with just about everything that Arasaka could fit to make him more deadly without compromising the aesthetic. Thickened Myomer Strand muscle across his entire body was just the fucking start. He was still strong enough to scrap most everything that came his way, and the things he couldn't scrap the kids could pick up the slack on.
They carried their irons openly, no need to hide them when the Queen of the Afterlife both knows that you're visiting and knows you're not going to start shit (although he absolutely was going to finish it if it came to it). Kid had his shotgun on his back (he really liked that thing), the girl had her submachine gun in her jacket, and the gremlin had her pistols on her hips. They even got a gun for the woman, who was somewhat uncomfortably carrying a pistol of her own at her waist.
He was carrying his Militech 590A1, pistol, and knife. Shotgun on back, pistol on hip, knife on the other hip. He liked the 590A1 for a reason. It was simple, held a total of 9 shots, and was durable enough he could use it like a club. Barely even needed maintenance, and it didn't even have any of that extraneous bullshit that finds its way on most guns nowadays. He wanted to bring his chain-shotgun, but the kids talked him down from that. Fucking brats, you know how little he gets to take that thing out of storage, it was awesome.
Him getting a new gemini to use a while back forced him to order clothes for it. It was a pain in the ass to find anything fucking respectable, most of the stuff on the market nowadays was garbage. Steel-toed boots, black jeans and belt, white button up long sleeve shirt (sleeves rolled up to elbows), a black double-breasted vest, black tie, black leather duster over top. Completing the look was a dark red scarf with a white Arasaka logo, on Uriel's suggestion.
If you were going to dress up, you better do it fucking properly, otherwise you're just wasting everyone's time. It was a classic look for a reason, and you couldn't beat the classics. He was an old man now, and old men knew a thing or two about dressing up, they just didn't usually bother. He briefly thought about getting a pack of cigarettes to smoke to complete the image, but that was pointless. He didn't even really have lungs in this body (or any body, he supposed).
The streets of NC were buzzing with the recent activity, and they certainly drew stares as they walked. Again, that was probably because he was a solid two feet on the average person and he was wearing something that looked actually fucking good. Or maybe they thought he was a nomad, that might be it too, thinking about it. Eh, at least they still knew how to fucking dress (sometimes, mostly not though).
Regardless, they went un accosted as they walked to Afterlife, and eventually they were greeted by the bouncer with chrome sideburns (why? What did those even do? Fucking meatbags.). The bouncer looked to the only 8 foot giant among them and spoke up.
"Smasher, right? Rogue's in the back."
Adam grunted, and spoke to the rest of this little outing. "I'll be in the back."
He started making his way to the same back table that he talked to the woman last time. Judging from the guns aimed at him from no less than three distant locations, he felt fairly assured that she knew he was here and this was the right way to go. Much to his resigned fury, they were playing one of Uriel's songs as he approached.
Clean shirt, new shoes
He put the song out of his mind and finally got to the point where he could see the Queen of the Afterlife. He stopped and stared for a bit. Rogue smirked at him, smug and vindicated from the reaction she got.
"Told ya."
She clearly got the rejuvenation treatments, because she looked like a mother instead of a grandmother. She had also grown out the sides of her hair to the same length as everything else, leaving it wavy. She was in a properly attractive but mature outfit, white sweater that hugged her frame, black skirt that showed just enough of her thighs to be tantalizing, and a blood red trench coat left open. Gloves and stockings covered her limbs. She now looked like a woman who could order someone's death instead of an out-of-touch grandmother trying too hard.
And I don't know where I am goin' to
'She pulls the 'please step on me, mommy' look off well, doesn't she?' Uriel joked.
'I am the one who steps.' Adam joked back.
She was clearly waiting on a response, and was beginning to fidget under his stare. Adam figured he should probably appease her with some proper critique before she kicks the kids out.
Silk suit, black tie (black tie)
"Still too friendly. Overall good improvement, eight out of ten."
She grumbled a bit at that, looking back at her drink. "Fucker, I'm a ten and you know it."
Since he was significantly lighter now, he could actually slide into the booth with her and sit. She jumped a bit at that before calming and scooting over to let him into view of the kids. They were laughing about something with the woman, and seemingly unstressed. Good, seems like Rogue wasn't going to be ripped in half tonight. He always did hate betrayals, they got so messy.
I don't need a reason why
"How would you improve it, then? If you're so good at this?" She growled at him from behind her drink. Adam wasn't really sure why she was asking, she already looked better than ninety percent of the meat bags that wander around nowadays. Still, he was an old man, and old men knew how to dress.
"Replace the sweater with a vest, no shirt underneath." It was a combo that would increase both her professionality and sex appeal while maintaining all the effectiveness of her current look. Uriel recommended it and Adam agreed after thinking it over for a moment.
She didn't reply, so he glanced over to her. She seemed lost in thought, looking at her drink. Huh, well when she feels like speaking up the conversation can happen, he'll just go back to watching the kids.
They come runnin' just as fast as they can
Ah wait, he had to say something first.
"The kids told me to thank you." For the scav clearing thus far, went unsaid where others might hear.
"You make it sound like you wouldn't have without them saying so." She snipped.
'Cause every girl crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man
"I wouldn't have." He agreed. They both knew that she benefited just as much in the short term from the elimination of the scavs. Even if the job wasn't over yet, there was a whole lot of profit and potential future profit to make off their deaths. It helped him that she did, but it helped her just as much.
"You're just a regular bleeding heart, huh?" She growled at him and leaned back to stretch. It accentuated her curves nicely, he stared unashamedly. "Oi, my eyes are up here, psycho."
"I'm looking at your tits, not your eyes." Adam growled back. She let loose a sharp bark of laughter at that.
Gold watch, diamond ring
"No shame at all?"
"I didn't need it."
"Sounds about right, all you needed was more murder. Even with your lovely singing voice." She mocked him, the bitch. You better be happy the kids like you, otherwise you'd be dead right now. She probably knew it too, abusing the fact that he needs his investments to like him.
I ain't missin' not a single thing
"Watch it." He growled out.
"What, the big bad butcher is embarrassed of a little music?" She didn't let up, leaning forwards and rubbing her finger on the rim of her glass. He glared before going back to watching the kids. Hurry the fuck up woman, you clearly have business to tell him otherwise the meat outside wouldn't have pointed him back here.
She clearly didn't want to let it go though. "You let it be released, didn't you? Why be so torn up about it?"
Cufflinks, stick pin
Adam snarled, before letting out a long aggravated sigh. He didn't want to deal with her bullshit, so might as well tell her the truth.
"Someone on PR got the files and released it. I wasn't going to." Will that get you to fucking stop woman?
"You kill them?"
When I step out I'm gonna do you in
"If I ever find out who it was."
She hummed, before finally fucking stoping. Fucking information brokers, always digging for meaningless shit like this. Goddamn he wanted to reach over and strangle her right now.
'We need the kids to like us, Adam.' Uriel reminded, and Adam grunted.
They come runnin' just as fast as they can
She finally got around to talking business, and Adam was glad for it. "The scavs are starting to consolidate, and someone is shipping them supplies. Weapons and fuel mostly."
"Consolidate under who? Who is supporting them? What kind of fuel?" These were all important questions to ask. Gang leaders could be a target to break a group, support was something to consider for likely weapons, and fuel would tell him if the supplier buys from Sovoil or Petrochem primarily.
"For the first, all I have is a name, someone named Armstrong" He grunted, not the best but it was something. A title? Maybe someone with cyberarms worth a damn then.
'Cause every girl crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man
"For support, that's a tricky question, I'll get back to it." Ah, sneaky shit was at play then, fucking great.
"The fuel is primarily CHOOH2, and in Petrochem barrels." Which means either Petrochem was doing something, or it was someone who buys from Petrochem.
"Now here's the thing about their supplier, all the weapons they're getting are Militech." So it must be Militech…
Top coat, top hat
That wasn't right, Uriel reminded him.
"All of them?" He asked
"All of them." she repeated.
And I don't worry 'cause my wallet's fat
Godamnit, Militech isn't stupid, they wouldn't do something so fucking obvious. Which means it was another corpo using Militech as a scapegoat to cover their own tracks. Or it was Militech using the audacity as a way to double-bluff the involvement of another corpo…
Fucking hell, he hated sneaky shit like this.
"Best guess?"
Black shades, white gloves
"No idea, I can come up with a reason that every big corpo in the world would be doing this. None of them want Arasaka to get more Night City land, and a few crates of fuel and weapons are peanuts to help prevent that."
Adam growled. Oh well, guess he would just have to butcher all the fucking meat they send his way like usual. It's not like anything they could discreetly ship could actually hurt him. They sat in silence for a bit, someone came over with a drink for the both of them. Adam went ahead and took a sip. It was entirely too fruity, he preferred something harder and hotter.
Eventually, Rogue spoke up again. Her voice was somewhat suspicious sounding.
Lookin' sharp, lookin' for love
"Hey… who's over there with the kids?"
Adam looked at her, her eyes slightly narrowed and hand grabbing the glass just a bit too hard. She was staring at where the kids and the woman were chatting with the bartender about some nonsense.
"The red-haired freeloader? She's the kid's mother." That was the only new person here, so he figured she must have been talking about her
They come runnin' just as fast as they can
"...She lives with you all?" At his nod she continued. "I think I should introduce myself then." She got up and started walking over to where they were. Hey, weren't you a crime lord or something? Shouldn't you be demanding people walk up to you to ask for favors?
Eh, none of his business. Adam finished his drink, and made the guy bring him back something else. Time to wait for the kids to get bored, he supposed.
He took a sip, fucking hell this one was fruity too.
'Cause every girl crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man
—
Adam was waiting, an activity he was well used to. He was in a dumpster in a scav alleyway, an activity he was not used to. He wasn't doing something stupid like peeking through a cracked lid, that would be amateur. Uriel had tapped into the camera on the kid's helmet instead, and the kid was overlooking the area farther away than Adam was. He was going to be a second-line assault to come in and finish off targets that Adam hadn't gotten to in time.
The kid ended up deciding on a Smasher-tier ICE as his first bit of chrome. It was a smart fucking move in Adam's opinion. Good Netrunners can shut someone with as much chrome as they had down completely, get that covered first and you completely remove a potential way to counter you. It also didn't have an active or even noticeable effect, so the strain on the kids brain was almost nil. It was about the best first bit of chrome he could have gotten, showing that the kid was learning.
The cougar eventually told him where the next supply drop was likely to occur, before they left. This was good shit, and it was partly why he didn't kill her when she annoyed him. The investigators on Arasaka dime might be able to figure out the sneaky shit for him if they got their hands on a complete supply drop like this. He put it in as a job request and his handler approved it pretty much immediately, thanking him for putting in his own initiative. Condescending bitch.
So here he was, crouching in a scav dumpster for a few hours while he waited for something to fucking happen. Goddamnit, couldn't they have dumped the bodies in here somewhere else? This was going to be hell to scrub off when he got back.
Ugh, he was probably going to have to use the bathroom to rinse all this shit down the floor-drains. The jobs that needed him to go in there were never pleasant.
The girl was overwatch again, the gremlin was sniper support, the boy was second-line attack, and he was mainline attack. So he had to be the closest to the potential site, which means he was in this FUCKING DUMPSTER. He suppressed the urge to snarl again. It had been four hours since he got in here. He hated sneaky shit so much.
If this turned out to be nothing, he was going to let the Cougar fucking know it.
[Movement, truck coming in from east road.] The girl messaged them. Good, something was finally happening.
Sure enough a truck with a covered bed rumbled in with a barely scratched-off militech logo on the side. Two scavs in their signature jumpsuits and twelve meatbags with guns came out from the far side alleyway doors to greet them. Six men with automatic rifles came out of the truck to say hello. Twenty targets in all huh?
[Begin.] The girl messaged, signaling that she disabled everything in the vicinity that she could without alerting them, and was about to start with their stuff now. Adam activated his Sandevistan and time slowed to a crawl. He jumped out of the fucking dumpster with his chain-shotgun in his hands.
A beautiful work of German engineering, a minor company that eventually fled overseas during the fourth corporate war and got integrated into Militech in the aftermath. The Stroheim CSG11 was the lovechild of a helicopter-mounted chain gun and a shotgun, and he loved it. More than one-hundred pounds of gun and ammo, the Stroheim shot standard .72 caliber slugs, at assault rifle speeds, for about a minute of continuous fire before reload. The ammo belt was enormous, and took up a massive portion of the gun. You needed to be a borg or in an ACPA to even handle the thing.
The kick was probably enough to break the arms of a fleshy weakling, and the destructive potential was absolutely incredible.
Time still slowed, Adam started firing. Bullets tore out of his second-favorite gun like a showerhead. To his right and over his shoulder, a railgun slug came down to turn the engine of the vehicle into scrap and rubble. The explosion began in slow motion before his Sandevistan ran out of time.
Meatbags started to turn into colored rain in front of him, barely a second after his assault started. Goddamn, he loved his job.
They started shouting something, but he wasn't caring to listen. The kid came out from their flank just as they started firing in his direction, his Sandevistan activated and the six he hadn't gotten to yet suddenly had holes opened in their backs and sides. They dropped to the ground and pretty quickly died from shock.
Everything in the area was dead, the radios out were silenced, the vehicle needed major repairs before anyone could use it, the cargo drop was completely intact, and barely three seconds had passed from the start of the engagement to the end.
Adam grinned openly. These kids were starting to get good. That was professional level right there. This was barely five weeks into their training too. Meatfucker wouldn't know what hit them.
He drew his knife and the kid did the same, time to stab everything once. You're never sure if someone is trying to pull a fast one on you unless you check for certain.
After the ritual stabbing was complete, they called in the second dispatchers to haul the loot off. Time to wait for them to arrive, he supposed.
Ah wait, he should say something to the kids, Uriel reminded.
"Good work."
Judging from how they perked up at that, it was a good suggestion.
'Good idea Uriel.'
'Anytime Adam.'
—
"You, bathroom, now." The woman had the audacity to think she could order him around. Adam growled at her. She was lucky he agreed with her, he smelled like every impurity that the scavs could produce. Fucking scavs, worsening his day after a slaughter like that, they were being spiteful.
The kids refused to get on the elevator with him, that fucking dumpster stunk that badly.
He dropped his equipment off by the door, and stomped on the pre-prepared long sheet of plastic wrap that prevented the floor from getting dirty all the way to the bathroom. Where was his pressure washer?
Ah, there it was. He went to grab it but the woman came in with a clip on her nose and waterproof boots on. Other than that she had her standard nightwear of his old shirt and belt.
"What?"
She didn't reply, woman you need to answer when he spoke to you. She just walked over to the pressure washer, turned it on, and pointed it at him. He grunted, fair enough, this was something the freeloader could do.
Soon enough he was being sprayed off by something that could shave paint off concrete. It was almost nice in a way, although he would have to sit next to the vents to dry off afterwards.
Soon enough a river of mud and shit and blood was pouring off of him, carried by the water of the pressure washer, and down the industrial-grade drain in the center of his bathroom. This was the only reason he had this room, but it was worth every fucking penny.
The woman was good at this, she had clearly cleaned off chrome with a pressure washer before.
He let his eyes close and simply let her finish. It was faster than if he was doing it alone, that was for sure.
Sure enough, only about ten minutes later she was done, and the pressure washer was turned off. He moved to go stand by the vent in the main room, but the woman pointed at him as she took the boots and nosepin off.
"Stay, I'll be back."
"Why?" He growled out.
"I'm getting a towel, you're not dripping everywhere."
Adam grumbled but waited. Fucking woman.
Soon enough she was back, and was toweling off the majority of the lingering water on his body. He'd still have to sit next to the vent to make sure no lingering moisture was in the cracks where it might fuck with his internals, but this would get most of it, cutting down his time by the warm air by another large chunk.
The door to the bathroom opened. It was the kid.
"Hey Smasher you done with the…?" He stopped and stared at them.
Adam was standing in the middle of the room facing the doorway, one arm raised to let the woman get the towel at his side. The woman was holding a towel against him, and was partially turned around to look at the kid.
"Right, nevermind." The kid very quickly shut the door and left. What was with that reaction kid? Never seen a borg get shit washed off him before?
The woman thunked her head against his chest-plate, facing the floor.
"Dios mio."