The panels flickered once more, then dimmed to a soft glow. Max let the silence hang, watching both of them shift under the faint hum of the system. In his vision, however, readouts scrolled sharp and clean.
[System Scan: Complete]Jackie Welles — Chrome tolerance: above average. Cardiovascular stress high but stable. Reflexes slower than optimal due to muscle mass, but loyal to the core. Risk factor: too much heart, too little caution.V — Chrome tolerance: exceptional. Neural response speed off the charts. Implant integration seamless. But personality markers: reckless, stubborn, strong lone-wolf tendency. Potential—limitless.
Max blinked once, dismissing the readouts before either could notice his optics shift.
Jackie leaned on the table, expectant. "So? What's the verdict, jefe? We pass, or you gonna kick us back into the street?"
V crossed her arms, smirking. "Yeah, lemme guess. I got a 'high score'? Or is this the part where you tell me I'm doomed without your crew?"
Max let a faint smile touch his lips, then tapped the table. The panels blinked off instantly. "You'll live. Both of you. Chrome won't kill you tomorrow, and your heads aren't about to fry."
Jackie exhaled with a grin, patting his chest. "Ha! See? Knew I was built tough."
V's smirk didn't fade. "And what about me? Don't hold back, demon."
Max's gaze lingered on her for a moment, voice steady. "You've got more space to grow than most. More than you probably realize. Question is if you can control it—or let it burn you alive."
V tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly at the cryptic tone. But she didn't press.
Max slid his mask back on, optics flaring as he straightened. "That's enough for tonight. You wanted in—you're in. But understand this: I don't deal in second chances. You run with me, you follow through. Always."
Jackie nodded without hesitation. "Claro que sí. You got my word."
V gave a short laugh, shaking her head. "Guess I'll stick around for now. See if you actually live up to the hype."
Max's smirk returned, faint and cold. "You'll see. Soon enough."
The next day, the trio slipped back into the Haven after grabbing a few hours of sleep. Max had already been up for hours—reviewing data, calculating tolerances, and weighing what they'd need for the coming jobs.
He stood at the table, mask resting nearby, when Jackie came in first, rubbing his eyes. "Chingada madre… feels like I barely blinked. You don't even sleep, do you, jefe?"
"Not much," Max replied simply, optics pulsing faintly. Then, without preamble, he asked, "You know a ripper you trust?"
Jackie blinked, then frowned. "Yeah. Old Vik. Been patchin' me up since I was a punk running street fights. Why?"
Max pulled a small duffel bag from under the table and set it down with a solid thunk. Inside, sealed chrome cases gleamed with pristine cyberware.
V raised her eyebrows, curiosity flashing. "What's that? Don't tell me you've been shopping already."
"Not shopping," Max corrected, his tone even. "Collecting. Consider it… redistribution."
He flipped open the first case. Inside lay a pair of Tier V Sandevistan optics-linked processors and polished Mantis Blades, gleaming like folded razors under the light. The kind of chrome only corpos or top mercs usually touched.
V stepped closer, eyes widening despite herself. "No way. That's high-end. You don't just 'collect' this kinda stuff."
Max's smirk was faint. "I do."
Before she could press, he turned to the second case. Inside, heavy-duty Gorilla Arms and a Kerenzikov implant sat snug in their foam locks.
Jackie let out a low whistle. "¡Hijo de puta! You serious? That's top-shelf. Most edgerunners would sell their abuela for this."
Max glanced at him. "You said Vik's good?"
"The best," Jackie said without hesitation. "But—" He hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. "Thing is… my chrome tolerance ain't as crazy as some gonks out there. If I slot in all that at once, might burn out."
Max nodded. He already knew. The System had flagged Jackie's threshold last night—solid, but not limitless. Jackie's body could handle Gorilla Arms and Kerenzikov without frying his nerves, but stacking more would put him on borrowed time.
"Then we install only what you can handle," Max said evenly. "Stronger, faster, but alive. Dead chrome is useless chrome."
Jackie smirked, relief flickering across his face. "Heh. Knew you had my back, jefe."
V leaned against the table, still eyeing the Sandevistan and Mantis Blades like they might vanish if she blinked. "And what about me? You just hand this over like candy?"
Max met her stare calmly. "You'll make it work. Your body can take it. Besides—if you're going to run with me, you'll need an edge sharper than words."
V scoffed, though there was a spark in her eyes. "Guess I can't argue with that."
Max closed the cases, lifting them with effortless strength. "Then let's go meet this Vik of yours. Time to get you both fitted properly."
Minutes later, the Murkmobile purred outside Vik's Clinic, the neon sign flickering weakly against the Watson grime. Inside, the smell of antiseptic and old coffee clung to the walls.
Vik raised his head as they walked in, his cybernetic eye adjusting with a faint whirr. "Jackie, mi hijo… been too long. You always show up when trouble's close behind. And—" His gaze shifted to Max and V. "New friends?"
"Something like that," Jackie said with a grin. "Listen, Vik. We need some installs. Serious ones."
Vik's brow furrowed—until Max set the chrome cases on the counter and flicked them open. The old ripper actually froze, his breath catching.
"Santa madre… where the hell did you get this?"
Max didn't answer. He just tilted his head slightly. "Can you install it or not?"
Vik's cyber-eye whirred again as he studied Max, then the hardware. Finally, he exhaled slow, shaking his head with a chuckle. "You're either gonna make me rich—or get me killed."
Jackie grinned, clapping the ripper on the shoulder. "That's the spirit, viejo. Fire up the chair. We got work to do."
***
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