Kyoko silently set the BD wreath aside, thinking Mercer might be under too much pressure:
Is there anything I can do to help? Should I... try looking for some work online? Or maybe go with Daichi to the camp to find a part-time job?
"Mercer, I think you seem really stressed."
Lucy's hand rested on Mercer's back, her expression a mix of speechlessness, sadness, and amusement: "So what do you plan to become? Turn into a borg like Adam Smasher?"
"Ahem, I was just joking..."
Mercer deftly laughed it off and changed the subject: "By the way, I've named my new team 'Kindling Squad.' What do you think of the name?"
"...Not bad. It fits with what you're always going on about, very much your style." After saying this, Lucy's fingers traced the mechanical seams on his back, feeling as if she were stroking cold scales.
"Stop that, it's still a bit ticklish..." Mercer shrugged, and Lucy watched as the metal plating on his back lifted and settled as if alive, briefly revealing the complex circuitry and mechanical structures within.
Lucy withdrew her hand. It seemed he really had retained some sensation.
"Tomorrow, I'll call everyone I recruited from the city over for Christmas. We'll all get to know each other; from now on, we're family."
After Mercer finished, Lucy showed a somewhat disapproving expression: "Family? Mercer, you've only known them for a short while..."
"Trust me, Lucy, they're all good people. Sure, they each have their flaws, but isn't that what family is all about? Even if everyone has their quirks and shortcomings, as long as we share the same goal and all want to see each other live better lives, that's what matters."
Mercer knew what she was hinting at and turned to look at her with a smile: "It's fine. Feelings between all of you can develop over time. After all... You're definitely already family to me, right?"
Lucy moved her face away with a look of disdain: "Who knows."
"Heh, stubborn." Mercer grinned and turned to Kyoko: "What do you think, Kyoko?"
Kyoko nodded vigorously: "Yeah! We're family! Even if we end up separated for some reason in the future, as long as family needs us, we'll definitely come back together!"
She was once again showing her mature-beyond-her-years side.
Kyoko said cheerfully: "I just wonder what kind of people 'A' brought in. I'm sure Mercer wouldn't misjudge anyone."
"We'll see when we meet them tomorrow. You all can go with Panam to buy some food and drinks tomorrow. Let's have a proper bonfire party and, at the same time, hold the first meeting for the founding of Kindling Squad. We'll discuss things like team members' benefits and responsibilities."
After Mercer finished, Lucy simply nodded: "You're the boss. It's your call."
"Mhm... I'm going to transfer Morning Star to run on my new Cyberdeck. This 'Soulkiller' cyberdeck has dedicated program chips and storage chips prepared for AIs, which serendipitously fits my current needs. You guys can keep playing if you want. I'm done for the day and need to rest early; no staying up late tonight."
After saying this, Mercer plugged into Lucy's computer, first checked the Morning Star's program, and after a brief test, transferred it directly into his own cyberdeck.
[Morning Star: Hello, Master~]
Mercer didn't need to speak aloud; he could communicate with it using brainwaves.
[Mercer: You seem a lot more lively now.]
[Morning Star: Really? I'm just continuously growing in the direction you hope for, aiming to become an AI that can assist you as soon as possible.]
[Mercer: Sounds good. From now on, you'll be staying in my cyberdeck long-term. I'll write some quickhacks into it. Your task is to master these programs and, when necessary, assist me in hacking enemies.]
[Morning Star: Understood. I'll work to quickly grasp the programs you write for me.]
[Mercer: You also need to self-study various technologies online, including driving, mechanical manufacturing, and more. I'll grant you network access later so you can remotely connect to my computer. You can use the cyberdeck to link to my computer and study on your own without relying on my brain computing power. The computer stores a vast amount of design blueprints and knowledge from the Arasaka database; learn and understand as much as you can. For data storage, use my computer primarily. Don't keep too much data in the cyberdeck; it could affect my memory.]
[Morning Star: Understood. However, during my online learning, I've noticed some areas in your plan for me that could be optimized.]
[Mercer: Such as?]
[Morning Star: The knowledge I can access online is extensive but lacks structure, and its authenticity is often hard to verify. Even as my intelligence grows, it's difficult to distinguish between useful knowledge and useless or incorrect information. I recommend you purchase some professional online courses from corporations to help me further improve, so I can sooner share your burdens.]
[Mercer: It won't be easy for an AI like you to sneak into corporate online courses. I'll consider buying chips with specialized course knowledge or finding a way for you to access corporate servers to enhance yourself.]
[Morning Star: Excellent! As expected of you, effortlessly identifying issues I hadn't noticed.]
[Mercer: Don't easily believe the positive things said about corporations online. I want you to learn knowledge, not fake news.]
[Morning Star: Understood. Anyone praising corporations is a fraud.]
[Mercer: Think critically; don't see things in black and white.]
[Morning Star: Understood. Critical thinking is key.]
A bit dumb.
Mercer gave a precise assessment. It seemed much smarter, but it was still at the pseudo-intelligent AI level, not yet awakened to "wisdom" like those AIs that had gained true self-awareness.
Simply put, it could only make judgments based on existing data and couldn't engage in extended or "innovative thinking" like humans.
Mercer felt that, for it to grow in this aspect, it might need more interaction with people and observation of human behavioral logic. As it continually observes humans, its intelligence will inevitably improve; this is the growth path for most AIs.
However, the growth potential of the AI program replicated from "Deathwish" is truly astonishing. It merely ran on a local computer and scraped data from the web, yet it has already developed to this extent.
After tossing the Morning Star into his cyberdeck, Mercer paid it no further mind. He chatted with Lucy and Kyoko for a while about the Aldecaldos family, then heard footsteps approaching outside the tent.
"Mercer? Panam told me you were back."
Cassidy's voice came from outside: "Saul wants to talk to you. Got time?"
"Yeah, now?" Mercer stood up, pulling on a hoodie to cover his netrunning suit and the exposed cyberware.
"Mm, Saul's probably just curious about what you all plan to do next."
When Cassidy saw Mercer step out, he looked him over for a moment and frowned. "You got cyberware installed? Looks like you've bulked up a whole size."
"Yeah, isn't growing taller a good thing? At least now, even with a baby face, I look about fifteen or sixteen, right?"
Mercer said with a laugh.
Cassidy shook his head. "Alright, since it's your choice; I'm sure Lucy and the others have already said their piece, so I won't add to the annoyance. Anyway, Saul wants to talk. My guess is he's worried about the trouble the family's been having lately."
"What trouble?" Mercer perked up.
"What else? Money... I only found out later, but the Aldecaldos here are actually in pretty bad shape. A lot of folks can't find work; everyone's just scraping by with the occasional smuggling side gig. There are hundreds of people in the camp now, and those odd jobs aren't nearly enough to feed all these mouths. Saul took a group to fight the Raffen Shiv last month, but we lost a lot of people. Even though we won, the resources we gained were minimal. If things keep going like this, half the Aldecaldos here will scatter before long, and who knows how many will stick around after that. My guess is he wants to ask if you know any money-making opportunities in the city; something to bring in some revenue for the family."
After Cassidy finished, Mercer had a pretty good idea of the situation.
But honestly, at the moment, he didn't have a solution ready. Still, out of respect for Saul, he went to see him in person.
Saul was in a large tent, surrounded by tables, chairs, computers, and files, with quite a few people gathered around him asking questions. Mercer didn't rush over. After waiting a bit, Saul called out, "Mercer, you're here? Have a seat, grab some coffee. I'll be with you as soon as I finish up here."
Mercer picked up a cup of coffee and took a few sips. It was bitter and not to his taste. He hadn't waited long after setting it down before Saul wrapped up his tasks.
"Alright, sorry about that. They were just asking about how to handle tomorrow's Christmas bonfire; logistics and such. You're a leader too; you know how it is. The boss always has to worry about these things."
Saul pulled up a chair and sat down not far from Mercer. He let out a long sigh, then lit a cigarette. "You smoke?"
"Forget it." Mercer thought for a moment and decided against smoking. Night City had too many temptations; if he smoked a cigarette today, who knew what he might be indulging in tomorrow. To avoid that possibility, it was best to steer clear of such things altogether for now.
"That's probably wise, especially since you're still young. I won't beat around the bush, Mercer. Panam mentioned you have quite the network in the city and know a lot. Do you have any... work suitable for the Aldecaldos? Information, leads, anything at all. Consider it broadening my horizons, expanding my thinking."
Saul looked somewhat embarrassed. Asking a kid for help wasn't exactly dignified for an older man in his position as a leader. But for the sake of the family, he was willing to set aside his pride and seek advice from another "family" leader.
"It's tough," Mercer said softly. "First, there's widespread prejudice in the city against nomads. People lump scum like the Raffen Shiv in with nomads. Second, even though Night City is still rebuilding, the work within the city has pretty much been carved up by various factions. Even if we had the strength to compete for jobs, even if we managed to secure a piece of the city, would the Aldecaldos be willing to live in Night City?"
"Of course not. Maybe some of the younger ones might consider it, but most of us at my age genuinely dislike city life; that's why we joined the family in the first place." Saul shook his head and sighed.
Mercer nodded, then added, "Large-scale smuggling is firmly in Dogtown's hands now. Dogtown's existence serves everyone's interests. Compared to the long-haul methods of nomads, using specialized aerodyne vehicles for airdrops into Dogtown is safer, more efficient, and cost-effective. With Pacifica's reconstruction halted and most corporations having already reestablished their presence in Night City over the past year, the city's economy is likely to rebound quickly. But that recovery will be for urban commercial activities. For you, the loss of large construction contracts is inevitable. Factory work isn't a good option either. To put it bluntly, working in a factory is worse than being a corpo, and being a corpo is a dead end." Mercer spread his hands, watching Saul's complicated expression, and sighed softly. "Why not stick to your old trade; farming?"
"We've tried. But there's another family called the Red Ocher; they're farming near the water source. Though I've heard they're not doing too well either. After the war, once Biotechnica shifted its commercial focus back to Night City, they started claiming ownership of that water and land."
Saul finished, looking irritated. "Mercer, do you really think there's no other path for us nomads in Night City?"
"I actually think merc work could suit you," Mercer said. "You wouldn't have to stay in Night City all the time; take jobs when they're available, go wherever you want when there's no work. But considering not many freedom-loving, stability-seeking Aldecaldos would choose a life risking their necks, maybe it's best to wait it out a bit longer."
"Wait a second?" Saul's eyes widened slightly. "What information do you have?"
"I plan to settle down in Night City with my people eventually, and sooner or later we'll take on some profitable ventures. Profitable ventures require not just technology but also manpower. As mentioned before, for tasks like selling program chips, we can handle the programming side, but distribution would inevitably require some involvement from the Aldecaldos."
Mercer didn't hold back, revealing part of his plan: "Besides that, there's also the sale of secondhand cyberware, or some products I might assemble myself later; all of which will need people for distribution, maybe even running shops. If the Aldecaldos are willing to get involved, just these two businesses alone should bring in enough money to support at least twenty or thirty of your people. Or, if you're feeling bold, I'll bring you in on any big jobs I come across in the future. They're risky, no doubt, but if we pull them off, we all get rich."
Mercer didn't want to overpromise; he'd need to assess the situation on the ground to determine the scale of operations.
"I see... thanks. It's at least a potential path." Saul couldn't hide his disappointment, but Mercer could only shrug helplessly.
Nomads were called nomads not just because they were displaced and homeless, but also because most of them valued freedom, making it hard for them to integrate into city jobs.
They didn't want to twist screws in factories, serve corporations like dogs, or fight for turf like gangs. Now, with their main source of income snatched away by Dogtown, change was the only alternative to waiting for death.
Mercer thought that if he were Saul, he'd be figuring out how to pivot the whole family, maybe even taking business from the city gangs. Controlling just one district could be enough to sustain the family.
If nothing changed, Saul would soon be hit hard by harsh reality. By 2077, what was once a family of hundreds would dwindle to a mere few dozen.
By then, Saul would even consider turning to Biotechnica. Honestly, if you're going to seek an alliance, do it when you're strong; that's when they might still respect your numbers.
Going to them when you're desperate? That's just asking to be used as lab rats by Biotechnica.
Totally reckless.
However, Saul's mention of the Red Ocher family sparked a thought in Mercer.
"That Red Ocher family; do they often operate around Yucca, outside the checkpoint?" he asked, looking at Saul.
Saul nodded. "Yeah, they usually farm near the reservoir not far from there."
"No wonder... I get it now." Everything clicked for Mercer.
Yucca was the town where the nomad V briefly stopped to fix their car before entering Night City in the game.
The intel Mercer had gotten from Wakako about Biotechnica's frequent activity around Yucca reminded him of a side quest from the game.
In that quest, Biotechnica's director, Joanne Koch, had tricked the Red Ocher family into participating in some unusual experiment under the guise of "testing cold medicine."
The incident resulted in seventy deaths, ultimately prompting the enraged Red Ocher family to place a bounty through a fixer, which V carried out by eliminating the woman.
However, Saul's intel suddenly made Mercer realize that what Biotechnica was currently doing in Yucca Town might be far more complicated than Wakako and her client had assumed.
Numerous thoughts raced through Mercer's mind, but in the end, he only said, "Saul, don't worry. I'll keep an eye out in the city for any jobs that might suit the Aldecaldos."
"Alright. I heard you recruited some people in the city and formed a new crew?" Saul remarked. "Panam gave me a heads-up that you'd be bringing friends over."
"Yeah, just using this place for the team to meet up and discuss the future," Mercer replied.
"Be careful. City folks aren't like us Aldecaldos; they're cunning and money-obsessed," Saul warned.
Mercer just chuckled. "The people I've recruited are different. Anyway, if there's nothing else, I'll take off now?"
"Go ahead. Merry Christmas in advance. I might not have time for you tomorrow."
Saul returned to his desk, poring over supply reports with a furrowed brow. It looked like the Aldecaldos wouldn't be having a great Christmas this year.
But there was little Mercer could do; his capabilities were limited now, and his priority was ensuring his own people could live well.
Back in his tent, Mercer dutifully took the medication Vik had given him, exchanged a brief greeting with Lucy, and turned in early.
Even for him, installing so much cyberware at once was bound to take a toll on his body.
For him, the best way to recover was to get a solid night's sleep.
—--
"Whoa, this is the Aldecaldos' camp? Pretty crowded!"
Rebecca strode boldly into the Aldecaldos camp, hefting a green shotgun nearly half her height.
The Aldecaldos' Christmas celebration was simple: a makeshift tree assembled from scrap materials, a large bonfire, and a long table laden with food.
Beneath the table, crates of ice-cold beer were stacked high. Beyond that, it was just small groups of Aldecaldos chatting and laughing together.
Pilar trailed behind her, glancing around and occasionally letting out a creepy chuckle. "Gotta say, these Aldecaldos girls; each one's got a wild edge you don't see in city girls."
Rebecca shot him a sharp look. "You idiot, I'll let it slide most times, but if you embarrass Boss Mercer today, I'll blow your head off!"
"Damn, you've known him for what, a few days? And you're already taking his side over your own brother's?" Pilar complained.
"You have the nerve to say that? I made more in one day with him than in ten years with you, you moron!" Rebecca spat disdainfully.
"Money? That's all it is? Rebecca, I'm disappointed!"
Pilar feigned hurt.
Rebecca just scoffed. "Yeah, with him, at least there's cash. With you? You'd sell your gun just to watch BDs at Lizzie's! Dumbass!"
Pilar rolled his eyes, "Oh, come on, I thought that was all behind us! When did you become so vindictive?"
"Ever since I realized you're an idiot," Rebecca retorted irritably. "What were you secretly buying online yesterday?"
"Uh, that..." Pilar's eyes darted away.
"Listen, you jerk of a brother, I'm telling you straight; Mercer is a good guy. He kindly gave us work and brought us into the team. Even if we're not exactly risking our lives for him, you could at least try to be a little more reliable."
"If you keep being this unreliable, I'm really going to punch you."
Rebecca said angrily, "I've already paid back the advance Mercer gave us, and I've handed over the team's 20% share. At most, I'll give you a thousand eddies; the rest stays with me. You'll have to ask me for permission when you need to use it!"
"Come on, sis! I'm sorry! The new toy I ordered online is cash on delivery; it's 1,500 eddies, and we're splitting it. You can't just pocket my share!"
The bickering between Pilar and Rebecca was clearly observed by V and Kiwi, who were following behind them.
V chuckled softly and turned to Kiwi. "These two siblings are only intermittently reliable. Sometimes Pilar seems more sensible, and other times Rebecca acts like his mom."
Kiwi, who had been watching the lively scene in the camp with an inexplicable sense of melancholy, withdrew her gaze from the Christmas celebrators and responded, "Pilar just knows how to survive in Night City. Rebecca is a bit like Mercer; only a child would still believe there's anything good left in this city."
V nodded emphatically in agreement. "Exactly! He's even more naive than Rebecca in that regard. Without the two of us, he'd probably stumble into some ditch sooner or later."
Kiwi almost laughed out loud. You?
Having lived with V for a few days, she'd gotten to know her fairly well and had formed a rough judgment: the girl was nice, but her Intelligence stat was definitely on the lower side.
Kiwi suspected that even those free BD experience scammers on the street could trick her into a Scavenger den.
The four of them stood out from the Aldecaldos. Kiwi, with her blonde hair, wore a long coat that covered her tightly, her expression cold and detached.
V, on the other hand, was bold and unrestrained, dressed like a street kid with a large silver chain around her neck and stark white hair.
Rebecca, from her cybereye to her skin tone to her weapon setup, fit Night City's trends perfectly; 100% a city girl.
And Pilar... that idiot's eyes lit up at the sight of women, shouting and making a racket, clearly not someone to be trusted.
So, when Kyoko, who was stationed at the entrance to greet newcomers, saw them, she immediately pegged them as Mercer's new teammates.
She didn't approach right away but observed them discreetly for a while before concluding; aside from that ugly guy with the beard, the rest seemed alright.
She stepped forward and greeted them proactively, "Hey, are you here for A?"
"Uh, hi there, little girl. Are you here to pick us up for A?" V greeted her with a smile.
"Yep! My name's Usagi; Usagi Tsukino on my ID! Same as the protagonist of Sailor Moon!"
Usagi laughed cheerfully, radiating an innocence that felt out of place in Night City.
V quite liked the little girl and said cheerfully, "Nice to meet you, I'm V. What's your relationship with A?"
"We're family," Usagi replied without hesitation. "Since you're joining the team, you're my family too! I hope we all get along well!"
V was taken aback and instinctively glanced at Kiwi.
Rebecca, on the other hand, strode over with a carefree grin, ruffling Kyoko's hair and slinging an arm around her neck. "Alright then! Name's Rebecca. Call me sis from now on, and I'll have your back!"
She was short and baby-faced, looking almost the same age as Kyoko.
"Sure thing~ Rebecca onee-chan," Kyoko said sweetly. With her short twin tails, she and Rebecca did look a bit like sisters.
"Are you an official member of the team too?" Rebecca asked, completely guileless.
Kyoko made a conflicted face. "I... I haven't decided yet. Mercer told me to find my own dream first, to think it through properly. For now, I guess I'm... an auxiliary member?"
"He says that to everyone. Have you known him long?" V chimed in.
Kyoko nodded. "Yeah, pretty long. We came here together from the outside."
"What'd you two do? Where'd you run from? With his skills, he should be able to make it anywhere," Pilar suddenly spoke up.
Kyoko eyed him warily. "You'll have to ask Mercer that yourself."
"Damn, why you so guarded with me?" Pilar was genuinely a little hurt this time. He thought Kyoko was really cute, reminding him of how Rebecca used to be when she was younger.
Sigh. How did Rebecca end up the way she is now?
"Who told you to ask stuff you shouldn't! Boss'll tell us when he wants to. No need to pry when he doesn't!" Rebecca's loyal defense made Kyoko chuckle. "Rebecca onee-chan is right."
"Haha!" Rebecca was over the moon being called "onee-chan" for the first time; since English doesn't have a perfect equivalent for "onee-chan," Kyoko had used the Japanese term specifically.
Beaming, Rebecca hugged Kyoko and even offered her own massive handgun. "Wanna try it? This thing packs a punch! Even I get knocked back a step when I fire it."
"Uh, are your wrists okay?" Kyoko asked, wide-eyed.
"Hah! If I weren't so light, with the strength in these arms, I could fire ten rounds without flinching!" Rebecca declared proudly, patting her bicep. "Don't let my size fool you; I'm strong as hell!"
With Kyoko, who was already familiar with the camp, leading the way, the group didn't have to walk far before finding Mercer's tent.
Inside, Mercer was cheerfully unwrapping a gift while wearing his mask; a Christmas present from Daichi and Leon.
Lucy stood nearby watching and couldn't help laughing when Mercer opened the box.
"Damn, what is this?" Mercer immediately closed the gift wrap without a second thought.
"'That Night With Her'; looks like an official corporate BD too. Seems they remember your tastes. Not bad," Lucy teased, chuckling at Mercer's reaction.
Mercer stared at her speechlessly. "How about we watch it together?"
"Sure," Lucy raised an eyebrow challengingly.
Mercer fell silent, at a loss for a comeback, and could only play dumb while hurriedly stashing the BD. It'd be a waste to lose it.
Just as V arrived, he caught Mercer in the act of hiding something.
"What're you hiding?" V asked with a grin. "I think I saw a pink box edge."
"Who's laughing about Christmas gifts when you haven't even prepared mine?"
Mercer had assumed V wouldn't bring anything at all, but to his surprise, V chuckled and casually produced a small wrapped box.
"Kiwi and I went halves on it; she pitched in most of the money you gave her for meals. Scored this off the black market, sis. Open it up and see for yourself."
Mercer took it and, with a suspicious glance her way, unwrapped it carefully. Inside was a disposable electroplating tattoo machine.
It was the kind where you could choose your own design, press it against a mechanical surface, and stamp on an electroplated tattoo.
"Your cyberware's looking kinda grungy, like the logo's been scrubbed off. Why not add a badass emblem of your own?" V said with a grin.
Mercer ran his fingers over the tattoo machine, looked up, and said earnestly to V, "Thanks, V. I really like it. I'll design a team logo and stamp it right on my neck."
"Exactly! What kind of street punk doesn't have any ink? If you don't wanna tattoo your skin, just mark up that metal neck of yours."
Seeing his satisfaction, V felt relieved; she'd been a little worried Mercer might not appreciate such a cheap gift.
"My shithead brother and I got you this!" Rebecca said, giving Pilar a kick.
Pilar rolled his eyes. "I was gonna do a magic trick, but fine; check out my moves!"
With an exaggerated flourish, his large hands danced through the air before swiftly pulling a small box from his pocket.
To an ordinary person, the speed would've been hard to follow, almost as if it had just appeared in his hand.
But to V and Mercer, it was child's play.
"Ta-da!" Pilar held up the box dramatically with one hand. "Rebecca spent over an hour online last night picking out your Christmas gift! A big! Fucking! Cannon..."
Before he could finish, Rebecca elbowed him hard enough to send him crumpling to the floor, gasping for air.
Rebecca snatched the box back irritably. "It's beef jerky! The 100% real meat kind! Authentic stuff from Lone Star Texas online store! Weren't you just saying yesterday at dinner how much you missed real meat? Figured I'd treat you to some meat. I'm a bit short on cash; we just put a down payment on a used ride from El Capitán and picked up some weapons and gear. This was about all I could afford. It keeps well, so whenever you're hungry, just gnaw on a strip. Should taste pretty decent... Honestly didn't know what else to get you. Doubt you'd care for any random junk gifts anyway."
Mercer reached out and took it, smiling. "Thanks. When I'm really craving meat, this'll hit the spot. Helps a lot."
"Glad you like it!"
Rebecca finally broke into a smile as she watched him tuck it away carefully.
Then Mercer opened a crate inside his tent.
"Got to thinking; you're all probably the types who only invest in cyberware and weapons and skip everything else. So, I got each of you a Militech carbon fiber bulletproof jacket."
He pulled out the gear, grinning. "Especially you, Rebecca. You fight reckless, and you don't have any subdermal armor. Make sure you wear this whenever you head out."
Rebecca wasn't particularly fond of the ugly black bulletproof vest, but she still reached out and took it. Tearing off the outer packaging, she slipped it on, and it fit perfectly.
As expected, picking the children's size for her was the right call.
Mercer thought to himself without showing any expression, then distributed the other bulletproof vests to the rest of the group.
Mainly, he didn't have much money or the patience to pick out suitable Christmas gifts for everyone, so he figured it was better to go with something always useful in the cyberpunk world: bulletproof vests.
Since he'd used Militech's Christmas discount when buying them, each vest was wrapped in colorful holiday packaging.
Admittedly, tearing open what looked like a Christmas present only to find a bulletproof vest inside was a bit hard for Mercer to keep a straight face about.
Only in cyberpunk.
"Anyway, let's make do with this for this year. Next Christmas, I'll put more effort into preparing proper gifts for everyone."
After saying this, Mercer cleared his throat lightly and adopted a serious tone. "To make sure we don't miss the official start of the Christmas bonfire later, let's begin the Kindling Squad's first official meeting now. Kyoko, pull the tent flap shut. Everyone, squeeze in and find a spot to sit wherever you can."
Kyoko immediately went to the entrance and closed the tent.
Lucy instinctively took a seat on one side of the mattress. V looked around left and right before choosing to sit on a crate piled inside the tent. Rebecca was pulled by Kyoko to sit next to Lucy, and Pilar simply plopped down on the ground.
Kiwi just stood in the corner with her arms crossed, her expression cool and detached.
Mercer sat in the netrunner station, glanced around at everyone, and began speaking slowly.
"First, we need to discuss the team's responsibilities, obligations, and benefits. Let's start with responsibilities and obligations. The current team rules are fairly simple, with just a few points everyone needs to know. First: For every team assignment, rewards will be distributed based on contribution and workload. Even I will receive a reduced share if I don't pull my weight. Does everyone agree?"
After seeing everyone nod, Mercer continued, "Second: For all team assignments, 40% of the earnings will go into the team's public fund. This fund will be used to cover the base's rent and expansion costs, pay for the base's security facilities, and fund the team's R&D. It will also provide interest-free loans to members who want to install cyberware but are short on funds. Additionally, this money will cover Trauma Team platinum membership fees and medical expenses. Even I won't misuse the team fund arbitrarily. Any purchases will be recorded and made transparent, and I'll notify members in advance for major expenses. If anyone has objections to a particular expense, they can request a meeting to vote on it. Is this acceptable?"
After he finished, even Pilar just scratched his head, but no one raised any objections.
Mercer nodded with satisfaction. "Besides that, if anyone takes on side jobs privately, they only need to contribute 20% of the earnings from those jobs. This 20% cut also applies to other outputs from our base, such as program chips we'll produce and sell in the future. Profits from these will also have 20% deducted for the team's public fund. If anyone secretly takes on side jobs without handing over the earnings, hoarding their own little stash, the first time I catch it I'll ask for an explanation and impose a fine. If it's severe or they keep doing it after being warned, they're out."
Mercer paused, scanning everyone's expressions before continuing. "Rule four: we don't do anything that goes against our conscience. I know that's pretty hard to pull off in Night City, but that's our squad's rule. I believe everyone here can still tell right from wrong and understands the so-called moral bottom line. So this rule is just to set the tone for our future operations; we're not in Night City to commit massacres. Of course, if lives are at risk, our own people's safety comes first, no question. And if during a mission we realize we've been played, that some asshole is trying to use us as pawns to do their dirty work, every one of us has the right to abort the contract at any time. I'll make that clear to every fixer who hires us. Anyone who tries to play us for fools will face payback, to show them that Kindling Squad isn't like those money-hungry idiots they know who'll do anything for cash."
As he finished this point, Rebecca excitedly hugged her metal grenade launcher. Yes, this was exactly the kind of team she wanted to join!
"Rule five, and the most important duty: absolutely no betraying the team. If anyone sells out their teammates to save their own skin or make a quick buck, as long as even one member of this team is still breathing, we'll hunt that traitor to the ends of the earth and make them pay in blood. And if someone in the team gets into trouble, how we handle it is our business, but we never sell out our own. You all need to remember that. It also means when you're out there, before picking a fight, think twice; don't bring unnecessary trouble to your family over some trivial shit."
Mercer shot a glance at Rebecca, who just grinned back, though it was hard to tell how much of it actually sank in.
V scratched his head. "What if we run into someone like Fenrir before, who seems like a real hassle and deliberately starts something? I don't wanna have to suck it up all the time."
"Then fight back. What I mean is, don't go looking for trouble or start shit unnecessarily, but if someone comes at us, of course we take them down." Mercer's matter-of-fact response brought a smile to V's face.
"Alright, that's all the rules for now. Next up are the benefits." Mercer shifted gears, starting on the perks of joining the team.
"First, regarding cyberware upgrades, I'll require everyone to use quality gear. No one is allowed to buy sketchy secondhand stuff from those shady chop shops. Rebecca, Pilar, the implants you've got now; once we have enough funds, you'll both go see Dr. Viktor and get them replaced. From now on, all our surgeries will be done only at Viktor's. Financially, besides interest-free loans, I'll also provide a 20% subsidy for any combat cyberware installations. After all, boosting individual combat strength means boosting the team's overall power. I think it's appropriate to cover that from the communal funds. And if the communal funds fall short, I'll personally cover the difference first. Or we can all chip in together and pay it back to individuals once the team's funds are more abundant. Don't worry about taking advantage or anything. The best help you can give the team and me is to get stronger as quickly as possible. Of course, any member who has cyberware installed to a degree that both Dr. Viktor and I consider dangerous must undergo daily testing using the cognitive test program I've developed, to prevent the onset of Cyberpsychosis. If any member shows deviations in the cognitive test or dangerous signals in the mental evaluation, they must reduce their cyberware load, and in severe cases, withdraw from combat duties. And don't worry; it doesn't mean you'll be useless afterward."
Mercer looked around at everyone and said gently, "Though I haven't settled on a specific figure yet, if anyone becomes unable to fight for any reason, as long as I'm alive, you won't end up on the streets. Think of it as a pension or disability compensation? Hah, didn't expect to hear that in Night City, did you? Of course, this is all part of what I'd call the team's second benefit. The second benefit is that the team will use public funds to purchase Trauma Team Platinum memberships for everyone, to maximize survival rates during combat. Follow-up medical costs will also be covered by the team. Even if you get hurt on a side job, it's the same; after all, I do require a cut from everyone's side gigs."
"Damn, you're buying Platinum memberships for the whole team? Whoa, A, that's a huge amount of money!"
V's eyes widened in disbelief.
Was there really an Edgerunner squad in Night City with full medical coverage?
From what she knew, Trauma Team charged Edgerunners exorbitant rates, with far stricter conditions than the 3500 a month some corpos paid!
"Trauma Team's service is reliable. Even if Arasaka agents take you down, they'll pull you out of Arasaka's hands first and ask questions later. They can even serve as emergency backup in desperate situations. The Trauma Team crew can hold their own; aerodyne vehicle heavy firepower, full combat cyberware, and Smart weapons. They're pretty useful when needed."
After a pause, Mercer added, "I'll need to look into the specific costs later, but we're definitely getting it; everyone, including netrunners. This isn't an expense we can skip. I'd rather take on more jobs and earn more to make sure everyone's covered."
V gave a thumbs-up, and Rebecca grinned, winking at him. "Boss, you're the best!"
Lucy glanced subtly at Rebecca for a moment before looking away.
"The third benefit is room and board. I'll try to rent a bigger place to accommodate everyone's living needs as much as possible. There are also miscellaneous things, like skill training; I'll handle that later by securing professional courses, simulation training chips, and such to improve everyone's combat skills. Also, any special weapons, vehicles, or equipment needed for team missions will be provided by the team. You won't need to spend your own money on extra firepower."
Mercer thought for a moment and said, "That's about it for now. We can add more later if anything comes to mind. Since we're just starting out, let's set the basic framework, and we can adjust as we go. Next comes team positioning. Everyone needs to get familiar with each other's specialties so we can all fulfill our responsibilities during missions."
"I'll start. I'm responsible for the team's technical R&D, logistical support, financial planning, mission resource gathering, action plan formulation, netrunner technical support, cyberware debugging, and I'll even perform cyberware surgeries for you all when necessary."
"Hmm... there's actually quite a bit. Basically, we handle everything. That's what the boss does."
After Mercer finished speaking, silence fell over the room as everyone exchanged glances.
Most of them were used to just grabbing their guns and getting to work; since when did "specialties" matter?
"I assist Mercer with netrunning techniques," Lucy said, though she wasn't entirely sure what Mercer actually needed her to do.
Kiwi added softly, "The only thing I know is netrunning."
V thought for a moment before declaring boldly, "Leave the frontal assault to me! With my Sandevistan, I can put a hole in anyone's head in less than a second if they get in my way!"
Rebecca glanced at her with a hint of envy, but after considering her own preferences, she raised her hand excitedly. "I like big guns! Shotguns, submachine guns, machine guns; I'll provide suppressive fire from the flank!"
Pilar thought for a moment and spoke with less confidence. "I know a bit about firearms and cybernetic modifications, but I'm nowhere near as good as A. My shooting is decent enough for street fights, and my physical skills are just average..."
"That's fine. For future jobs, you can handle tasks like maintaining and selling secondhand cyberware, firearm upkeep and modifications; stuff that doesn't require top-tier skill but is time-consuming. During combat, you can serve as support. Stock up on utility items like frag grenades, EMP grenades, or maybe practice with a sniper rifle. These days, sniping doesn't demand much skill; it's more about the quality of the weapon. With a cybereye plugin handling long-range targeting and built-in firearm chips calculating wind, humidity, and distance for auto-adjustment, it's actually hard to miss. Just think about which role suits you best. Combat engineer could also work; you know mechanics, programming, and can tinker with hardware. You might even pull off something special occasionally."
Mercer reassured him without any condescension. Though Pilar seemed unreliable, he did show some talent when fiddling with guns and miscellaneous machinery.
Pilar nodded, troubled, deciding to give it more thought later. He'd initially thought being a merc was just about fighting and killing, but Mercer's professionalism made it feel like they were forming a proper special ops team. Having such a competent boss sure put pressure on the rest of them.
"I-I can handle some netrunning too!" Kyoko blurted out, though lacking confidence. "Or help with logistics or something..."
"Don't sell yourself short. Your netrunning skills are already better than most so-called 'netrunners' on the street. It's just that our guy's level is so high it makes you all seem less critical," Mercer said with a chuckle, causing Kyoko to puff her cheeks in frustration. The other two netrunners also felt indirectly targeted, wounded yet unable to retort.
"Alright, I'll need to carefully consider how to deploy the netrunners. Don't worry; there'll definitely be opportunities for you to shine. In fact, this mission will require your skills."
After Mercer spoke, everyone's eyes lit up with anticipation.
"Now let's get down to business; I mean, Wakako's job."
After briefly outlining the mission objectives and compensation, Mercer immediately began assigning tasks.
"First, I need Kiwi, V, and Panam to head to Yucca."
He paused before continuing, "Your only goal is to verify the intel Wakako provided; confirm the Biotechnica convoy's firepower, schedule the operation, and scout potential ambush locations."
"At the same time, I want you to gather intel in Yucca on who's collaborating with Biotechnica, including any leads on the Red Ocher family."
"I'm sending Panam with you because she's an Aldecaldo; she knows the terrain, and more importantly, her presence will keep the Red Ocher family from seeing you as hostile when you ask around."
"You don't need to make direct contact with the family; just find out if they're connected to this situation in any way."
"What I mean is... it might not be a direct link, but Biotechnica's activities could involve the Red Ocher. Of course, it's just a hypothesis; we'll need boots on the ground to confirm."
"If there's truth to it, we'll deal with it then."
After Mercer finished, V nodded, but Kiwi hesitated. "Me? I'm not sure about my skills..."
She was one of the few in the team who hadn't been in a real firefight; even Kyoko had taken on Raffen Shiv a few times.
"I chose you because you're level-headed and experienced. You're not going for combat or terrain assessment; you're there to provide a cool head while gathering intel in Yucca."
Kiwi understood her role after Mercer's explanation.
"Got it. If anything comes up, I need to rein them in and investigate Biotechnica discreetly, without getting noticed."
She summarized her task.
"Right. Find a cover to snoop around quietly. Kiwi, if things get tense, keep an eye on V and Panam's hot tempers. Panam's a good kid, but she's a bit like V in that way..."
At the same time, Mercer transferred several Quickhack packages to her. "Load these into your cyberdeck. If things go south, use my hacks; there's no shame in playing script kiddie."
"These Quickhacks are nearly unbeatable against enemies without military-grade ICE. The only thing limiting your netrunning speed will be your own brainpower."
"You can also study these programs to sharpen your skills."
"They still have room for optimization, but the framework is solid. I prefer to improvise, so I never fully developed them, but feel free to give it a shot."
Kiwi nodded firmly, accepting the task; she owed Mercer a lot. How could she ever repay him if she kept hiding in the background?
Meanwhile, V frowned and glanced at Rebecca, who was smiling at her amusedly. Annoyed, she looked away.
What did he mean by 'hot temper'? Both V and Rebecca thought they had pretty good personalities.
Mercer simply continued, "On another front, Lucy, Rebecca, Pilar; you'll be doing some market research. The objective is to investigate the program chips being sold in Kabuki, as well as the braindance chips sold in other districts. I need to know the current scale of the similar chip markets in Night City, their market share, which gangs are acting as protectors for these markets, and where these programs are supplied from. If anything remains unclear for now, set it aside; I'll find a way to figure it out later. Although this intel could be obtained by paying a fixer, these markets might already have fixers involved, so be careful when you're out there. If you sense you're being watched, don't hesitate; leave immediately. Pilar, you definitely know your way around these black-market dealings, so it's time for you to step up. But Rebecca, don't let your temper flare up again. I'm entrusting Lucy to you, so make sure you bring her back safely; no one gets hurt. If there's any risk of a firefight, request backup immediately."
Rebecca laughed confidently and said, "Don't worry! This kind of thing is right up our alley. That asshole brother of mine loves hanging around those black-market dealers; getting a little info won't be a problem!"
Pilar finally showed a confident expression too: "Yeah, man, I've been tailing these vendors since I was ten. I know all their tricks."
"I'll figure out the technical level of these programs," Lucy said with determination.
This was the first time Mercer had let her handle something on her own; she absolutely couldn't mess it up!
Mercer nodded and pointed to the briefcase-sized drone, saying, "Both of you take one of these, one for each team. Our squad's netrunner will load an authentication program onto it. If needed, you can use this drone for aerodyne reconnaissance, fire support, and suppression. Bring an extra ammo drum. The drone's machine gun only holds fifty rounds, but you can attach an external drum to expand it to a hundred and fifty rounds if necessary. There's also an under-mounted grenade launcher on the drone; just slot in a grenade, the kind that can be detonated remotely. If things get really dangerous, you can even kamikaze the drone into someone's face. It's not as expensive as you might think."
"And you can always call me for backup. I can deep dive and take control of the drone, just make sure you enable its public signal connection so I can access it from the public net."
After confirming there was nothing else to add to the first phase of the plan, Mercer said, "Alright, that's all for now. I'll send the key points and all the intel I've gathered to your encrypted comms. Make sure each of you reads it thoroughly and knows the details before taking action. As for now... everyone can pack up and head out to eat and drink. Did you bring the food you promised?"
"Yeah, we left it in the car for now. We decided each of us would bring a case of beer and some snacks. Tonight, we're not going home till we're drunk!"
Rebecca said excitedly, reaching out toward Mercer, but then she seemed to remember something and pulled her hand back:
"But Mercer, you should probably sit this one out. You just had major surgery; I heard drinking too much can worsen nerve stress and pain."
"Don't worry about me. Go have fun."
Mercer waved them off, sending them out to enjoy Christmas.
Pulling open the tent flap, he saw that the crowd outside seemed even larger than before.
The Aldecaldos had largely put their work on hold for the day, returning to the camp to take part in the significant holiday. Now, looking around, nearly everyone had gathered around the camp's large bonfire.
The clamor of voices, mingled with singing and laughter, filled the air without pause.
Before they had even circled the area twice, they saw Saul step up to the central bonfire and pick up a microphone.
His voice echoed through the sound system as he summarized the Aldecaldos' achievements that year and shared a brief outlook for the future, then wrapped up his speech simply, letting the true revelry begin.
Food on the long tables was laid out buffet-style for everyone to help themselves. Though supplies weren't abundant, each household had brought their A-game, turning limited ingredients into a variety of distinctive, delicious dishes.
Mercer also took a stroll outside. With his mask on and keeping a low profile, he seemed out of place amid the Christmas festivities. He just grabbed a bit of food and retreated back into his tent.
With the camp crowded and chaotic tonight, he didn't dare enter an unguarded deep dive state. Instead, he sat by his notebook, tinkering with some virus code and optimizing his programs.
But Mercer had only been at his computer for half an hour before Kyoko found him and dragged him out. She cheerfully insisted on showing off a dance she'd recently learned, though to Mercer it just looked like random swaying to the music.
Still, the festive atmosphere persuaded the reluctant Mercer to stay. He settled in a corner, beer in hand, watching them sing, dance, and make merry.
Seeing that he really wasn't comfortable joining such a lively scene, Kyoko didn't push him; she just didn't want Mercer holed up alone in his tent working on Christmas.
Mercer sat quietly in the corner, planning to watch the fun for a while and head back to sleep once things died down late at night. But unexpectedly, a petite figure wobbled through the crowd a few times before making a beeline straight for him.
Rebecca, holding a glass, her face flushed, swayed over to his side. Before Mercer could react, she nestled close to him with familiar ease.
Without waiting for his response, whether she was hugging him or snuggling into his embrace was unclear, she tilted her head and grinned at him. "Hey there, weird big brother with the mask; all alone on Christmas?"
"Cut it out," Mercer said, exasperated. "Are you drunk already?"
"I am not drunk!" she raised her voice, then giggled, her big eyes fixed intently on his behind the mask. "Hey~ Mercer~ why do you always wear a mask on your face?"
Her hands were restless; one rested on him while the other reached up toward his face.
Mercer wasn't quite used to dealing with such an enthusiastic girl.
"Can't I just like cosplay? Stop touching me!"
Mercer sensed things were taking a wrong turn.
But Rebecca pressed closer, giggling as she draped herself over him, her orange-red and green eyes fixed intently on him.
"You don't have a girlfriend, right? What are you scared of? Or do you prefer men?" Rebecca took the initiative.
"No, I don't, but I'm not interested in minors," Mercer said nervously, glancing around as if looking for an escape.
If he let her keep touching and hugging him, who knew where things might lead?
Where's Lucy? Help me out here!
"But I'm pretty interested in you, Mercer! Show me what you look like, c'mon!"
She chuckled, tracing circles on Mercer's face with one hand. "I heard lots of people in the camp have seen your face, but us, your own crew, haven't. You think that's fair?"
"I'll show you all once we're done with this job. Huh?"
Mercer froze.
Rebecca froze too.
With one hand, she had lifted a corner of his mask from the side and gotten a clear look at his face, one that seemed even younger than hers, now staring back at her in the faint glow of the campfire.
"Wha... I thought you said you were eighteen?" Rebecca's mind went blank.
"I am eighteen! Baby face, get it? Just like you!" Mercer shot her an exasperated glance and pulled his mask back down.
He thought Rebecca would back off after that, but instead, she suddenly got even more excited.
She shoved Mercer to the ground with a loud "Aha-ha!" laugh, straddling his waist. "You're fooling nobody! But, hahaha, this just makes us look even more perfect together! Mercer~ Mercer~ I think you're totally my type! Your personality, your looks... You don't like minors, you like older women, right? Hey~ little bro~ wanna date your big sis? If not dating, at least let me hug you for a bit... I'm in a great mood today, how about you? Oho~ saying you're not interested, but your body's being pretty honest, hehe. You're into me too, right? Don't lie! I can tell! We get along, you think I'm good-looking, I think you're good-looking, so what's there to hesitate about? C'mon, let's..."
Her overwhelming energy left Mercer stunned; her glowing eyes looked like they wanted to devour him. He struggled but couldn't break free.
Why did showing his face somehow put him right in her strike zone?
But just in time, backup arrived. V emerged from the shadows, grabbing Rebecca by the back of her neck, making her let out a confused "Huh?!"
Then, flailing her short legs, Rebecca was lifted into the air by V. "Shit! Let me go! I was so close!"
"Close my ass! This is assault! Damn, didn't think you were like this, Rebecca!" V said irritably, setting Rebecca down to the side.
But Rebecca looked furious. "Bullshit! He didn't even resist! I've been single for years, what's wrong with having some fun with a guy I like? Mercer didn't even refuse! If he really didn't want it, one Quickhack and I'd be soft as a bun!"
"All I saw was a panicked, helpless man and a woman driven by lust."
V held her arm firmly, not giving her a chance to restart the fight, and snorted while wrapping an arm around her neck. "Running off after only half a drink? Is that how you handle your liquor? If you can't hold it, don't drink; acting like a kid."
"Fuck! I'll fucking..." Rebecca panted heavily. "Ruining my fun, huh? Fine, I'll drink you under the table!"
"Bring it on! Who's scared of who?" V unceremoniously dragged her off to continue the drinking contest.
Before leaving, V shot Mercer a look that could either be mocking him or showing off; it was hard to tell.
Mercer sighed helplessly, straightened his clothes, and quickly stood up.
This Christmas was officially ruined.
The girls these days; they're all man-eaters!
He hurried back to the front of the tent, but before he could enter, a figure rushed at him from behind.
Lucy let out a light laugh and, without giving him a chance to speak, shoved him into the tent. By the time Mercer turned around, the tent flap had already been closed.
She practically pushed him, tripping him onto the mattress. "You like Rebecca's type?"
"Not... particularly." Mercer told the truth.
"So you don't refuse when pretty girls come onto you?" Lucy's iridescent pupils gleamed in the dark, accentuated by her orange-red eyeshadow.
"I refused, but I'm just a novice netrunner with no strength..." Before he could finish his excuse, Lucy removed his mask.
They locked eyes for a long moment before Mercer guiltily turned his head away.
Even though it was just his mask being removed, Mercer felt as if he'd been stripped naked; his sense of shame had returned.
"You'd better really be weak."
She said bitterly, then slumped down beside him, falling into a sullen silence.
This girl sure gets jealous easily...
Mercer thought for a moment, then smiled and lay back on the mattress. "I'm tired."
Lucy watched him for a while, then turned away, grabbed a blanket, and tossed it over him. She took another for herself, turned over, and lay down.
Outside the tent, singing and laughter continued. Lucy closed her eyes but, after a long while, irritably opened them again and glanced over. Mercer was already fast asleep, looking peaceful.
"You're such a pig," she muttered under her breath, propping her head on one hand as she studied him.
After a while, Lucy sighed softly, got up, and zipped the tent shut. But instead of staying away, she returned and lay down beside him.
She wrapped herself tightly in her blanket; even in warm California, the Badlands grew cold at night in winter.
Her body stiffened suddenly as Mercer turned over and pulled her into an embrace.
"Merry Christmas."
He murmured with his eyes closed.
Lucy stayed silent for a moment, then snuggled closer into his arms and replied softly, "Merry Christmas."
Outside the narrow, simple tent, the lively noises gradually reached a peak before fading into silence after a final burst of excited cheers.
And so, 2071 drew to a close with the end of Christmas, becoming a part of history.
As the sky lightened at dawn and the sun rose, illuminating the land, the first day of 2072, for Mercer, for the Kindling Squad, began with the roar of car engines.
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Ty again, SnowRose, for the pictures.
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9650 words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bonus chapter @1800 power stones
We've already hit the goal for Chapter 59 to be released as a bonus. New little game: guess whether Chapter 60 is longer than Chapter 58. Under this paragraph comments, I've left two comments: "YES" and "NO". Like the "YES" comment if you think chapter 60 is longer than chapter 58, like the "NO" comment if you think it's shorter. If the majority guesses correctly, I'll release Chapters 59 and 60 together; otherwise, you'll get only 59. I'll check the results in an hour or two.
Of course, if we reach 1,800 power stones within two hours, you'll get Chapter 60 regardless lmao.