Audrey lays unconscious cradled in Zaunya's arms… shes frail.
Beatrice lays next to her... gently stroking Audrey's hair. Their bodies connected in warmth… a silent energy comforting the ladies in their personal embrace.
Beatrice buries her face on the back of Audrey's shoulder… her arms wrapped around her tight.. tears not for our eyes streaming steady.
TuckTuck attempts to crawl over to them curiously but is picked up and cradled firm by Gina as he wriggles about. With her eyes fixed out the back window, her mind's shaken... sitting in a deeply personal haze checked out.
Heavy breathing trying to slow fills the van… Brian giving the occasional glance in the back checking on everyone. Blood steadily drips… excess dirt and dust wafts up to the opened windows.. the crew shaking the badlands off their gear and clothes. The van with a steady rattle on bad terrain shakes the spattering of trinkets on the dashboard. The red lensed eye of a maelstrom ganger rocks steady hung by a keychain. Kahuna's red tyger claw katana lays across the length of it.. a bloody sixth street gang rag tossed atop the holster repurposed for oil checks. Just a litter of ill-gotten knick-knacks accumulated and tossed among cracked Petrochem datashards they've re-scrolled for reference.
"Shit's weird choom." Netty squints. "Local comms got nothin'… even though we're almost outta range I would've expected at least some corpo emergency traffic."
"Remember what Zaunya said? Should tell ya just how buried this thing is… a mob of raffen greased for counter assault? Tch.. she's right…. their influence must be waning… clearly no access to the wider companie's pool of resources.With how I'm readin' this thing.. the formula we've followed is working… pointed chaos, pointed scrub. Even with this move of theirs… all raffen's gonna do is pick through that scrap we left back there in the dirt n' never be seen again. Their moves on the board've become desperate… reckless... seems leverage must've tipped some time ago." Brian chimes.
"Hey not tryna press but I'm behind this wheel goin' ninety-nine wit no destination." Carter adds.
"My place- where else? We gotta get Audrey some serious-"
"-Can't do it." Brian insists.
"...What?"
"Your place is burnt kid… corps can have eyes n' ears in and all over it by now… it's a honeypot… will be under twenty-four seven surveillance. At the very least some hungry merc's sniffin' toward the contract. There's a reason I had Zaunya torch Audrey's place."
"Wha-? But that's where my setup is! How can I even-"
"-With where we're at now? Tch.. gonna have to make do. Ain't got the time or reason for any deep dives right now anyway right..?"
Netty doesn't respond… glancing over at BugBear holding Audrey tight.. completely disconnected from the conversation.
"Still needin' a pin over here chooms. Can't keep this van cookin' in the sunlight for too long after that episode."
"My place." Gina finally speaks.
A collective grunt of confusion comes from the boys.
"Whoever you guys've had on your tail may know who all of you are.. but they won't have met me yet… let alone seen me. Might not be hidden, but I've got the space… for now."
Brian and Carter glance at each other.
With the tired sun setting somewhere over Kabuki, Carter slowly backs the van into position with Brian's guidance. Carter hops out with the van tucked up against a wall near the building. They grab a bunch of tied off bundles of bagged trash.. countless of them easily within arms reach. Both taking the time to pile them up and around the van hiding it in plain sight. Makes you wonder what else is buried underneath all the waste in this town.
The crew inside takes a moment to set down gear and equipment.. Gina ushering them around the place to get familiar after settling Audrey in Gina's bed. Its surprisingly roomy for a single bachelorette and a mechanical rollie pollie. A well furnished three bedroom organized like the nest of a true corpo that's lost a step or two in their discipline. Signs of a lifelong white collar taken by the life of a merc gradually bleed through with every minute you lounge in the place. Apparently the field of a Night City mercenary shelled out more than her office nine to five ever could… who would've thought.
"We can toss the heavy bag and weights in the gym room over to the balcony and use it. Just got a bed for the other room but low on blankets."
"I'm not… seein' anything but.. hm... gimme a sec." Beatrice mutters to Zaunya still cradling Audrey firmly in bed. Beatrice's kioshi's glare focused, flowing blue with code.
"Doubt you will… no reason to damage obedient tools….. mind's far more malleable." Zaunya mutters back… adjusting the firmness cradling Audrey ever tighter.
Brian Netty and Carter work to move all the heavy shit around and out of the way. Gathering on Gina's fourth floor balcony just below the roof of the building once done. TuckTuck zips around
Darkness has shown up with the moon.. they light smokes putting together a list of provisions they need to grab. Neuro-suppressants, food, real water, meds for Audrey.. they patiently wait to hear word from the ladies inside… giving them their space. It's been far too long for chrome jocks of this caliber to go without maintenance and checkup from a ripperdoc of Audrey's standard. Most consumer grade cyberware at the their highest quality would've seen most gone psycho by now with the crew's level of output. However, executive corporate grade chrome? Often overlaps with military and governement grade… especially when it comes to combat implants. Built with immune tolerance as first principal well before performance… and when chipped and maintained by an actual professional- its just a completely different world. One most aren't aware of nor interested in seeing.
However… whether it be chrome quality or... ripperdoc or... level of host tolerance…. the jury's still out.
All roads lead to the edge.
The dark skies take us to another part of the city not even two N-cart stops away... resting just as quiet.
Rachael's french tipped nails tap tap tap on mirrored glass as her beautiful, scowled face watches Molly pace by. She crosses her arms and bare legs… a slight tilt to her head and a foot shaking impatiently under the table.
Molly rakes her long white hair back… catching a glimpse of Rachael's daggered eyes and quickly looks away.. planting herself at the wall sized window in her new street clothes.
Who she was has been ripped away… replaced by someone she hardly recognizes.. someone new… young. Lacking in depth of experience within her new world. A life with defined purpose… where once all was understood… regimented… cataloged. Replaced with a chaotic life of fractured identity…. and no direction. Anything she's ever held close to dear is gone… with the hunter having become the hunted… she's never felt this vulnerable.
With a palm placed on the glass, she looks out into the silent neon glow… a vibrant colorscape laid in the darkness and looking right back at her.
It's all she has left.
"I do not understand why you will not explain yourself milaya." Rachael's soft, beautiful voice belts trying to be as tough as possible. Her English emerging much better by the day through her thick Russian accent.
Molly doesn't respond. Her gaze fixated on the city.
Rachael's chair skids sharply as she gets up, jolting Molly.
Molly turns around to face Rachael approaching… hearing her bare feet thump on the heated marble floors. With each step she takes closer, Molly backs away until pressed firmly up against the wall sized window with nowhere to go.
Rachael stands in front of her face, looking up and into Molly's eyes… the deep scar down the center of her chest on full display. Molly turns her head looking away… unable to handle the power of Rachael's glare.
Rachael gently grabs her face.. forcing eye contact.
"You are gone for days after coming to me on your knees covered in blood. Now you return to me without a word huh."
Molly yanks her face away again… Rachael slaps it before snatching it with a one handed grip.. digging in her pretty nails.. forcing Molly's eyes back in to her deep gaze.
"You will tell me milaya… and I will help you. What is it you were doing for Petrochem huh... why. Why do you now cower in these streets so."
Molly doesn't respond… her eyes surrendered to Rachael's. Its as if Molly can feel Rachael's grip on her mind… she just knows what Molly is feeling… and in that- what she's thinking... effortlessly. Something she's yet to understand how… and so intimidating she just can't get enough of it.
Given no answer, Rachael's nails dig in deeper tightening their grip. She grits her teeth… baring those pearly white, vampire like canines.
She uses her grip to gently pull Molly away from the window with a few slow steps backward. She releases… several thin trails of blood glide down Molly's gorgeous face weathered by the city.
Molly slows her breathing stood still as Rachael slowly makes her way behind her.
She reaches up… running her clawed nails through Molly's beautiful, white hair at the scalp.
She grips it tight yanking back.. forcing Molly's face up to the ceiling… ripping a surrendered moan right out of Molly's throat. The palms of her hands immediately raise in surrender… her mouth agape.
Rachael nods slowly... "Mhm." she whispers… taking her free hand and hooking three fingers into the back belt loop of Molly's jeans, securing a grip as tight as the other hand's. "That is right- you are coming with me- keep those FUCKING hands where I can see them." She grits, gently pushing a surrendered Molly toward the bedroom. Fading to black.
Hours later... deeper into the night, Rachael exhales a final moan… wincing in pain and covered in sweat. She struggles to put on her bra with sore limbs.. her slow steady breaths heavy with release trying to calm herself... gently stroking her hair back to presentable order.
She crawls across the bed… her bloody nails leaving prints on the silky white sheets.
Rachael plops her head down atop Molly's chest… wrapping her arms around her as tight as she can. "You... TAKE me my love." She struggles to belt through a dry throat and settling moans.
Molly's eyes remain fixated on the ceiling… her own mouth agape trying to slow her breaths.
"...And now that I've heard you... I see you- I understand you… and I have you. Petrochem will NEVER touch again. I have already contacted my people. We will wait for them…. you and I will take care of this together.I promise you no longer have to worry about any-"
Rachael is cut off by Molly removing herself from Rachael's grasp.. rising out of bed.
She sits at the edge… slipping on her black silk robe. She pops a smoke in her mouth and walks back to the wall sized window, overlooking that same beautiful glow gazing at her.
"You don't know these people my love… the places they've sent me… thedepths they've had me work at…" She lights her smoke, taking a heavy drag.. a slow, steady exhale before a look back over her shoulder. "You, your people…. don't know what they're capable of."
Rachael slips her own robe on, sat at the edge of the bed. "...Yes….. and what about what I am capable of milaya." Her sweet voice puts forth aggressively.
Molly gently scoffs… turning her attention back out the window….. Rachael's head gently goes limp.
"From what I know babe… I don't think your… background quite qualifies." Molly gently insists, takes another drag.
Rachael slowly stands up… looking up and around at her apartment as if for the first time.
"This is Petrochem confidential… other sectors of the very company itself have no insight. I mean shit.. even the deets on the project itself are limited. Shit gets compartmentalized quick."
Rachael looks down.. casually reaching for Molly's pack of smokes… placing one on her lips.
"...And for what its worth… the top that sent me here to Night City- the one who gave me my assignment… the one who brought me… to you. They never briefed me personally- not once… tch.. I have no idea who they even-"
-Rachael flicks a lighter in the dead silence of the apartment.
With a slight turn of the head, Molly's eyes squint…..
…..Rachael doesn't smoke.
Molly quickly turns around… watching Rachael's kiroshis glow orange as she takes a drag of the cigarette. On exhale she coughs violently.
"Wow." The unfamiliar voice of a woman gently mutters through Rachael's lips amazed. "This one truly is pristine… she's still mostly ganic isn't she?"
Molly'schest tightens… the tension in the back of her neck stabs at her nerves… her jaw quivers. The single thing she's dread has finally happened.
Rachael's doll chip has been hacked. Her body now controlled remotely.
She slowly spreads her arms out… looking about Rachael's body as if an outfit she just put on. "She's quite the doll… untouched lungs… perfectly portioned figure and-"
Rachael hunches over at the waist slightly- going knock-kneed. A subtle moan in exhale. "Properly punished private parts… soreness… pain?" She giggles with a big smile. "What were you doing to her..?"
"Who the fuck are you." Molly barks.. a deep look into Rachael's glowing eyes.
"When I joined the Petrochem board of directors... I was made to promise one thing by my mentor. Bet big… and never hesitate to rinse." The voice mutters… walking Rachael over to the home's bar counter. She glides her delicate fingers down the bar's stretch past two whiskey glasses. "Unfortunately, you haven't made this easy. After the docks, your personal huscle Emmanuel Lopez turned up bunk on intel. Wise not trusting field op details to the more than dense help."
Molly re-focuses… her signature smirk returning when she needs it most. She chuckles.
"...Do you have any idea… just how many of you- how many of your kindi've lead to the slaughter. Just how many have fallen prey to my hunt."
"Oh, I'm well aware of your record Seeker. Your consistency with discretion… your pure, unwavering devotion to company policy...a lean and mean operative- Its why I sent you here. Needed the best to delve into the worst. A master at working with urgency.. and absolute discretion. Turns out-" She raises Rachael's arms out in presentation. "-Should've took care of it myself…. and now… with you an excommunicated failure… your services are longer needed in this organization."
"Mm. And how do you plan finalizing that rinse of yours." Molly mutters.. her hands clasped behind her back stared out the window. "With the leeches from thatproject itself eating you alive, the budget you gave me, and how much of it I burned... I'd say you're on your last legs. How bout the rest of the board.. huh… your colleagues… the powers that be come knockin' yet? Trust me, I know the feeling… hm…... you failed just as much as I did."
She half turns, looking at Rachael with her smirk… Night City's scape at her back.
"Who do you got… what do you got that you think can take me huh."
Molly notices Rachael reaching toward the bar counter. She grabs Molly's white-gold Liberty pistol.. looking down at the MS engraving in the handle makes her giggle.
She looks up and in to Molly's eyes stood just yards away.
She raises the Liberty… placing the barrel on Rachael's temple.
A demonic smirk peers into Molly's soul as the woman curls Rachael's pretty finger around the trigger... watching Molly's eyes with a sharpness enough to dismember. Hungry for even the subtlest reaction.
...Molly doesn't flinch… her eyes returning stared daggers at this woman controlling the love of her life.
She shrugs.
"Go ahead. Cut this convo short. What's another wasted whore in Night City." Molly mutters with no hesitation. Her voice strong- true... eyes dug in to Rachael's without a single inch of waver.
The woman stares Molly down… a slight squint in the eyes… her french-tipped finger comfortably curled around the gold trigger.
…..She lowers the gun.
"Get the fuck out of Night City. You're outta your depth Seeker." The woman sneers. Tossing the gold iron back to the bar counter. "The energy that hunts you will find you. Be it by my hand… or… well…" She scoffs with a smile.
.....Rachael's head goes limp
Molly drops her smoke with an untapped ash as long as the cigarette itself down to the marble floor. Racing over to Rachael as her body gets taken by gravity.
She catches Rachael before her dead weight hits the floor. Hyperventilation stabs Molly in the chest as her eyes and mouth widen. Her breathing sporadic and panicked.
"R-Rachael!!.. oh my god-"
"-M… m-milaya?" Rachael's soft voice now returned to her whispers frail.
Molly's grip cradles her sat on the floor in a firm armed embrace.
"Sh-shh it's ok baby I've… I've got you- I'm.. I'm here sh-shh."
"M-.. m-milaya it… h-….hurts." She cries.
Molly pulls her in tighter… burying Rachael's face in her chest… cradling her with a slow rock back and forth as Rachael painfully weeps… Molly's jaw quivers… overwhelmed with trepidation.
Back at Gina's in the dead of night… Netaniel stands alone on the balcony with cig in hand. The late hum of the city acting as more than enough company. He'd enjoy the feeling of resting with his people far more if something wasn't eating away at him. He takes a final drag before flicking it over the edge.
He re-enters, sliding the balcony door closed.. glancing at Brian crashed on the couch snoring. He takes a seat at the living room desk.. clicking on it's dim point light before resting his elbows and lacing his fingers.
"Alright." He whispers to himself. He brings up his cyberpunk yellow netrunning interface. Sure enough, the spiky worm gifted to him by Spider Murphy's crew wriggles its way into sight.
Netty squints… finally with some quiet alone time. "Now… what the hell are you." He mutters taking a closer look at it with his mind rested in calm.
He patiently watches it wriggle about his interface. Distorting itself, multi-copying itself.. making itself as big as the interface and then as small as a single pixel.It tampers with the netrunning interface itself, stored files in his neuro-database, it spoofs kiroshi scan results, slows quickhacks to a crawl.
"You're just.. a directionless menace aren't you." He thinks to himself under the dim desk light.
He takes the time to just calmly watch the thing steadily wreak havoc on his internal netrunning systems.
"Tch.. not interested in my chrome huh." He mutters in passing.
…...The thought clicks like a gunshot to his head.
"...Because... you can't see it..?"
He quickly sits up in the chair… a subtle wide eyed gasp feeling the breakthrough. He looks down at the spiky digital worm chaotically wriggling about.
He squints. "…You can't see me…. can you."
Netty scoffs with a smirk in the dark silence of Gina's sleeping home.