It took an enormous amount of time and patience to get Ruby out of Cyclops' skin. In the car where Tubio was trying to strike up a conversation, and then on the way to a restaurant, Tubio got them two big burgers so they could sit face to face, in the quiet to have this conversation. Facing each other, Ruby was immersed in silence, not Cyclops' uncomfortable silence, but an embarrassed one. She had taken off Cyclops' heavy jacket and put back on her bleue hoodie, and was so preoccupied that she didn't even hide her hair. Her hair created a cute thin layer of red on her head above her beautiful bleu eyes.
image [https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1178789115622326365/1210602048534347806/final_5.jpg?ex=66101204&is=65fd9d04&hm=b28ae34b23349e79aad35a04d0fd5a06427e06f6bd74411b86ad20443d4374ce&=&format=webp&width=365&height=597]
Tubio was contemplative, not understanding. Ruby had gone from warm, open and outgoing to... cold... for lack of a better word. He had to admit, he'd underestimated Cyclops' impact on her mind, the fact that she'd gone further into the "business" than he had on every level, showed that he was still a novice in Night City. And in all honesty he thought she was going to kill Sp4de's men for free. Knowing that if he hadn't been there, it wouldn't have made any difference, also put a good punch in the stomach. Then, come to think of it, if he hadn't been there, would she have killed them?
As they ate, Tubio thought again about the mask and Ruby. Either it was deliberate on Ruby's part or not. Either way, Cyclops had to go. Clearly, he was bringing out something nefarious in Ruby. What happened today, if that was the diluted version of what she was doing... No wonder she had trouble making friends.
Little by little, Ruby tried to make conversation, talking about everything and anything, but Tubio couldn't get along. The distress in his eyes showed that she knew he disapproved.
-Okay, let's talk about what happened?
-We did what we had to do, didn't we?
-What happened to you?
-I had to act, so I acted... I don't know, I reacted to events and it worked.
-What if it hadn't? You could have warned me instead of keeping silent. What would we have done if that Valence guy hadn't got scared and shot during the hostage situation?
Tubio knew, Ruby knew. She don't know. She was clearly wavering between embarrassment, doubt and confusion. Tubio knew he wouldn't get anywhere with a confrontation, the debates with his sister and mother had filled him with all the shouting and dead-end arguments. Ruby wasn't like them, she wanted to talk.
-I... You know, I used to... I used to spend my time being Cyclops. When I become him. I'm... different... more confident, sure of myself...
-...Keep going. Don't worry, I'm not judging you, choose your words, we're not in a hurry.
Tubio spoke calmly and patiently, his eyes showing no fear, only concern, for her. Once again calmed and gathering her thoughts, she tried to be as clear as possible.
-Okay. Unlike me, Cyclops is my protector, you know? If I have to fight or in a stressful situation, he takes over, you know... Right?
-You become him...
-No, it's more... a division. He does the fighting and I do the social.
-Okay... What about the mask?
-When I put the mask on... I let him take control. Ruby stays in and he gets out.
-Are you conscious? Of... everything, I mean?
-Yes, of everything. More or less, it's like watching a sensory dance in the first person. I just feel them, less.
-Because it's not you.
-It's me and him.
-You're sharing each other, wait. Are you saying you have a split personality?
-No, it's more like self-hypnotism.
-You're convinced you're Cyclops so Cyclops exists?
-Yes, that's it. The mask, in addition to giving me a boost in my abilities, allows me to make the link between myself, Ruby Carencro and Cyclops the Eye of the Maelstrom.
-Okay.
-Okay?
-Okay, now Cyclops is gone.
-What? Why?
-Cyclops have no reason to exist.
-What's that?
-I refuse to let you self-hypnotize yourself into becoming a cold-blooded killer for eddies.
-And how am I gonna help you then?
-The same way you always have, with your voice. Now that you've got your drones back, we can make a hell of a team.
-Tubio, I want to help you in the field. I need to be Cyclops for that.
-Do you hear yourself? Weren't you the one who told me you hated it? That if you could, you'd never become one? This is your chance to cut the link with Cyclops, for good.
-Tubio...
-No, there's no Tubio for you. And I'm keeping the mask, wait a minute, the masks. I know you now, how many others do you have?
-It's not about the mask, Tubio. I need Cyclops to live.
-Ruby, Cyclops is part of you. You said so yourself. A division, you're a whole. You don't need to become a cyberpsyko to protect me or yourself. Besides, aren't you becoming a cyberpsyko?
-Uh...No?
-Good, because Cyclops was all about protecting you, and now he's not needed. I'll protect you, I'll bring back the eddies and we'll have a nice life together. So I don't ever want to see you wear one of your Cyclops masks ever again. Not at the risk of losing you Ruby.
Ruby didn't know what to say. The moment she'd seen and picked up the mask in her apartment, she'd immediately put it on. No reflection, nothing, it had become normal for her to become Cyclops. Everything seemed simpler as Cyclops, no doubts, no regrets, no consequences, no guilt. Why had she put on the mask? She could have waited until she was in the car, or in front of the house of Sp4de. She thought back to the thieves, why had she killed them? Was she really becoming a cyberpsyko? Has she become addicted to being Cyclops? Then she saw the Sp4de guys again. Why hadn't Cyclops killed them? Why hadn't SHE killed them? Ruby felt sick. Was she in control? She looked at Tubio and thought, what would happen if Tubio went against Cyclops? This uneasiness, this lump in her stomach that almost made her vomit. She looked at Tubio, the simple, naive boy who wanted to live with her, protect her and treat her like a queen. Perhaps he was right. Maybe it was time for her, to let go. She grabbed his hand, keeping it in hers. Keeping silent, she looked at Tubio, her eyes full of hopes. He looked at her, smiling, full of confidence.
----------------------------------------
*****
After lunch, Tubio and Ruby set off around Night City. Tubio knew that Ruby needed to let off steam; she'd only been able to walk for a few days, and already she'd had a hostage situation in the skin of her evil alter. The heavy discussion at dinner made him realize that he had to move further. He had to prove to Ruby that she didn't have to be Cyclops anymore. And that was by starting to get her to do something other than deal with weapons or contracts. Walking around, shopping, even hanging out in a bar. But that didn't stop her coming back to the same subjects. In the car, Ruby was like a little girl talking about her spider drones and technology. Tubio tried to keep a straight face in the face of her new-found enthusiasm.
-So you've given all your spiders names or synonyms for the word little? Why?
-Because they're small, of course, just like my other creations. And then, if we discuss them, people won't understand. Implanted translators translate, but not the original language.
-Do you realize that nobody does this except in spy stories?
-Shut up. So Petit is my favorite, his job is to be my personal alarm. I leave him behind when I enter a building or my emergency exits to warn me of danger. Klein has little hands and explosives, enough to create a distraction or destroy a gas pipe or electrical relay, you see? My Tiny helps me with the infiltration itself, I send him out on reconnaissance, he opens doors for me, listens in on conversations, and it's thanks to him that I can afford to make my theatrical entrances.
-Question.
-Go ahead.
-Why Tiny and not Small?
-Small has been dead for a long time now. At first I didn't give them names, but then I discovered that by identifying them more easily with names, I had a better reaction time.
-Ok... So the camera I placed behind the Cybermatrix building? Do you want to...?
-Tiny will replace it while yours goes back to Boréale. I looove your car.
Tubio could only smile at her charming tone. The vote was cast to set off once more in search of Versa. Back to the hideout next to Cybermatrix. Returning to the same spot as the day before, Tubio took his time to make the exchange between Tiny and the camera he'd put on the wall. Returning to Boréale, Ruby had already camouflaged it. Getting out of the car, she opened the door for Tubio, who didn't understand. Making him sit down, she pushed the seat all the way back before entering, sitting on his lap. Hugging him, they stayed like that. Chatting in whispers, exchanging jokes and more serious matters. They had eaten, bought things for her, visited a bar and thought about what they were going to do for the future.
-So once we've patched up your legs...?
-We're leaving Night City.
-You sure about that?
-Are you? Don't you want to stay with your mom?
-No, she'll be happy for me. You?
-Nothing's holding me back. The killers who attacked the gang could be anyone and want to come after me if I stay too long as Cyclops. Revenge won't get me anything but more blood. I've got a bit of money saved up, so if I sell my gear at my apartment, I should get a good sum. As you said, Cyclops is no longer necessary. I have you as my protector.
-At your service. Let's make a little eddies and hit the road.
-Got any ideas?
-I don't know, Antarctica?
-A little far.
-Portland?
-... Mm, why not.
They kissed like lovers. Minutes passed while they were in each other's embrace. How many times Tubio dreamed of having this interactions with Talia, only to find himself frustrated or fully rejected. Tubio was quite relieved that she and her sister hadn't contacted him yet. With Ruby he felt accepted, even if part of him was terrified of what she was capable of, Tubio felt loved but...
-Do you think... what we're going through right now is temporary?
-Maybe it is.
-Maybe?
-Yes, if we don't give it our all, then yes our relationship is doomed, like those people who get married, but always think "if I ever have to leave him". You see the kind of mentality.
-So you're not worried?
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
-Tubio, if our story only lasts a day, a week or a year. I want to make the most of it. Everything else is superfluous. If one day, one morning, you realize that you're not happy to see me beside you in bed. Then we'll have to do something about it. So until then, enjoy and stop thinking.
-Life's too short?
-Yes, it is.
*****
As evening fell on Night City. Tubio and Ruby enjoyed their takeaway. A holo called Tubio. Ferak.
-Tubio, I've got a job for you. If you feel up to it.
-I'm listening.
Tubio listened to the request, but as Ruby had said, jobs where you don't have to get your hands dirty are rare. Ruby, who had regained her seat, looked at Tubio, who was making a face.
-What's up?
-A job fell through from Ferak.
-What about it?
-Here.
Transferring the contract information to her, Ruby let out an oh. Ferak had been commissioned by a woman to find her husband Tubiki Gong. He disappeared several days ago. But his last whereabouts were in Watson. Ferak accepted, and by a cruel coincidence, one of his chooms had just "bought" one of the husband's personal items. After a brief interrogation, the latter confessed who had sold it to him, tracing it back to the dealer. Being acquaintances, the dealer gave Ferak the location of the seller, but no name. Ferak was obliged to work with solos from outside or far away from his usual network to avoid snitch, which is bad for business. The job is to find the husband or find out what happened to him. Ferak assumes there will be some hard-hitting explanations. With this he gives a location of where the salesmen are cribbing, with their jobs. Pimps.
-Shit.
-Indeed. What do you think?
-He came to a hooker and they whacked him.
-Yeah, me too. But something not right, I mean why there?
-If we play this right, we can do the thing.
The evening had begun, but unlike yesterday, no one had come to the Cybermatrix parking lots, so the duo quickly assumed that the party wouldn't be happening tonight. The debate then turned to the acceptance of this new contract.
-We'll have to break some mouths.
-I'll manage.
-What if they surround you?
-You cover me.
-Tubio, I'm a netrunner, even if I can deal with several enemies, I'm not omnipotent, if one of these guys has superior or even military protection GLACE, I won't be able to hack him. If there are too many of them, I'll be overwhelmed. We'll do as I said, kidnap one or two of the guys, intimidate them a bit and boom, we've got our information.
-Roooh, we're not going to mess around, are we? Plus we'll ask a couple of questions, that's all.
-Dream on, they'll shoot you immediately if you do.
-I'm kidding, you're my strategist and I'm going along with your plan. Which I have to say makes a lot more sense than mine.
-Pff, stop talking nonsense and let's get going.
Ruby smiled at Tubio's compliments; she knew he would hadn't done it, but having this kind of stupid talk made her smile.
The car started up, and they removed the bulky garbage from the car and headed for the coordinates Ferak had given them. Accepting the contract.
*****
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Night has fallen on Night City as they made their way to the destination. Far from any of Northside's neighborhoods and populated roads, in the middle of the water basins behind the city's factories. Here were the prefabs that at one time would have been used by plant employees. Today, they were the perfect squat for any lost soul, far, dark and silent. The ideal place for illegal activities. The group Tubio and Ruby were going to see were pimps, selling the charms of their girls in the prefabs in question. Tubio and Ruby had agreed and prepared what they were going to do. Only to have their preparation go out the window. Arriving at the site, they had to drive past the venue to scout it out. Slightly overlooking the road, a red neon sign marked “Barely Illegal” named the place. The site was abandoned. The remains of a smoking car lay inside. Continuing as planned. Rubis threw Petit through the window, taking the remote control.
Through the lens, Ruby guided Petit along the road, up onto the concrete, fast and flexible, he climbed onto the base of one of the prefabs, to wedge himself onto the roof. Giving Ruby a vision of the courtyard where two of the prefabs had been pointed out to them as the place.
-Wow.
-What's up?
The gated courtyard had been broken into, and there were corpses and signs of fighting. Describing the scene, Tubio nodded. Acting according to plan, Tubio went along the road made a 180 turn at he next crossroad before parking the car at a short distance away. Leaving Ruby in the car, he stepped out, gun in hand, mask over his face, having injected himself with a painkiller beforehand. Klein, another of Ruby's drones, slung over his shoulder.
Tubio ran towards the prefabs - the slight rise had black tire marks indicating that the smoking car had undoubtedly forced its way through. His pistol in hand, he was in a hurry and wondered if he'd taken on enough firepower. Pushing his thoughts behind him, he came to a battlefield. With Ruby in line, he knew nothing was moving, but caution was the order of the day. Tubio did a 360, looked at the bodies to see if anyone was breathing, but all were dead. Around him, chairs, mattresses and tents had been set up for the customers, and Tubio wondered how anyone in their right mind could come to this rat hole. He tried to open the prefabs next, but found nothing inside, only damp, dirty rooms.
-Nothing to report, everyone dead or gone.
-Check the bodies for their data shards, I'm on my way, okay?
-Ok.
Ruby took the wheel, reversing just before the climb up to the prefabs. Tubio checked the goons, who were wearing maelstrom modifications. Looking around, he couldn't find a camera. Ruby got out of the car, without the Cyclops mask but covering her head with her hood. Her jacket was the heavy one with metal reinforcements, a mix of leather with a metallic effect at the joints.
-Hello sexy.
-Shut up silly. What have we got?
-Four corpses, three thugs and one overdressed. Guess who it is.
-The husband?
-Bingo, I think we've won some easy eddies today. Only the building to check and we i think we can call it a night.
Going over to the body Ruby saw that the man's body had a dagger in its heart, he had bled out quickly, covering his white shirt in red. A Liberty pistol beside him silently indicated that he'd gone off with a bang. Of the other three bodies, one had been hit by the car when the gates had been forced, the other two had died from gunshot wounds. The fact that the man had been stabbed to death beside his burnt-out car indicated that there were at least 4 gangsters. Checking the husband's body, Ruby saw that his biomonitor had been blocked and removed method butcher. Getting up, she headed for one of the prefabs. A pink neon LOVE sign in a heart made her want to puke.
Ruby passed around an umbrella and deckchairs to open the door, what awaited her inside was an old apartment with windows covered in sheets of paper, the smell of sweat and mildew almost making her gag. She missed the air-filtering function of her mask. Coming out after a short search, it was clear that the girls hadn't waited to run away or be taken elsewhere. Tubio called out that he needed help to open the door to the technical building next door. The building was a block of fabricated metal mounted on exposed steel frames. Inside must have been installations slightly more complex than these prefabs, and knowing the gangsters, the temptation was bound to be great enough to force their way inside. The door was locked by a broken or damaged opening panel. So Tubio waited patiently for Ruby's prognosis.
-Any ideas?
-Look and admire. It's going to take a little time. I'll either blow the door or sneak in.
-Nobody's been here for days. I'm suprised the bodies haven't been removed. Or strippedof chrome, same with the weapons.
-Mouais, but given that this place is as rotten as you think, nobody came or came back because of our client.If a guy wanting ass sees this battlefield, they run away and the former squatters...
-Fear of reprisals?
-It's not every day that a corpo from corpo plaza comes to the northside. Suppose you were an amateur, would you risk staying if the trauma team was on the way?
-Oh, Hell no.
-They made it though but didn't have the guts to come back to the scene. I think I'll just short-circuit the door so it opens.
-Ok.
Moving to the side, the sound of the fans was the only thing that could break Ruby's concentration as she focused on the panel. Tubio stood back, weapon still out if anything came from behind the door. He heard Ruby swear softly before stopping and turning towards Tubio. Tubio felt the Klein drone on his shoulder move. Ruby held out her hand and Tubio bent down to pass Klein over Ruby's hand, who then made him climb over the door and the grate above. Tubio looked at the little climbing spider looking at Ruby.
-The power supply has been removed from the inside. The hard way or another way. One thing's for sure. Someone's inside. I'm 90% sure.
-One of the men in the group?
-Or one of the girls not wanting to follow.
Ruby led Klein to the roof, trying to find a vent leading inside. Ruby was spoilt for choice, as air conditioners and other fans covered the block like pustules. Klein followed one of the small fan shafts above, following the ventilation shafts to the main one, and Ruby passed Klein behind. A duct at the rear corner led directly inside. Leaving Tubio behind, she climbed two ventilation blocks to reach the shaft. Using her strength, she crushed the metal with little effort, opening a passageway through which Klein could pass. Tubio called behind her.
-What do you see?
-Stay on the door.
Tubio realized this was no time to ask questions. Klein went inside and followed the duct to an interior fan. With the fan still running, Klein walked over to the rotor and studied how it worked, but as she did so, the fan stopped. Taking the opportunity, Klein stepped through, falling to the floor. The room was dark, but with Klein's vision she could make out shapes. The place was an almost empty room, and Klein found himself in a room with almost nothing crates of equipment almost all open. Opening the door, he came to a corridor leading to the front door. Ruby realized that someone was leaning against the wall next to the door. She approached cautiously, climbing up the wall and reaching the door through the ceiling. Ruby could see the person breathing. The door had had its wires severed, leaving them dangling in the air. Why not reconnect the wires?
-Tubio a person on the floor, I haven't checked the other rooms. I'll try to open the door. On my mark.
-Copy.
Klein descended to the wires two small arms came out from under Klein's belly grabbed the wires and reconnected them. There were only two wires left to connect, as if someone had grabbed them all and pulled with all their might. One by one, Ruby reconnected the wires. When the last two were connected. She warned Tubio.
-3...2...1...
Connection and... nothing.
-Crap.
-Second?
-Hang on.
Changing the wires, she checked the connections before counting down again.
-3...2...1...
Nothing again.
-Three's the charm.
Ruby remained silent, not responding to the joke. She worked hard to find the fault or the problem and after a minute of searching...
The door opened without warning, Tubio raised his gun and fell on a bleeding girl. That explains why the door remained locked from the inside. Calling Ruby, she looked at the living girl as Tubio went and returned from checking the rooms to find only useless items, no food or water. He returned to Ruby, who had been examining the girl. She was in bad shape, had lost a lot of blood and had been mistreated. Lack of food and water and locked inside. She was barely able to respond when Ruby woke her up.
-What do we do?
-Call Ferak, the contract is closed. But with her, we'll probably get a bonus. Tell Ferak that we have a witness to what happened. With a little discussion the eddies will flow with the thanks of a widow.
Tubio called Ferak.
-Tubio, how's our case?
-Case settled, but I need a driver at these coordinates. The husband died. He made a shooting and killed three guys from the Maelstrom, the choum who ran away with the stuff he resold must have been afraid that the Trauma Team would come back despite the disconnected biomonitor. I have a witness, maybe she can explain what happened. The girl had been locked up without food or water for several days.
-Hence your need for a vehicle. Okay, I'll send you this, stay put and protect the body, I'll contact the widow and explain to her what you found and if she wants us to go further in our search. Good job, Tubio. I'll get back to you.
Ferak poured him the promised eddies and Ruby left Tubio with the girl, she didn’t want Ferak’s guys to see her. Tubio remained with the unknown girl. Soon a vehicle rushed in and stopped just in front of Tubio, no doubt prepared in advance by Ferak for Tubio. Jet got out of it, outgoing and saluting Tubio.
-Dude, I don't know who made the contract, but we're going to make a lot of money.
-What do you mean?
-My Boss. Ferak told me your client's sending a trauma team for the dead and the girl.
Tubio showed the body and the scene to Jet who whistled in amazement. Tubio and Jet talcked as Tubio removed his mask. It did not take long for an airlift of the Trauma team to come illuminating the place.
A navi was an air transport vehicle. It was the most popular self-driving vehicle model used by both the Trauma Team and the N54 News teams. Its characteristic hum resounds day and night in all neighborhoods.
image [https://images-ext-1.discordapp.net/external/Woq-1c_JFnU79H6AVUkPj1GxKs_pUf5r3noNSeQwcSk/%3Fcb%3D20201223115803%26path-prefix%3Dfr/https/static.wikia.nocookie.net/cyberpunk/images/c/cd/Zetatech_Atlus_%2528Trauma_Team%2529.png/revision/latest]
To what does the Atlus owe its success? Its successful design, attractive price and reliability are certainly no strangers. Tubio had seen one in flames and continued to fly once.
Trauma Team International is a corporation specializing in rapid intervention medical services. It is one of the most powerful companies of the 21st century.
A franchise (a company operating under special authorization) of first-aiders operating in the USA, Canada, and parts of Europe. Trauma teams can be called by dialing 911 on any telephone, which will trace the call back to its source. You are billed from the moment you call until you arrive at the hospital.
You can also opt for a deadman transmitter, which will automatically activate and signal a Trauma team the moment your brainwave pattern falls into a comatose state.
The fact that his corpse didn’t have these or didn’t activate. While the wife had that much money, it was strange. But Tubio was not an expert.
The Trauma team is made up of paramedics with specialized combat training, who will do whatever it takes to protect their clients. Those wealthy enough to afford a Trauma Team medical plan receive a card and a biochip implant. When the chip recognizes a medical problem in a customer's system, it immediately informs the Trauma team, who rush to the scene to stabilize and extract the patient, coming by rain, shine or snow.
Arriving in their transport recognizable among all. The navi Zetatech Atlus came from the sky quickly descending towards them, white and red with the six-pointed cross, the Trauma Team logo across already announced the color, that and the bullet hits on her cockpit and body. Jet and Tubio kept their hands in sight as two stretcher bearers and two men with assault rifles acting as assault troops descended from the navi, one of the specialists with an assault rifle called Tubio who instinctively pointed to the girl at his feet. He ordered Tubio and Jet to back off while two paramedics deployed a stretcher before carrying the woman into the navi. Tubio called and pointed to the body of the man, and after less than a minute when the stretcher workers dropped the girl’s body, they went to fetch the man’s body, bringing it back on another stretcher.
So without discussion or other sign the two men with assault rifles backed back up into the navi before it took off. Disappearing into the night sky. Jet turned to Tubio.
-That, that’s what I call efficiency.