The atmosphere in the car was stifling. The cyclops was behind Tubio, why would he have to be the driver. On the passenger side with him was Boris. A huge monster of augmentation. Next to him and the cyclops, his poor chromes were not really shining. Boris was not talkative and Cyclop was silent. Tubio had a stomachache. The car left the club with gang members rushing like lunatics to Gaton's territory and Prina's apartment.
-...uh, Cyclops. Why did you take me?
Always connected to his holo cyclops answered with his metallic voice.
-Of all the gang members present, you were the most presentable. If we have to talk you'll be my face.
-OK boss.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
-So where are we going?
-Docks, Ferak... Once there you and Boris will act as my representatives. I'll be in the back, if things go wrong. Stay alive and if it goes down. I'll cover for you both...
-Have the assassins been spotted?
-No, but one of our groups reported that there has been activity from another cell... that shouldn't be there.
The trip went smoothly. The arrival of the docks was deserted and dilapidated. Adjacent to the Watson industrial area, Northside was the stronghold of the maelstrom. Although the NCPD tries to regulate the violence as best it can. The maelstrom has a tendency to have no patience with anyone, be it the police or other gangs. Making every appearance a powder keg about to explode at the slightest annoyance, or even without. Spit car, gang tag, the Cyclops car was moving in the relative silence of Night City. Until a certain stretch of road where the car would enter a part of the docks.
-I'll leave you here. Boris, you are here on the orders of the doc, intervene only as a last resort. Tubio, from now on you are my voice and my gestures. You will say what I say and do what I tell you. Two things. Be calm, be humble.
Getting out of the car, Cyclops used modifications to his legs to jump and grabbed a bar at the top of the dock fence to get to the other side.
-I dream of having a chrome like this...
-Mmf...
Boris, who had been silent the whole way, spoke to Tubio with coldness.
-If you can survive that long. Drive.
Tubio repeated the words of Cyclops, be humble, be calm.
-Why did he tell me that?
-Who do you think the guns are going to be pointed at when Ferak wants an explanation?
Oh. Fuck.
The car drove between warehouses and waste containers, and came to a loading dock of a depot with the Maelstrom spider symbol on the front. Taking a deep breath, Tubio gripped the steering wheel. Boris put his hand on his shoulder.
-If you want to leave, now is the time.
-No, Gaton saved me more than once too. I'll do him this last favor.
Not arguing further, Tubio and Boris went out. The entrance was a garage. On either side armed men had surrounded the car, pointing their guns at them one of the men recognized Boris.
-Boris! How's the doc? We heard about Gaton, my condolences. He was a real man.
-Jet. We're here to see Ferak about Gaton.
Tubio looked around, but only this Jet had the gang's attributes. The distinctive spider-like modification of the maelstrom was smeared across his face, while chrome teeth smiled at Boris. His five optics glowed for a moment.
-One second... Yeah, he wants to see you.
Leaving the outside, Boris and Tubio went through a door behind Jet. Tubio was trying to get as much information as possible. Once inside, there was no semblance of organization. Couches and various items were strewn about. Drugs, weapons, boxes of food, a food dispenser. A hideout from the maelstrom. Above the workshop was the office of what must have once been the head of the company. From below he could see Ferak watching them approach.
Ferak, unlike the other members of the Maelstrom, had earned his longevity through delegation, the use of mercenaries, and the adamant refusal to show any desire for the position of leader of the Maelstrom. Acting as a fixer for the gang when it needed a more... sober approach in certain aspects. Ferak had many contacts in and out of the Maelstrom, and Cyclops knew that if one of his men had gone to Gaton's docks, Ferak would buy him time whether or not he had a hand in Gaton's death. Entering the office behind the mass that was Boris, he was surprised to see it filled with gangsters, all armed, where the workshop was almost empty, Tubio had at least 8 people in addition to them.
Ferak was standing with his back to them, looking through the window of his office. His body was a huge implant, his two arms and legs were entirely made of chrome. Sitting down in his chair, Ferak spun him around while inhaling a drug through his inhaler with his eyes closed. Ferak was a bald white man, his face, unlike what one would expect from someone from the Maelstrom, had very little chrome in it, an implant on the back of his head and an implant on his eyebrow that went all the way up to the back of his skull along with a tattoo. That's what Tubio thought, until he realized that the whole lower part of his face was a high tech prosthesis, Ferak must have been very rich to afford it, especially since he had a beard. When he opened his eyes, Tubio could feel Ferak's red eyes on him.
-Boris and...
-Tubio.
-Tubio... I know why you're here. Is it to do with Gaton? I didn't know the mercenaries were going to attack Cyclops.
A holo call came in for Tubio. He took it.
-If that were the case you would have already left.
-If that were the case you would have already left.
Stroking his beard with his prosthetic Ferak smiled as he stared at Tubio. Speaking louder as if Cyclops was there, he turned to the glass window looking down at the first floor.
-Cyclops, it's nice to violate my security system. Why talk by proxy, you only had to call me by Holo!
-So you admit that the mercenaries who attacked me came from you.
-Yes, without a doubt. But what was that idiot's name again?
-Sartu?
-I had no way of knowing he would do something like that.
-You didn't think it was weird. That a stranger like him would give you enough money to mobilize twenty men.
-... Not my problem, as long as the eddies are flowing. I'm holding a business Cyclops, they ask me for something. I say the total price plus my percentage, what happens after that is out of my hands. You ask me for braindance, I'll get you that, you ask me for weapons, I can get you that. A car, an implant, a home. You want a name, I can get you that.
Tubio broke out in a cold sweat as Ferak's henchmen snickered behind his back. Cyclops had planned this, right? Trying to keep his cool, he watched as Boris bent down to grab the bottle of alcohol from the table with Ferak's approval. Serving three glasses, he gave one to Tubio who kept it in his hand. One for him and one for Ferak who injected his drug in his mouth once again.
-Do you know why I got this prosthetic Tubio? One day, one of the guys from the Animals hit me so hard that my jaw broke. I had to eat slop for the rest of my life. So I put chrome in my mouth, but it never feels the same again. That's why I struggled to get what I wanted most. A new jaw, bringing me the pleasure of eating that I had lost. Now the question is, why would I ruin everything I've built to get there. My business is doing well, money is coming in, customers are happy... I know you hacked the cameras and are watching us right now. I'm a businessman Cyclops.
He took the glass from the table before drinking, raising it to the camera in the corner of the room.
-I always take my risks carefully. And never unnecessary.
-You don't have a name.
-No, but I can find it.
-Deal. We're out of here.
-And pay me Cyclops, no? You still went through my data.
-Your life. For all the ones you sent to die against me. And erasing the data does not make you innocent. I hope that I kill whoever is behind this before he says your name in a last breath.
-We'll be in touch.
Passing on his infos to Tubio, Boris finished his drink, Tubio tried to take all of it, but only took a big gulp. He started to turn around to go out the door. When Ferak called out to him.
-If you want a job Tubio. You're welcome anytime.
Following Jet, Boris and Tubio got back into the car. Tubio was slightly nauseous and confused, so he turned to Boris.
-Boris, what just happened?
-Not here, drive on.
Out of the vision of Jet and other guards. Boris began to speak in his big voice.
-Cyclops and Ferak did business.
-that I understood...
-Ferak is what many people don't know about the Maelstrom. As he described himself, he's a businessman. He's not into gang power struggles, he's a trader, a negotiator. Unlike Sartu who acted without preparation. Ferak would never have taken the risk of making a deal, only to be killed. Cyclops knew that Gaton and Ferak had been sellers and buyers respectively more than once. He knew that Cyclops would come to hack his data. So he gave him a way to hack into his servers. Better that than a bloodbath,
-Why did he let him do it? And why ask to be paid if he had such a relationship with Gaton.
-Appearances Tubio. Ferak ordered his men to retreat, to make it look like he was in control of what he was doing. His men saw him as a great strategist offering his services to Cyclops, proving to everyone that he was smarter than the average person. He then justified to his men the fact that he was looking for those responsible for Gaton's death because of his indirect involvement, the threat of Cyclops.
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-But, won't that make him look weak?
-Tubio. That's where you come in. I was there to represent the doc who stayed at the club. You were representing the Gaton faction. Or should I say. Cyclops... The fact that you're representing him with me as your partner. Announce to all the guys we've met here that Gaton's men are now under Cyclops' command.
-Oh.
-Ferak is a businessman. If his men's and Gaton's men ever get into a blood feud. Ferak's lucrative business would take a hit and nobody wants to die for nothing.
-So, to summarize, Cyclops was attacked by men hired through Ferak, so he used his data but it was empty. Ferak anticipated this and recalled his men to leave the field free for Cyclops. Avoiding losses and creating a situation where he could do business. Cyclops had anticipated that Ferak would not cooperate and used us as proof of his influence, to force the deal he wanted with Ferak without him losing face with his men.
-Congratulations Tubio, you just survived your first deal.
For the first time, he saw Boris smiling with all his teeth, and Tubio wondered what he had gotten himself into.
-What's next?
A holo tried to reach him. Cyclops.
-Pull over.
A crack sounded beside the car on the side of the road. Getting into the car. Cyclops seemed less calm than before. But Tubio refrained from saying anything.
-Prina's... I'll send you the address.
The information arrived by message to Tubio and he created a route to go there. Monroe Street, Japantown. Leaving the docks and the Maelstrom, Tubio took the main road towards the MED Center. Tubio drove smoothly along the road, passing to the right of Megabuilding H10, one of the colossal high-rise buildings, the night lights illuminating the outlines of the tower and Night City as the car got closer and closer to the more populated areas. As the car moved forward, the traffic became heavier as it passed under one of the city's expressways. Passing by the gargantuan MED Center until he had passed it, Tubio climbed onto the expressway towards Japantown. All around him the lights of Night City were reflected on the car, from sex ads to food to the latest implants, Tubio could almost hear the slogans and other sounds of the city. As they passed over the Kabuki district to cross the river. Cyclops sent a shared Holo with Boris.
-Who is on the scene?
-Spike, Janissa and a few others. They did as you asked: no one left the building without passing them. None of them entered the apartment, the whole floor is silent. But with our faces I think it's normal.
Arriving in Japantown West, Tubio stayed on the five-lane road before taking the exit that brought him right in front of the Monroe Street subway station. Leaving the car Boris, Cyclops and Tubio, walked to Prina's home. Patricia "Prina" Pallion.
The journey is done in silence and without encumbrance. The streets of Japantown contrasted with the relative silence of Watson. The street was filled with passersby and cars, merchants, each person in their own little world living day to day. Tubio didn't often come to the other neighborhoods so he enjoyed the view. Of the streets going up and down, of the lights and Asian orientation of the Japanese district of Night City. But a street corner passed and the crowd was absent, the lights so abundant were off. The pipes of ventilators and outdoor units were blowing their gas on the sidewalk, next to the garbage piled up near the trash cans. Bringing the smells of meat and decay. The noise of the street became almost distant a few meters in the dark. In the bowels of the city, Tubio passively followed his two mentors. Boris in front of Cyclops and Tubio at the back. After a short walk, they arrived at one of the countless interior courtyards, drowned in asphalt and overlapping buildings. A building of several floors nestled and stuck between the others leaning against the corner of an alley. Tubio prefers the desert to this place it seems that the light never really shows up. Coming out of a dark corner a woman with the colors of the Maelstrom comes to welcome them.
With a bionic third eye in the center of her forehead Janissa was a beautiful woman even for the Maelstrom gangsters, she took pleasure in taking her lovers and introducing them to chrome was her fetish. She had tried to lay her hand on Tubio but he had already altered his face. Which was for her the most important thing in chrome. He had killed her interest with his tastes. Someone who was to her taste was Cyclops, he made her very much in love and very unstable by his side.
-Boss, we're in place. Fifth floor. The entire floor appears to be deserted.
Talking to the three with a holo call. Cyclops divided his intentions.
-One, it can be tricky, I don't want to take any chances. I know we're efficient but I'm capable of more than you in this situation.
-Boss! ahahaha.
Adding another man to the conversation, the newcomer, Spike was what you'd expect from the Maelstrom. Bravado, crazy, impulsive, violent, joyful, of his situation and the chaos he creates. The Maelstrom spider that replaced his face was joined by implants in the form of pointed dreadlocks both in place of his hair and on his chin where two steel tubes the size of ice picks dangled happily and slapped against each other as he moved. Which he does all the time. It looked like a key chain crossed with a hedgehog. Tubio remembered him from his stories, like for example, the black lines of his tattoo went from his lips to the two spikes was according to him, the chrome that would have come out of his mouth one night and left its marks.
-As I was saying. I want to be able to track Prina down. And finesse isn't exactly your department.
-Relax boss, we're pros.
-That's the point. We set up pros, not amateurs. I'm not taking any chances. Boris, Prina still hasn't shown up?
-No, she hasn't.
-I'm going home. Tubio, you follow me inside. The others should get ready to take off if I find anything.
Putting his hand on Tubio's shoulder, Boris offered encouragement.
-Watch out for you choum. you too Cyclops.
Going to a possible death trap was the most irresponsible thing Tubio would ever do. Yet he would do it for the second time that night. The elevator didn't work, so he went up the stairs behind Cyclops. His holo was now only connected to him. Tubio took the opportunity to try to have a silent conversation with him.
-Why?
-Why what?
-Why me. I'm not the best at following you, don't take me for a fool.
Cyclops stopped on the third floor landing. Turning to him, he was visibly annoyed. Yet after a visible breath he put his hands in his pockets. Tubio could see the red glow of his eye through the factory and the holes in his huge hood. The lights seemed to vibrate for a moment before he answered.
-Do you want the truth? Because you're weak. You could never do a single thing in your life with or without the gang and Gaton to protect you. You present yourself to others who don't notice or choose to ignore it, but I know your little secret. The one you show every day you're in the Maelstrom. Of all of them, the only real rat that didn't jump ship when Gaton died was you. So either you have no sense of survival, or you're dedicated to the cause. Either way, you'll be more useful by my side than on the street dying by accident. You don't have the strength but at least you have a clear mind. Unlike some people. Any questions?
Tubio was embarrassed, ashamed even to know that he had been found out like that. The Cyclops said nothing, looking at him passively with his hands in his pockets.
-Now that we've got that out of the way, we can get on with our revenge. I'd like it to be hot.
-What happens to me when this is all over?
-That's up to you...
When they reached the fourth floor landing, they met two other members of the gang to whom Cyclops gave a thumbs up. He and Tubio went upstairs in silence until they reached the landing. There were three doors. Prina's was directly to the right, one across the hall from them, and one facing Prina's on the other side of the hall. Cyclops stood in front of the door looking at the pad to enter, Tubio took out his revolver and looked at his magazine. The door opened effortlessly and slid open. He went inside. The apartment consisted of a bedroom and a bathroom with in the middle the living room giving on the outside by a glass in the shape of rectangular visor. Making him sign to go towards the bathroom, he left towards the room. While his mantis blades came out of his forearms. After a moment when Tubio passed to the bathroom, he opened the door pointing his pistol on an empty bathroom filled with bathtub and electronic equipment.
-Clear.
-Nothing.
Joining Cyclops, Tubio found that Cyclops had put away his blades, and that the apartment had been turned upside down. Case on the floor, cupboard emptied...
-Bathtub full, with equipment, she had visitors during a session...
-Or was in a hurry to leave. Search on your side, I'll take care of the electronics.
The apartment was turned over but not completely. It was as if someone had packed quickly before leaving. Cyclops went to the bathroom to check the equipment that connected Prina to the network. A noise in the hallway startled Tubio, who raised his gun. Janissa. Raising her hands and waving her fingers, she smiled. He breathed before turning his gaze to the apartment's belongings.
-Oh, did I scare you my little Tubio?
-Since you're here, do you want to help me? We're looking for information while Cyclops takes care of Prina's stuff.
Entering the apartment Janissa look around her Tubio when he looked at the papers, the floor, opened the last drawers.
-What's your theory, Tubio.
-She was taken in or threatened to tell Sartu that Gaton was a traitor. Not wanting to die, she set sail.
-Mm, interesting...
Going into the bedroom and leaving Janissa in the living room. Tubio looked at the walls and other drawers. No extravagance, few personal objects. A picture of what he thought was Prina protruded from under a piece of clothing left on the floor. It contained two women looking at the camera. Finding nothing else. He returned to the living room to see that Cyclops had finished on his side.
-Cleaned files and data. How about you?
Tubio showed the photo. To which Janissa whistled before taking it from his hands.
-Cute but I think I found better. Look what I found in the wardrobe of the lady.
A black jacket. Turning it over, we could see the pink logo of the Mox's on the back, another night city gang.
-How much do you want to bet she crawled out there between her girlfriend's legs.
-Well done Janissa. Let's set sail.
Cyclops came out and began to descend, the other guards on the upper level began to descend when Janissa stopped one of them.
-Your grenades.
Smiling, the gangster gave them to her with a big smile. Tubio didn't understand as the other two ran down the stairs.
-What are you doing?
-This bitch is making us run all over town after killing one of our own. So I'm making a bonfire in honor of that cunt.
Pulling out the grenades she had recovered, plus her own, she threw them into the apartment and started to run down the stairs pulling Tubio with her. Hardly arrived on the next landing. The apartment exploded, sending a blast of fire up the stairwell. Janissa was laughing her head off as she made her way down the last few floors.
When he reached the bottom, Tubio was shocked to see what was in front of him. On the floor were the bodies of six peoples. Janissa turned to Spike for an explanation. He and his companions were drinking and laughing while pointing a sword at the corpses. Cyclops and Boris in their corner said nothing and were probably discussing what to do next. Janissa's good mood was gone.
-What happened?
-What? We were having a good time when that jerk pushed Natou around. I couldn't let it go. So I killed him. Then his buddies came along and pulled out swords you see, so we pulled out our guns and smoked them. Look at my new sword. Nova right?
-Those are Tiger Claws, what would you have done if they had called for backup.
-I would have killed them too?
Boris then called all the guys present.
-We're moving to Lizzie's bar. A friendly visit to the Mox's. No bumping into anyone there Spike, got it?
The lightness of the discussion was almost as confusing as the reasons for the bloodshed. The street was red with blood, the neon lights were tragically the color of the Maelstrom. Unless it was the fire in the building that gave that impression. He looked at the corpses and then looked up at the burning apartment. When he looked down again, Cyclops had his eyes on him. The uneasiness in his stomach had just taken him over again. This too was the Maelstrom. The violence under a thin layer of pleasure, unless it was the opposite.