190 Karmic Retribution

David found himself at one of the many drop points, sitting on a dumpster while keeping an eye on Katsuo, the teen currently tied to a chair with wire. Maine and the others were in other parts of the city with the higher prio hostages, and he'd been left to watch this gonk 'cuz he wasn't really worth that much.

He'd been keeping himself occupied texting Lucy, but she'd had to go off and strip some tracking software one of the kids'd had. Which left him to his thoughts, and Katsuo...

"This what you become then, Martinez...?" Katsuo mutters, "Some punk psycho murderer?"

"And what else would I be? What else could I do?" David boredly responds, "I couldn't pay tuition fees, couldn't pay for the equipment, couldn't afford rent." he scowls, "Not all of us are as well off as you, asshole."

He scoffs, "Hmph, 'least I'm not run-of-the-mill street trash. What would your mom think-"

*Thud!*

David drops off of the dumpster and stomps over, grabbing Katsuo's hair and forcing him to look at him, "I told you, shut your mouth."

"Why? Because you threw everything away and became a murderer!?"

*Smack!*

David wipes his hand on his trousers after slapping Katsuo, "My mom worked as a merc to pay me through the Academy, she'd understand." he growls, "I think I should thank you though, if you didn't kick the shit outta me I'd have never grown the balls to get my chrome installed. I'd have been in some dead-end alley somewhere snorting Glitter if you hadn't 'encouraged me'... You're the reason we're both here."

"Yeah, me kidnapped and you halfway to Cyberpsychodom. Fan-fucking-tastic."

"You might not like where you're going. But I'm lovin' my new life!" he turns, gripping his fists and feeling the strength in his new synthetic muscle fibres, "The freedom, away from those fucks in Corpo-school and everyone else who wants to control me... I almost pity you, a slave to your pops who couldn't care less if you got dropped here and now."

"You don't know that-" he reactively starts but David talks over him.

"We both know it! My mom died for me, gave her everything. You talked a lotta shit before, but now where's your pops!? You're just lucky my crew didn't accept my idea of cutting you open and selling the chrome you're so proud of."

...

"L-look. I'm sorry, I didn't think-"

"Just shut up." David spits, "You're done. Think of it as karma if you like, this ain't some shit you can talk or buy your way outta."

[David, 'Mailman' approaching.] - Kiwi

[Got it.] - David

He steps to Katsuo's side as a large truck drives into the clearing, "Looks like your ride is here. I'd say don't give lip to these guys, but I'd rather see the beating they'd give you." he says as two large men step out.

"W-wait! Martinez! I'll pay you, I'll do whatever! Just don't let them take me! I swear, PLEASE!" Katsuo begs as the men lift him and the chair before making their way back to the truck.

"Feel free to rough him up, he's not worth much." David waves them off, watching the truck leave.

[Tanaka's kid got picked up.] - David

[Good, that's the last of 'em. Meet back at base for a sitrep. Good job guys.] - Maine.

[You alright?] Lucy sends him a private message.

[Yeah, why?] - David

[I'm linked in, me and Kiwi heard everything.] - Lucy

...

[Wanna get some drinks after sitrep?] - Lucy

David perks up at that, a grin splitting his lips as he speeds up his walk.

[Sure, wherever you want.] - David

[My place?] - Lucy

...

David throws a fist into the air and lets out a triumphant shout, "Yes!"

...

Before coughing into his fist and recomposing himself.

[Yeah, sure] - David

[Still linked... :P ] - Lucy

"Fuck!"

-------------------------

In the dark of night Ori, Rebecca, and Sasha sneak over a sandy hill that overlooks a clearing in the badlands south of Rocky Ridge. They'd tracked Zeta's trucks all the way down here, and relatively easily found an old abandoned tunnel where the structure they were holding the kidnapped victims.

There weren't any visible guards or protections on the outskirts, but a quick scan from Sasha determined that there were numerous hidden cameras scattered around, some hidden inside rocks, in clumps of sand, and one was even designed to look like a desiccated human carcass.

"Any idea on how to approach...?" Ori questions, wondering if they could find a hidden access tunnel somewhere. Or maybe a secret escape exit for emergencies?

"I say we go in loud, we're far enough away that no one would hear it, and Sasha could block them from calling help." Rebecca chips in.

Sasha shakes her head, "You're overestimating me, they'll have systems designed to get around scramblers. Even if I set one up they'll break through it quickly."

"Still, I doubt we'll be able to sneak in. They're probably expecting someone to try." Ori mutters before shaking his head, "Sasha, it's your call, you wanna head in with us as backup? Or you want to go with Rebecca's idea..."

"I'll try get into security, just be ready to move if I slip." she offers, and the duo nod at her.

"Alright, good luck. If you don't contact us five minutes in we'll come runnin'."

"Don't die and all that." Rebecca adds.

"Right..."

-----------------------

Sneaking into the facility was relatively easy. It had so many cameras that the security for each one was minimal. The guy operating them probably didn't even notice the moment she put them on loop.

The entrance itself was some kind of folding contraption, probably strong enough to endure a tank crashing into it, even then, the risk of a cave-in would discourage that form of assault. Which is now how she found herself crawling through vents like a rat, occasionally jacking in to see exactly where she was...

She hadn't been all that surprised to find that the place was three stories deep, maybe even more if Biotechnica decided to take it off of official facility maps.

Maybe she should've gone with the other plan...?