The Mox

It was a struggle to get Evelyn to Lizzie's Bar. She was limp…keeping her on the motorbike was a thankless task. Lei didn't want to think about it anymore. Sometimes doing a good thing was tiring as hell. She wasn't a hero either. 

The drifter had done some evil shit before. Maybe this was a form of personal redemption? Yeah right. Who was she kidding. The masked girl knew that she'd probably do some evil shit again. All it took was a gig that had what she wanted.

Her bike pulled up into the parking lot. The sun was almost low by this point, and civilians were starting to line up. Building was still closed but it would open soon. 

Evelyn's body was covered by sheets. Lei carried her all the way to the door. She ignored the looks of curiosity and intimidation. A bouncer was standing in front of the doors. 

A tough looking woman. Beautiful too. With purple hair with two buns and lipstick to match, cybernetic arms only made her seem tougher. Black leather pants hugged her slim but toned legs. A white loose tank top that stopped before her stomach. 

There was a massive Mox tattoo on her chest. She looked bored. Quite the profile, especially with that baseball bat in her hand. Lei casually approached her. The bouncer's eyes narrowed upon seeing the carried body. 

"Don't fucking move." The bouncer exclaimed. 

The baseball bat was pointed at the drifter. This revealed two pistols holstered beneath her arms. The purple haired girl was prepared for conflict. Lei stopped. 

"..................."

"Who the fuck are you, who the fuck is that, and what the fuck are you doing?" She growled. 

Lei moved the sheet a bit to reveal Evelyn's face. The bouncer's face immediately changed. Her fist immediately banged on the door. 

"Evelyn!" The tough girl exclaimed. 

"Saw that she was Mox. Brought her here." Lei finally said. 

In response to the bangs, the doors opened. Another bouncer came out, learned the situation, and ushered them in. The surroundings were dim but filled with neon lights. It was only the lobby too. 

"Stay here." The tough girl said. 

She gently took Evelyn out of Lei's arms. The drifter watched as Evelyn was brought to the bar where two worried women were sitting. One of them had green hair that was combed over to the side. The edges were purple. 

The other was a woman of African descent. Long black puffy haired that was styled in a bun. She seemed ultra serious. 

"Judy. Look." The bouncer exclaimed. Judy turned to the body and immediately jumped up. 

"Shit. Evelyn! I got her. Please be alive. Please be alive. Susie, help me!"

"How the fuck did she end up like this, Rita?!" The African woman spoke up.

Judy took her from the bouncer now known as Rita. Both women moved quickly, disappearing with the doll behind doors and hallways. It was unknown where they were headed. 

Rita didn't follow them. Instead, she returned to the lobby. Her expression was dark as she looked at Lei. The hostility was wafting from her in waves. 

"We've been looking everywhere for Evelyn. Now you happen to show up with her? I don't buy it."

"........................" Lei remained silent, her mechanical breathing filling the lobby. Eerie.

"If I find out you had ANYTHING to do with this…I'll paint the floor with your brain."

"...You can try." 

"Bitch!" Rita gripped her bat so hard the material slightly warped. Lei raised a hand to calm her.

"Relax. This was just my good deed for the year. I'll get out of your hair."

The drifter turned to leave. She still had to return to Pacifica. Before she could open the doors, a bat blocked her path. Rita moved in her way. 

"Nu-uh. You ain't going nowhere. Not until you explain to all of us."

".................................."

Lei's empty eyes finally locked onto the bouncer. She now had the girl's full attention. Rita immediately shifted a bit at the eerie gaze, but stood firm. They stared each other down. 

"Evelyn recorded everything. You can find the answers there." Drifter revealed.

"Still need to know how you tie into it."

Hearing these words, Lei couldn't help but roll her eyes. It made sense of course. Still, it was annoying. Rita smirked at the masked girl's actions. 

Noticing the contempt, the drifter took off her breather. Full lips were revealed alongside a beautiful face. She leaned closer to Rita, who placed the bat between them. Ignoring it, Lei pushed against it and reached her ear. 

"You don't have the firepower to keep me here." She whispered softly. Her voice was like honey.

"............................." The bouncer remained silent. 

Only then did Lei back off slightly. Her hands stayed behind her back, and she tilted her head, looking up at the taller woman. A slight smile soon followed. 

Creepy. That was Rita's first thought. This bitch was dangerous. Survival instincts kicked in, and she reached for one of her pistols. Before she could pull it out, a voice spoke up. 

"Stop! What are you guys doing?"

It was Judy. She stood there with her hands on her hips. Rita glanced at her before turning back to Lei. To her surprise, the mask was already back on the girl's face. What the fuck? Too fast.

"We were just…talking." The drifter's mechanized voice sounded. 

"Like hell you were. Can you come with me? Just wanna know what happened. Please." Judy asked. She was quite polite. 

Lei gestured for the green haired girl to lead the way. Judy nodded before turning away. The trio made their way through hallways and doors. Rita followed from behind…watching the drifter. They eventually reached a staircase going underground. Another turn after and they found themselves in a medical room. 

Evelyn was lying on a patient bed while hooked up to a few machines. She was much cleaner now. Susie was already sitting on a chair. Multiple Mox members were present. All women. They leaned against the walls. 

By all means…Lei was surrounded on all sides. Judy looked at the semi-conscious doll one more time. Only then did she speak. 

"Alright. Everyone here are those that know Evelyn. Can you tell us what happened?"

"Found her in an abandoned power plant." The masked girl revealed. 

Lei went on to explain everything. About the recording, about the Scavs, the XBDs. The Borg who had Evelyn the longest, the ripper doc, all of it. She made sure to leave out the details of her gig. As well as the fact that it was the Voodoo Boys. 

Everyone's faces grew worse as the story went on. By the end, they were fuming. Many of them wanted to go to Clouds and put bullets into the manager. Put bullets into the ripper doc. 

There was a long moment of silence. Everyone stewed within their thoughts. Only the sound of Lei's breathing, and the medical beeps of the monitors filled the room. Judy eventually spoke up. 

"I never caught your name."

"Drifter." Lei answered. Rita immediately shook her head. 

"Didn't ask for your fucking moniker, gonk. Your name." She growled.

"Rita…" Judy tried to calm the tough girl.

"No! We're all women here. Don't do that shit. This is the Mox. We don't treat those who help us badly. We don't backstab. Fuck the dick measuring contest."

Lei observed the room full of armed and dangerous women. She then looked at Rita, who was burning holes with her stare. Something was there between them. Some form of tension. Both Rita and Lei could feel it. 

"Fine…My name is Lei." 

"Lei. Thank you for bringing Evelyn back to us." Judy bowed her head. 

"Mnn." The masked girl hummed.

"I won't keep you any longer. You don't have to stay. Just know that you are welcome anytime at Lizzie's Bar. Drinks are on the house. After the first one though, you gotta pay." 

Judy chuckled a bit along with some others. The tension had lightened a bit. Everyone had grown more casual. Lei nodded and silently turned to leave. 

"Rita, see Lei out will you? And please be kind." Susie spoke up. 

"Hmph." Rita snorted. 

The two made their way out of the still closed bar. Their pace was adequate. Not too fast. Not too slow. Neither of them said a word until they were out the front doors. 

"Doubt I'll see you again. You don't look like the BD enjoying type." Rita said. 

"Correct. A free drink though…might stop by for that one day."

"Look…" The bouncer sighed. It was hard for her to say this. "My bad, okay? Didn't mean to be on you like that."

"I'm sure you were just worried about Evelyn." Lei responded. Rita shook her head.

"You might not believe me, but I consider myself really chill. It's only on the job when I'm confrontational. I have to be."

"Pffft. I believe you. Maybe I'll see the real you next time." The drifter held in a giggle. Rita smiled. 

"Goodbye, Lei." 

A friend request popped up on Lei's display. Rita Wheeler. Accepting the request, their deets were shared. Contacts exchanged.

"That's Loralei to you." She commented while glancing at Rita's perky breasts. No bra under the tank top.

Rita couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. As Lei mounted her Kusanagi, Johnny Silverhand appeared beside her. He lowered his sunglasses to leer at Rita, who was still watching Lei exit. 

'That's gonna be a crazy rough fuck once you two get started.'

'Johnny, please shut up.' 

Lei rolled her eyes as the engine woke up.