Part 24

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***

- So?

Panam looked at me with interest. Judy was munching on a piece of pizza we hadn't eaten last night and waiting for me to answer Panam's question. And the question was simple, what did Regina say about buying the nuclear reactor that powers all the new avis? And the question was really very important to us. Because it would solve one of the biggest problems that we would face if we decided to settle in the desert. And it's not even about Aldecaldo, some of whom, under Sol's watch, might settle under the steel foot of biotech, it's about us, as a group of OWLs, who would no longer need to pay rent or rent to strangers....

- It's easier to buy an avi than to find a reactor for it.

- Hmmm... and how much would that cost?

- Well... According to Regina, you can find a worn-out Avi for at least a million quid.

Panam and Judy whistled and shook their heads.

- So, are we giving up on this idea?

I scratched my cheek thoughtfully.

- No... just shelve the idea for now. Eventually, during the repair, we can envisage replacing the engine and installing a reactor, but for now we'll learn the ropes and do what we can.

- What about water?

I glanced at Panam and sighed.

- Well, I've been thinking about the whole idea overnight... and we don't really need a reactor, but it'll take a lot of petrol....

I shook my head.

- ...and some other things we'll need to buy. So in the meantime, we'll be repairing the Hippo, and we'll need some parts for that....

- Okay, I hear you. And by the way, I talked to Mitch yesterday, when you were at Vic's, and he loved the idea of converting cars like this into flats. You've seen the size of the tents, and they'll be smaller than our one-bedroom, and if the Behemoth's living area is three times bigger when parked, it'll be a good living space for six to twelve nomads at once. You can store your things in the car, but a bed in a warm, airtight body is worth a lot!

- I thought you were against a motorhome.....

I looked at Panam carefully.

- Well, it's a house... and this is a Hippo, it has such passability that just....

Panam smacked her lips to show that she was not against the idea.

- ...especially such a solution will help a lot, it will be possible to provide on the hull mounts for containers with clothes or food, so that to unload the clan cars, then on the road we will be able to fulfil certain orders....

- I see you've already decided everything?

I raised an eyebrow in surprise at Panam.

- А?

- About the clan life...

I shook my head.

- I'm sorry, but I'm not sure it's even mine yet... at least not like this in the tent....

I shook my head again.

- No, there's a certain charm to it, but to live like this permanently... I can't do it. I'm too used to the comforts of the city and the benefits it provides.

- But Hippo.

- What about Hippo?

- Panam, don't forget that, among other things, your clan could just disappear....

Judy joined the conversation and the words she said clearly did not please Panam, but she could not object. She just frowned and turned away from us.

- Don't pout, Judy's telling the truth. If Saul's idea succeeds, what will be left of your clan? The splinters who didn't follow the leader? And how many of them would that be? Ten men? Ten out of the 100 men currently in camp?

- At least you can rely on them.

- You're right, they can, but suppose we joined up, you became head of this mini clan, and then the Steelers attacked. What can thirteen men do against a full-scale attack? They'd put 50 fighters against us and we'd bleed to death.

- Are you saying I should forget about the clan?

- Panam, don't twist David's words.....

Judy looked carefully into her friend's eyes and shook her head.

- All he's saying is that if YOU want to keep the clan together, then YOU are the one who has to find ways to strengthen it. To make even Saul accept the idea that serving Biotech is not as profitable as being a free clan.

- How am I supposed to do that?

Panam's voice was filled with anger and irritation.

- Well, for a start you can work with us on a project to modernise the Behemoths, and not only them, I suppose the Kavkaz model Bratsk will do for the promised type of housing, I just saw that your Reaper has a reception room on the platform of one of them. A little refit and it'll be a real eye-catcher!

- Why did we--

- Why did we get the Behemoth?

- Yeah.

I shrugged.

- It's just that it's VERY rare to find one for sale! Usually it's only available to government agencies and corporations, only they can afford it. Not even afford it, but only they are allowed to buy it.

- Then how do you--

- It's simple, only the engine and the cabin are left here, and the body, which should also be covered with armour, has already been dismantled and in its place is a regular steel box. And a couple of other systems have been removed.

- But then, it doesn't make any sense.

- Not really. You see, even if specific systems are removed, you can buy their analogues, even if not Militech standard, but also quite good. So a bit of work and Behemoth will regain eighty per cent of its original characteristics. So we will have a small, well armoured monster.

- I see... but what about the Caucasus?

- It's not designed for this kind of thing. No, you can find a model twelve by twelve, on the platform of which you can even make a wheeled tank, but the cost ...

I shook my head.

- Even eight by eight, the price will bite, although the living modules of them will be simply delightful.

- I see... And what are our plans?

- Plans?

I chuckled.

- We need to buy a couple of parts, then we can go to Aldecaldo's, I think it would be more sensible to do the main work at their place than in the middle of the street. Just need to get an aerial, so Judy doesn't run out of information and communication with her gang....

- Actually, I've already spoken to them and told them I'm leaving.

I blinked in surprise.

- No, no...

She waved her hands in front of her.

- ...I didn't refuse to do the brans for them, but working for them was a lot less lucrative than working for you, so it was an obvious choice.

I shrugged with a sigh.

- Well, it's your choice, I'm not going to refuse the services of a raner, and I like you as a girl, and you know it....

Surprisingly, Judy blushed faintly and nodded her head. And it seems I was beginning to break through her alienation from men after all. Okay...

- ...so all I can say is... Joyful hugs!

And I went to hug Judy, who was a little confused, but Panam supported me and soon we were encasing her in a kind of sandwich of our bodies. A couple of seconds later she responded to the hug by hugging me since I was right in front of her.

- So...

I pulled away from Judy and caught her gaze.

- You remember your task, right?

- You mean finding all the data to infiltrate the archives and server rooms where the data on my case might be stored? I do.

- So do it, and don't forget to choose an antenna and an amplifier to work properly from the wasteland.

Judy nodded her head.

- And you and I will start with a trip to the car junk yards to buy some of the parts we need.

- Okay, have you made a list yet?

- Yesterday... when I scanned the Behemoth before I bought it. Still, I didn't want to buy something that was really junk.....

Panam gave a satisfied nod...

*** A while later. ***

- Where'd you get that?

Mitch walked my Hippo around and shook his head in admiration. Our appearance at all caused an unhealthy excitement at Aldecaldo, even Saul came to look at the unprecedented sight, Behemoth as a personal transport, and even in the territory of nomads.

- I bought it from a government corporation. They'd decided it was too expensive to dispose of, but to remove some of the armour and equipment and sell it as a civilian truck.

Mitch whistled.

- What do you want to do with it?

- You're going to laugh.

Mitch looked at me and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

- A motorhome that can expand when parked, doubling its size at least twice as much, or better yet, three times as much.

Mitch whistled.

- That's a lot of money... what's it for?

- Well, I want to give up city life, and I'm a city boy used to comfort, so....

- Well, in general, I like the idea... let's see what we can do with all this... only I will help in my free time, you know, the clan comes first.

I nodded my head, I couldn't expect anything else....

*** A little over a week later. Victor's clinic. ***

- Well, congratulations, man...

Vic clapped me on the shoulder, and I realised that he wasn't holding back, but due to the new synthetic muscles, which had already been completely replaced and had taken root, as well as the strengthened bones, joints and ligaments, I didn't feel the impact that would have shaken me before.

- ...you're fully healthy and ready to go.

- Sandy?

- You can use it, but you'd better limit your time and speed at first.

I nodded my head and gratefully extended my hand to Vic for a handshake.

- Thank you, you, Vic, you just have golden hands and.....

- Boy, don't forget, you've been paying me for everything I've done. So don't get all pink and snotty on me.

Vic was clearly embarrassed by my gratitude.

- Well... whatever... when's your appointment?

- I'm thinking a week and a half to two weeks, but no later than three. I'll have to check again how the synthetic muscles are doing, how they interact with the Sandi... Not that I doubt it, but it wouldn't hurt to check again.

- That's for sure...

I left his clinic with a grateful nod to Vic and walked through the small courtyard and into Misty's shop, where the girls were chatting with each other, discussing the parachute jump we'd made, even though it was a couple of days later than I'd originally planned.

- Davy, are you okay?

Misty gave me a kind smile. She was on a break with Jackie, so she was letting herself flirt a little with me. She's still in love with her boyfriend, though, so she doesn't cross the line into light flirting.

- All right, Misty.

I walked over to her and gave her a peck on the cheek.

- ...Vic declared me completely healthy and gave me a work permit. So soon Knight City would be whispering again about Tycho, who had become even more productive.

- How much more?

Panam shrugged her shoulders.

- It's not about more... it's about quality.....

I looked at Panam carefully.

- Judy, you've got everything ready, haven't you?

- Yes... we have a week's gap before the deadline, so we can safely start work on the locations I've selected. I've gathered all the information I can, I've bought some through Regina, I've done everything I can to make sure the infiltration goes quietly and according to plan.

- Good.

I hugged my girls, and Judy was almost mine, as anyone who saw us could see. And we said goodbye to Misty and left her shop. It was time to get back to work after a rather long forced holiday and the first thing I had to do was to tell Regina that I was back in the game....