Edging It

Ori idly played around with his new Monowire Cyberware from his makeshift seat, a ledge atop a building overlooking the place where Susie and Wakako would be meeting. Apparently the place had been set by that guy called Padre, who claimed 'What better place to seek peace than in the house of the lord himself?'.

Ori thought it was bullshit of course, but at least it provided a very defensible position. He'd thought most churches had been sequestered away to those small community rent rooms, but it looked like he was mistaken.

It was a small chapel which had presumably stood before the gentrification of Night City. It looked pretty out of place squeezed between two tower blocks, relatively modern stonework, refurbished wood, and some facsimile of stained glass as its windows.

Everyone knew why it still stood though, the Valentinos would destroy the rest of the street if such an attempt was made.

"So, about this whole... Immortality thing." he wonders aloud while leaning back, appreciating the rooftop wind.

...

"Hello?"

[Are you referring to us?] the Collective inquires, and Ori was unsure if the bots were being snarky or not.

"Who else would I even ask...? Who else is even here?" he retorts, knowing Lucy and David wouldn't arrive until an hour or so from now.

[We would like you to be more specific.]

"Y'know, things I should look out for, prepare for, learn about?" he mumbles the latter parts, not as comfortable with this line of discussion as he'd like to present. He'd been putting this discussion off for a while due to its severity, even now he'd just blurted it out in a fit of anxious boredom.

To most living forever would be a blessing, something not even the Corpo suits had managed. But he was well aware what it meant for someone like him. If anyone found out they'd hunt him, cut him apart and dissect him.

Even if he somehow managed to avoid that, what was there to even look to in the future? The world was already pretty fucked and teetering on the edge of destruction. Hell, those rich bastards created a space station so they could avoid it when it hit, at least that was Ori's understanding of it.

Natural resources were dwindling, nuclear fallout had destroyed most natural ecosystems, and any city not destroyed in a Corporate war had been ravaged to the point of essentially becoming giant ghettos.

That's not even mentioning the fact he'd have to watch everyone he loved or hated die. Sure, he imagined there'd be a way in the future for the nanites to alter their DNA or something, or maybe even copy themselves, but would they even accept such a thing? Other than Rebecca, he highly doubted it.

[We suspect buying stocks in companies with potential is not the advice you are seeking?]

"No duh, I'm not a genius but I'm not retarded either." he drawls, flicking the Monowire at a discarded can which easily cuts it in two.

[We are unsure, while we do exist within your head, we cannot read your mind. What is it you seek from existence? Perhaps considering how having more time would affect your goal would help?]

...

He used to dream about reaching the top, the top of what was something he'd never really considered. Then the Casinha Massacre happened and he'd focussed solely on revenge, which remained true even now after the discovery of the Animals, Tyger Claws, and Arasaka's involvement.

He shakes his head, not replying to the nanite's quandary. He didn't have an answer, and any he gave now would feel like an excuse.

"Er, hello?" a voice asks from the door protecting the stairs from the elements.

"David, you're early." Ori remarks as the teen and his pastel-haired companion step onto the roof.

"Said he didn't want to miss anything." Lucy shrugs, finding herself a seat nearby.

"Weren't you the one who kept explaining how important this gig was?" he retorts, dropping next to her.

She leans to the side and lights a cig, "If it means I don't have to remind you during it, then expect a repeat."

He pouts, kicking his feet up and leaning back with his hands in his pockets, "Er, where's your crew?" he asks, glancing around.

"In position somewhere else, they'll cover our blindspot while we keep an eye on the front of the church." Ori leans forwards and pulls a box from under where he'd been sitting. He opens it, revealing a large, heavy sniper rifle that also happened to be painted in dark pinks and greens...

Yes, desp[ite emphasizing the point of it being camouflage, Rebecca had reluctantly just used darker variants of her usual favoured paints... She'd assembled it out of a Techtronika SPT32 Grad and a bunch of other parts she couldn't care to mention. According to her, all he needed to know is that whatever he hits, dies.

"Wow... That thing's huge!" David exclaims with mouth agape.

"That's what she said." Ori grins, "No really, I had the same reaction and Rebecca said the same exact thing." he lifts the weapon out of the box and begins checking it, the ammo, the sights, etc. This'd already been done three times yesterday, but it was better that they were safe than sorry.

"So, what's my job here exactly?" David asks.

"Lucy's gonna keep watch on the Net side of things, make sure no hackers slip through and ruin our day. Considering Arasaka might show, having an abundance of Netrunners is a must... As for you? Well, you're the meatshield for our sexy friend here." he gestures at Lucy.

"Sexy?" David unconsciously parrots.

"That's what you're bothered about." Lucy snorts at his priorities.

"Look on the bright side, at least you're here. Right now Kiwi's chilling in the tub at home." Ori chuckles.

"That... Is not wrong?" Lucy smirks.

"I don't get it..." David frowns.