The Cult of the Machine most graciously welcomes the adepts Blacksuns778 and Ironcore to its revered ranks. May their labors benefit the company-cough- most holy order.
-----
Michael 'Magos' Sobronov
It didn't take long for the two veterans to get back to me and within two days they informed me that the rest of their colleagues had agreed to provisionally accept my offer, being actually smart about the whole thing and demanding more details than I'd provided previously before going 'all in'.
I didn't mind it and shared what extra details I reasonably could without them being under contract and soon enough I was meeting with another dozen representatives from the veteran community and shaking their hands.
Interestingly, a number of them seemed to heavily focus on the fact I was a fullborg and that I hinted at Mason I could make others the same, some of them going as far as to look almost... proud of the fact they were signing on on with me.
I'd failed to consider just how prestigious having access to Full Body Conversions really was, having somewhat understandably taken the tech for granted after I managed it myself. It was a sign of power and reach, and the older veterans understood that very well.
It offered far more leverage than just another product, and I would make sure to use it to my advantage now that I was reminded of the fact. Especially when I designed my own war borg models, and hopefully ones that wouldn't brain fry their user after only a few months of operation.
But that would have to wait until I had actual production lines set up.
3D printing was alright when putting together smaller, non too sensitive components, but even my own plating was mostly salvaged from actual forged metals and reinforced with nanites, so anything larger would take proper facilities.
And speaking of facilities, recruitment of the civilian variety was slowly picking up as well.
The rumor was mostly spread through Old Chu and my other old customers to begin with and through word of mouth from there on, and it was more than enough for the hundreds of residents I shared a floor with to start asking around with an almost feverish interest.
Feeling just a bit petty about the headache he caused me, I conscripted David into dealing with that whole mess in his free time, an action that made Gloria beam at me with far too much enthusiasm, and the academy kid did a surprisingly good job acting as the temporary local rep for my company.
He got to earn a couple hundred quick eddies doing actual work, and the locals of H11, Floor 16 were informed about everything they needed to know about their chance at a future. It was a win for everyone, and doubly so for me.
Haven't even announced recruitment officially yet, and I already had just under four hundred workers signing up.
Successful as that was, I knew it was never going to be sustainable. Which is how I found myself in a private booth in one fo H11's more respectable restaurants in my more fleshy guise of Michael, interviewing a classically pretty Asian woman for the position of Public Relations Representative over some tea.
"-which is why I believe presenting a safe, approachable front would be the best strategy for your company." She finished her minutes long spiel with practiced efficiency.
Showing no outward reaction I hummed in consideration. Everything she'd said were things I had considered on and off for a while now but all of it felt too... sanitized, dead for the lack of a better word.
Too... corporate.
And how I appreciated the irony of that conclusion.
The initial meeting went well enough but after having sat through the most rehearsed thing in my life I just couldn't find it in myself to be in any way enthusiastic about what she brought to the table, even if I knew it was valid.
Doing my utmost not to sigh I nodded "You make good points, Ms. Akiko. I will be sure to contact you about my decision soon."
She smiled a perfectly proportioned smile, just wide enough to be friendly but not too friendly, and walked out.
At least she wasn't an idiot, if her micro expressions were any indication, but even then I'd already marked her down for a lower position if I ended up recruiting her at all.
Reminding myself that not every meeting was going to go perfectly, I sent the notification out for the next candidate to step inside.
Immediately, the first thing I noticed was just how bulky the Latino man was.
Walking fridge would not be an unfitting descriptor for the sheer unit of a man before me, and the slightly darker hued Valentino coloring of his clothes accompanied by the usual Santa Muerte iconography of the popular Christian cult among the residents of Heywood only served to make him a more imposing sight.
His face was square, notably dominated a mostly cybernetic jawline and a single gen 2 eye that looked much like Ward's if a bit more advanced, and each of his visible limbs had some sort of work done to it.
'Good choices too, those models play together pretty well.' I thought absently as I observed.
But the most notable features of all were he genuine, honest grin on his face as he walked in, seeming to almost radiate the man's own cheer into the air around him, and the chrome colored cross hanging off his neck.
He certainly had a... presence was the long and short of my opinion of one Father Hernan Guadalajara.
"Mr. Guadalajara. Thank you for coming." I nodded as he entered.
"Please, just Hernan." He spoke in a cheerful yet deep tone "Any friend of Jack's is a friend of mine."
"A sentiment I can get behind. Call me Michael then." My lip twitched upwards, I could do casual "Please, have a seat."
"Thank you." He took the offered seat, and smiled as I waved at the menu indicating he could order whatever he wanted.
No point in making this whole experience a complete waste of time for those who didn't make the cut.
Soon enough, the server came in with the tequila and soda, refilling my own tea before leaving us back to it.
"So, Hernan." I spoke up after a bit, making myself comfortable in my seat "Jackie tells me you have a way with people. Something I will be in great need of in the near future, as you well know."
His eyes shine with amusement at my phrasing.
"They like to make it seem like it is something beyond them but I just helped anyone who has enough faith to ask for it." He shrugs as if that really was that "It made the people gather around me for a while, but we were a small congregation at the end of the day."
"No church to take care off?" I asked.
"Those cost money." He smiled wryly, looking almost sad for a moment "And we were not rich."
Leaning back in my seat I give him a slow once over "Which is why I hear you joined the Valentinos."
"I make no secret of it." He nods seriously "My flock needed help, and all I had to provide for them was the strength of my arms. We managed for a couple of years, and most of them have made a brighter life for themselves, but I have a wife now and a child on the way. The life of danger is no longer for me."
"And your departure from the Valentinos was done 'by the book'?" I asked.
"I have paid my dues to the Ortas." He reassures me "They were sad to see me go but respected my choice."
"Very well." I tap my cup absently "So long as your past doesn't make problems for me we are all good."
He exhales just a bit too hard, signaling his relief.
He wasn't too relaxed then, good.
"But that's enough about that." I speak up after a moment "You've already been informed about the outline of what I'm looking to build, and Jackie gave you the job info as well so we can skip that, you wouldn't be here if you weren't interested. What I want to hear from you is how I should present myself to the world?"
He perks up at this.
Seeing him waiting I add "What should my company present itself as?"
Instead of answering immediately, he meets my eyes for a long drawn out moment and weighs his words before speaking with conviction "Jackie tells me you are a man truly devoted to his craft. That you speak of it with fervor and belief, with passion for what you do."
"Not incorrect." I nod slowly and wave for him to move on.
"Lean into this." He tells me decisively "The other corpos are stale, boring, their humanity stripped to the barest possible minimum. There is no rule stating that following their soulless behavior is the only way to go. Be bold, and be forward! And the people will love you for it."
"Just be honest?" I quirk an eyebrow "Is that it?"
"You would be surprised just how far a bit of honesty can take you." He grins "The people want authenticity, they want passion, and from all I hear?" He spreads his arms "You have both in spades."
"And if my beliefs stray from yours?" I address the final point of contention "Then what?"
"Jackie tells me that your heart is good, chrome or no chrome." He doesn't hesitate for even a second, meeting my eyes directly "Is he a liar?"
A beat passes before I give the only valid answer to that question "No."
"Then that is enough." Hernan smiles.
"Yes, it most certainly is." I chuckle lightly "Now, say I hypothetically accept your proposal. Tell me more about just how deeply I should lean into my presentation?"
We began discussing the bones of a plan and just as advertised the man knew what he was talking about, at least as far as the common customer went if not the investor.
Something I currently had no need to worry about, nor something I'd consider for a long time.
Much as I kept my tone neutral, and my words undecided, both he and I knew I'd reached my decision by the second hour and fourth round of drinks.
---
"So, how was he?" Jackie Welles poked my side with an elbow "Eh, eh?"
"Come on Jack." I chuckle, ignoring the jabs as I drove up to the Petrochem Dam "I can't be spreading potential employee information around like that. That would be unprofessional."
"So he got the job?" He asks with a grin.
Rolling my eyes I sigh "Yes, Jack. He got the job."
"Haha!" He laughs "Told you the old Welles charm is never wrong!"
Rebecca snorts from the back of the van.
"Yes, yes, we are all in awe." I drone dryly.
We all chuckle.
"So, Mikey." My girlfriend calls after a moment "What's this surprise you got us all buttered up for?"
"Wouldn't be much of a surprise if I told you, would it?" I ask teasingly.
"Come onnnn!" She pretend whines "The suspense is killing me!"
I shake my head wryly "We are almost there. Just have some patience, I promise you'll love it."
A minute or so later we climb up the dam and reach the overlook where Muamar Reyes, or El Capitan as he prefers, conducts his business. Terrible choices in haircuts aside, the man was the greatest smuggler in Night City.
He meets us all in the shade of a large truck carrying an equally imposing cargo crate with a satisfied smile on his face "Magos, told you El Capitan's got you covered!"
"Never doubted you for a moment, cap." I chuckle.
He and Jackie share a more cheerful greeting, low high fiveing and bumping their shoulders like old friends, and then his eyes land on Rebecca "And if it isn't Wakako's newest terror!" He says with a grin "Hope the granny isn't too shy about sending you my way from time to time? Could always use more Scav cleaners."
"She likes to grumble but she won't mind." 'Becca stage whispers with a conspiratorial wink "But that can wait, tell me what you got us!"
He shoots me a look to which I just shrug, making him chuckle as he waves for us to follow "As the good lady commands, El Capitan will provide!"
He leads us behind the truck where we are met with a pair of Nomads, though none I recognize, he waves at the duo and then points a thumb my way "Mitch, Scorpion, this is the client I've been telling you about."
"This isn't standard protocol." I point out to the Fixer but still nod in greeting at the duo.
"You know I like to make the best deals, Magos." Cap shrugs my suspicion off, raising his hand so I'd let him explain "Heard you got in good with some of the Nomads and I thought why not ask around? See what I can scrounge up. We hashed out a pretty good deal, all they asked for it was to meet with you."
"I see." I say neutrally, eyeing the duo and finding nothing too suspicious.
"No point dancing around it. Heard about you from Zeke Jodes, its why the Technomancers even bothered setting that beauty up." The older Nomad speaks up while pointing at the cargo box "He had a lot to say, thought I'd see with my own eyes."
I was in my Magos look at the moment so all I did by way of expression was whirl my trio of sensors "And? Satisfied with what you've found?"
"He said you were a magic hand with fixing people, and that you are trustworthy." Mitch says while looking me up and down before seemingly coming to a decision "The Aldecaldos plan on moving in around Night City in a few months, I was wondering if we could set up some kind of deal for keeping our people in one piece."
"Not confident in your own rippers?" I probe.
He shrugs "They're good in a pinch, but they aren't pros."
I hum in understanding and cup my chin.
"it is an interesting proposal." I say after a few seconds of consideration "Though things have changed a lot since the Jodes' left... But depending on what your Family has to offer I can see myself offering you a good deal."
"What are you looking for?" He asks simply.
"Raw materials for the most part, some harder to get components, that sort of thing." I wave my hand about, I could get most of those things myself but it never hurt to get things for cheap when possible "Give me your leader's contacts and I'll negotiate the specifics with them before you get moving. Might as well make your move nice and profitable for all of us."
"Saul will love hearing that." Scorpion chuckles.
"He sure will." Mitch nods with a small smirk and I see his eyes light up as he sends me the requested information, a moment later he claps his hands and steps away from the truck "Well, that's good enough for me. Let's get this show on the road!"
Scorpion nods and hops onto the back of the truck, starting the process of dismantling the cargo box without snapping any hinges.
"As I was saying." Muamar takes over again "El Capitan always got you covered, I got receipts, a paper trail, everything!" He grins "City Hall won't be able to complain about a thing. I even got the bad girl all nice and fueled up for a test ride!"
Just as he says that, the box rings out with one final click before folding apart and revealing a shiny brand new black Aerodyne Vehicle, easily large enough to hold my van in its cargo hold with room left over, and with six massive thrusters larger than my frame to keep it in the air, it even had the pair of front mounted rocket launchers I requested!
A quick scan revealed the Nomad technicians did an excellent job scrubbing the parts off of any unnecessary software, and even the OS seemed to have received a touchup in efficiency on the way.
I definitely had to meet these Technomancers in the future. Their work was inspired.
Before I could so much as open my mouth to praise the results however, I noticed Rebecca vibrating in place, looking like she was about to bolt.
"'Becca, no." I said almost desperately.
But she was already moving, launching herself forward into an enhanced sprint with a cry of "Dibs!" on her lips.
"Get back here you gremlin!" I bolted after her, leaving the quartet behind us to laugh their asses off.
-------
With the addition of an armed airship, the cult will now gather taxes even more efficiently!
14 glorious chapters await for those wise enough to seek them upon the forbidden Patreon (at patreon .com/ Rastislav156)
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