As the sun calls it quits for the day, it sets on the horizon just behind the baron back alley behind Audrey's hideout. The breeze begins to pickup as random trash and debris floats around the dead quiet of the empty alley. The crew is seen slowly and methodically gearing up in various places of the apartment.
The energy in the room is both tense and serious. Much like the feeling of inevitability Zaunya and Brian faced together when dealing with 6th street, this is no different at all. Everyone in this room clearly understands the risks... and what they're marching into.
As far as they're all concerned... they're preparing for war.
Carter checks his spare magazines for his SMG... the high-polish finish reflects the light of the hideout cleanly with each turn. He takes deep breaths, trying to remain focused in a new place amongst new people... fearing a repeat of some of his past experiences. Although his outward appearance reflects comfort and confidence… inward hes feeling uneasy… leaning heavily on his experience to keep himself squared away. He knows what these people are capable of better than anyone... he does his best to bury the thoughts of his past history with this gathering of vultures. This opportunity to exact vengeance is one he never imagined he'd have… and he has every intention to exploit it to its full capacity.
BugBear, wearing her red netrunner jumpsuit steps passed Audrey while taking a drag of her smoke. She glances and sees Netty with his digital black mask resting on his lap while staring at the DR5 nova she gave him in his hands. He looks up to see her walking past him as the two exchange a brief, neutral look. It feels as though every interaction they have... regardless of how subtle... pokes and prods at the two of them like pins and needles.
Audrey is finishing prepping her tried and true combat medic gear... a very specialized kit shes tailored over years of trial and error when it comes to the violence of a cybernetically augmented environment where metal and mass fly. Her experience when it comes to live field work is unmatched. In a chrome world that prioritizes damage and destruction... being able to patch a chrome jock up to keep em in the fight with bullets flying overhead is nearly impossible to come by. Her black PetroChem standard issue Liberty rests on the carpeted floor by her side. The iron had no identifiable markings except for a big "Z" carved deep into the handle. A gift from Zaunya's mother, Zayta… It would appear that Audrey is taking her mind back to a place she's tried so hard to escape… Likely triggered by the intensity... the brutality of the collective recent events shes experienced. As various thoughts of her and Zayta's time together drift through her mind, so do the memories of brutal violence they faced, inflicted, and overcame together.
Her singular purpose... the goal at the forefront of her mind is clear…
Keep. Zaunya. Safe. At all costs.
This unwavering, strong desire to tend to Zaunya's well being is a subtle maternal mystery continuing to linger… Although filling in the blanks yourself shouldn't be much of a challenge.
Zaunya holsters her jet black Nue and slowly puts on her black leather facemask having already finished gearing up in her all black operator fit. You can tell her gear has been tailor made to her very particular anatomy. The various pockets, slots, attachments and detachments wrapped around her lanky figure perfectly while her implants effortlessly weaved with and under her ganic flesh. Designed for intense speed and mobility... durable destruction... and absolute devastation. The unknown kit of a corporate executive shield gone rogue... packing chrome that carries the weight of a small army.
She slowly approaches Brian from behind.. slowly draping his heavy jacket onto his back... helping him put it on as he looks down at the carpeted floor.
She prolongs the contact by squeezing his shoulders firmly... letting her hands slowly cascade down his thick arms before letting go. He takes a deep breath while racking the slide of his signature blood red, crimson Nue... the wet, glossy glimmer of his iron glistened under the lights of the hideout. He promised himself once upon a time after everything he's lost that he would never find himself in this life again. He passively checks his implants as he hears Marilyn and Graves' joyful giggles in his head as his mind begins to drift. 'Evelyn…' He thinks to himself... accompanied by a wave of guilt that washes over him. He remembers his inability to face her... to look her in the eyes... it hits him hard. Various random memories of time's past are abruptly halted by Zaunya approaching him from the front and looking deep into his eyes.
Brian finally looks up from the floor at her into those emerald green eyes before glancing around the room... noticing the rest of the crew standing before him geared up. Its clear they're all tense.. but ready… looking to him to make the call. This visual hits Brian hard... bringing back uncomfortable memories of past successes and failures. He hears the voice of his father... Enrique Varga enter his mind. An intimidatingly deep, raspy voice he hasn't heard in quite some time... nearly having forgot what it sounded like… it grabs his attention.
"Mijo… as a soldier… your loyalty is to those that fight alongside you. As a leader… their very lives are in your hands. At that point... your ability to take care of yourself no longer matters… only your ability to take care of the pack. In this life… in this city... when all that's left is violence and war... the lone wolf dies…. but the pack survives."
"Lets delta." Brian looks on at the crew before turning and walking toward the exit. Audrey holds the door open for him as he slowly steps out with the crew following behind him one by one.
As the late night falls upon the neon glow of Night City, the crew is seen flying by a packed Jacked and Coke headed back toward Pacifica. The engine of the Galena G240 roars with all the might it can as BugBear's Nazare racer quickly follows behind with Audrey's car following closely behind her in a caravan style fashion.
Netty holds onto BugBear tight as the speed of the caravan increases and the traffic becomes less busy... sidewalks grow empty the deeper they venture into the depths. Tension is high... but being this close to her without any communication is fucking with his head. Having not had the opportunity to talk to her about their past experiences causes it to be the only thing on his mind... clouding his focus... Dangerous...
As she rides through the dense streets, she does her best to keep the same thoughts at bay… knowing the likelihood of him bringing it up, she tries to remain focused and doesn't say anything. He can't help himself as the words pull themselves out of him. He speaks through their comms.
= Bear.. =
=Not now… please..= She quickly responds in a flat tone.
=We need to talk..-= He says growing frustrated.
=-You need to be focused Netty, alright?= She snaps aggressively =This isn't the time.=
He bites his tongue as he feels another fleeting opportunity slip away as the two drift through the streets of NC... although currently connected through direct contact... they're more distant to each other than ever.
Audrey with both hands on the wheel glances over at Zaunya frequently... Zaunya stares out the window.
"You ok?" Audrey asks softly... she can't help but ask while looking over at her… sensing her energy.
"I'm fine… just... a lot on my mind." She responds tired.
After a long pause of silence in the car. Zaunya speaks.
"I know you were always close with my mom." She abruptly puts forth, causing Audrey to quickly look over at her unexpected. She continues.
"I mean... you once said you guys spent a lot of time together but… you never really talked about why and… honestly I never really had the nerve to ask."
Audrey looks back at the road anxious without saying anything. Zaunya continues.
"I um… I always just assumed that you did her chrome work. Right..? Was… there anything else?"
Audrey's mouth opens but the words fail to come out. These questions are the last thing she expected to be asked right now. She finally responds.
"I… we…" Audrey struggles... causing Zaunya to look over at her curious with raised attention
"We did combat contracts together once upon a time… counter offensives mostly. Whether it was gang goons, PetroChem insurrectionists abroad or corporate rivals like Sovoil made no difference… Dark times... A lot of violence… A lot of killing. Wasn't just in Night City. I... I followed her All over the world… anywhere PetroChem had a stubborn leak that needed fixing."
Zaunya says nothing... listening as Audrey gets choked up.
"I... I was her trauma medic." Audrey exhales with a cracked voice filled with emotion and relief... a single tear runs down her cheek against her will.
Zaunya sits stunned... Her curiosity settles in.
"Heywood. Born n' Bread choom." Carter responds as Brian continues to skillfully pick at his brain while they roll in the Galena G240 together.
"Mm.. Rough times I heard back then." Brian claims
"Yeah, well, nothin's free nothin's fair in this town choomba. Gotta get it where ya live.. either that or catch a bullet first."
"Preem guillotine ya got there." Brian says causing Carter to look down at it.
"Heard its known for havin' uneasy stability with that high fire rate. Crazy considering how quickly I've seen you drop gonks with it."
Carter responds with half a smile, "Yeah, it uhh... it was a gift." He says before catching himself. His facial expression abruptly shifting as he disengages... continuing to look out the window.
Brian notices it and says nothing. Allowing a long pause to take over in the cab.
Two men coming from similar backgrounds having faced similar traumas in the past connect in silence through the unspoken word... as the tires rolling on the pavement takes over for a while.
"Be sure to put it to work… for them huh." Brian mutters as he hands over a tracker shard, looking over at Carter. Carter returns the look, grabs and slots the shard without saying anything... caught off guard by Brian's level of already understanding him. A level of understanding that could only be obtained through relatable experience.
The crew now finds themselves back in Pacifica... a place they were unsure they'd ever leave not too long ago. They stop the caravan about a mile away from their target location.. parking in a secluded alley far away for any nosy eyes or light. Much like people, Night City becomes different once the sun goes down... being shrouded in darkness has the potential to do certain things to someone. The lack of being seen tends to reveal parts of people they'd rather leave kept in the dark.
Brian stands before the crew looking at them in silence while they look at him. He turns around to walk up the alley to begin as they all follow behind him.
They slowly break off in various planned directions about a half mile from the target. Using the sparse street lighting to their advantage.
Carter and BugBear break off first to their position which fucks with Netty to no end as he watches them slowly leave sight. Brian and Audrey then break off next to their position as Brian helps lift Audrey over a chainlink fence before making his own way over. This leaves Zaunya and Netty together as they continue to their position.
As Zaunya does a final look over of her gear and iron she glances over to see Netty staring in the direction that Carter and BugBear left in. She picks up on this but doesn't mention it.
"Ready?" She asks softly... grabbing his attention and causing him to look over. He silently nods before putting his mask on.