Chapter Text
What was the point of surviving when everybody you knew was gone for good?
That was the question Rebecca had been asking herself for about a year.
She stared death in the face. Looked up at it, more accurately, with Adam Smasher barrelling down on her. And he hit her hard. She should’ve been fucking dead. Her arms were nonexistent when she finally came around. But, as she learned after the fact, Falco basically peeled her body off the pavement and brought her to a ripperdoc when he took Lucy. He shipped her guns to her apartment, along with a note with a goodbye. Telling her he was glad they had their moment. And after that…
Nothing. No contact with anybody. No more Falco, no more Lucy, no more Faraday (thank God). No more David. It was just her now, alone in her apartment, with nothing but her thoughts for weeks. She couldn’t move anywhere but her room, basically only eating liquid food the entire time. She cried a lot, at first. Just thinking over and over about what she should have done, what could have happened. Retailing conversations she couldn’t finish, and others she wished played out differently. But now, she was just… empty. Not like she wanted a new crew in case everything went to shit again. No family to go back to anymore, hadn’t been for a while now. She didn’t get any high profile cases as a solo after that shit show of a job at the tower. And beyond a basis of not wanting everybody to die in vain… she didn’t really see a reason to live.
She developed a pattern after she fully recovered and got her arms back. She’d wake up, eat some breakfast, and go out. Do a few small gigs to get food and water. Come back home, sit her ass on the couch, and watch BD’s. For hours. Sex ones and action ones for sure, but also ones of the most basic things. One about some friends going out to play in the park, another about a family celebrating their kids' fifth birthday party. She’d gotten who knows how many BD’s of just normal fuckin’ dates. She was always so happy watching those. But they all have to end eventually. And then she’d just end up in her room, nobody to contact, nothing to do but to watch another one. She would take a quick shower at the end of the day, go to sleep, and repeat it day after day.
It was one of those similar days, walking down the streets of Kabuki. Some small profile job by the docks, one where she just needed to pick some drugs up to transport. Other than shredding some Tiger Claws who desperately wanted a hit of what she collected, it was very boring. Her shotgun was always a joy to use, it’s just… it felt wrong to hold in a way she couldn’t quite figure out. But she’d gotten used to it by now. She just needed to drop these off, get paid, then she could wander back to her apartment and watch her BD’s again. Not like she could do much else anyways, Watson was on lockdown because… fuck knows why. It just was.
But, this time, her walk happened to get interrupted by some Tiger Claws parked outside a club.
This made her stop to look. She was pretty sure that it was Tiger Claw owned in the first place. She couldn’t remember if it was (she hasn’t really tried in the first place). It looks the part. But the car parking the exit and the guns they currently had out made it seem like they were going to storm it. Was it some sort of power struggle? Hostile change of ownership? Maybe it wasn’t a Tiger Claw club and they were just stealing that back alley, shitty sex shop feeling. She wasn’t sure, but if she stuck around, she’d find out. And maybe get into another fight before going home for the day.
She walks across the street and stands behind the car, deciding to wait until all the Tiger Claws were outside before she got involved, juuuust to make sure she got everybody. The ones outside didn’t notice her anyways. They were way too busy talking with each other, saying things her translator couldn’t catch because she hadn’t updated it… basically ever. So she was kinda shooting in the dark. But given how they were speaking, they definitely weren't happy, so she was definitely in the right place.
After a tense silence, some rustling was heard from the top balcony. A second later, a body comes tumbling down and smashed against the concrete, which honestly didn’t affect the way it looked all too much. The various cuts, smashes, and burn marks told her that whoever killed him was really not fond of him. And with the increasing volume of the Tiger Claws, she made a guess that it was probably a higher up for them. Someone followed soon after, jumping to the balcony below with a grin plastered on his face. And then a Tiger Claw yelled a word of English, one that peaked her interest: netrunner.
The man on the balcony went behind it for a second before leaping back down. Moments later, one of the Tiger Claws started to catch fire. Then, after a hissing sound came from his cyberware, he flopped over on the ground. It’s at this point that Rebecca realized if she wanted to have any fun, she’d need to jump in now. She kicked out the legs of the nearest Tiger Claw and smashes in his head with her fists. She then takes aim at the one next to him and shoots his head off with her shotgun, sending him flying into the wall and leaving a crimson stain behind him. She smashes her shotgun into a third one and shoots her in the chest, also sending her flying.
The merc looked at her for a second, a look of both confusion and joy on his face, before he took out a Mono-wire from his arm and decapitated the Tiger Claw in front of him. He then takes a bat off his back for the last one. Sparks flew out of her face and her legs seemed to lock up before the merc slammed his bat and made her a stain on the ground. And just like that… it was over. Which gave Rebecca a bit of time to look at the merc.
Very strange lookin’, and that was coming from her. Some jacket that had the word “Bakkers” on it, some sort of weird ass cowboy hat, a black shirt with a yellow smile, and some shorts and sneakers to just really drive home his complete lack of fashion. Although, Rebecca really shouldn’t be judging, given she hasn’t changed the way she’s dressed ever.
“Jesus…” The merc wipes his face with his hand, then looked down at her. “Guessin’ you’re not with them?”
“Was it the shotgun blowing their head off that tipped you off, you fucking gonk?” Rebecca rolls her eyes. The merc throws up his hands.
“Ay, no shootin’... shooting.” He clears his throat before continuing. “Just trying to make small talk.” He still has a grin on his face as he looks at her gun. “That thing shot them straight into the wall… what’s it gauged with?”
“It’s a four gauge.” The merc lets out a low whistle at that.
“Shit… I remember shooting one of those when I was younger. Had to get my arms set because I dislocated them. Guess that’s why you’ve got those.” He gestures to her Gorilla Arms.
“Maybe you just have noodle arms.” The merc laughs at that and nodded.
“Yeah, that’s probably it. Was never the best at the whole ‘recoil’ thing. Or aiming. That's why I do all that.” He gestures over to the body he chucked off the balcony.
“Right, right… What did he even do anyways? Just piss you off?”
“Recorded some snuff BD’s, trafficking, scumbag stuff. Mox hired someone to bring him back or kill him, but… got kinda carried away, so they’ll have to deal with the latter.”
“Happens.” Rebecca looks back at the club and notices a few more bodies slinged out the windows, with very similar slash and burn marks on them. Then, for the first time in a long time, she slowly has a natural grin spread across her face. “Aggressive netrunner… what a fuckin’ preem idea.”
“Ya like it?” His grin widens. “Close friend doesn’t. Always swears at me in Spanish like I can’t translate him because I go all gung ho. But there ain’t really another way to go, is there?”
“Damn right there isn’t.” She gives a low hum as she looks down and starts picking up random scraps that survived from her annihilating the Tiger Claws. “So… you got a name?”
“Hm? V. Just V.” Rebecca’s about to make fun of his one letter name before she remembers she worked with a woman named after a fucking fruit. So she just shrugged it off. “You?”
“Oh… Rebecca.” It was honestly better he didn’t know her. Wouldn’t get too many questions her way. But he cocks his head to the side when she says her name.
“I… swear to God, I remember that name.” He sits there for a moment before also shrugging it off. “Meh. I’m probably just stupid.” He also grabs some guns from the Tiger Claws. “Did you also get the contract with Jotaro? Is that why you’re here?”
“Just passing. Not like there’s much else to do in this shit heap.”
“Guess not.” He walks over to Jotaro and picks him up, slugging him over his shoulders. “Well, thank you for the help. ‘Preciate it.” He walks a few steps before turning back. “Actually… hmm…” He stands there for a moment before snapping his fingers. “Ya want to help me with a job?” Rebecca looks at him and crosses her arms.
“Look, just because I love killing these shits doesn’t mean we’re all close, got it?”
“Come on, hear me out. Fifty-Fifty split. No ‘finders fee’ bullshit on my part. Gotta get this tape from the Maelstroms. Apparently the place is swarmin’... swarming with ‘em... them. Dammit…” He kicks his feet before shaking his head and looking back over at her. “Probably not that much compared to your usual skill level, if your performance is anything to go on, but it’s still something, right?”
Rebecca sits there and contemplates for a minute. Team up so soon wasn’t really the problem. It was more just… moving on so soon. She feels like she’s cheating on the Edgerunners by just accepting this. But they just aren’t around anymore. It’s one gig. It’s not bad. And it’s not like he’s some rank amature trying to leach off a has been, with how he was wearing his feelings on his sleeve. Better than sitting around watching those shitty BD’s, that’s for sure.
“Fine. No gonk moves like taking my cut, got it?” She stands up on her toes and points a gun at V’s head, earning a chuckle from him.
“Listen, first gig in Night City, guy admitted he was going to steal my cut. Now? Best friends. Maybe I will to kick off somethin’ good.”
“A bullet to the Goddamn brains is what you’re kicking off.” Rebecca snarls, but her grin was still there for him to see. She lowers his gun and gives him her Holo number. “Zip me the deets. When’s this?”
“Tomorrow. I’ll send you the address.” He waves her goodbye and walks off. “See ya then!”
“Mhm.” She watches as he goes away. Feeling… a lot of different things. Excited. A bit fearful. A bit nervous. But, one thing she knew stronger than all those was that she was about to wreck some Maelstrom's shit tomorrow. Which immediately boosted her mood. Aaaand, it was with someone who knew how to properly break and enter! Just barge in and smash them to pieces. She puts the drugs at the drop off point, her ordinary day getting pulled way off track as she starts to walk some more and think. Maybe she’ll skip the BD’s today. Gotta make sure she’s tuned up for the job, after all.
-------------------------------------------------
“What an interestin’ lady…” V mumbles to himself. Very… firebrand, about specifically fighting. It looked like she was recovering from a hangover too. Had black divots under her eyes, slumped over a bit, just looked kinda… apathetic to the whole thing. Although her smile when she saw what he did seemed to lift her up a bit. And it was kinda cute. Really cute, which he probably shouldn’t say to her face.
More importantly… damn, was she strong. A four gauge? For someone of her size? She should’ve been flung fifty feet back like a ragdoll, but she didn’t even flinch. And she was his kind of chaotic too, so he wouldn’t need to worry about being dragged down by the whole ‘playing it safe’ thing. Not that there wasn’t a time and a place for it, but for Maelstrom, it absolutely was not needed. She even ignored his stupid southern accent! One of the Bakkers warned him that he wouldn’t be taken seriously if he didn’t get rid of it… he was starting to suspect he pulled his leg. Or maybe it was true, and she just didn’t care.
He really couldn’t shake that feeling he heard her name before… from Jackie, maybe? Yeah, that’s gotta be it! He remembers her name from one of his many rants about ‘Night City legends’. Maybe? He could’ve said Becca instead… kinda wished he’d paid attention to it now rather than just noddin’ along, but he could always just ask again. He would probably just get excited that V knew anything about Night City culture.
He got his Eurodollars zipped to him as he got back into his car for the Jotaro job. Quite a bit of scratch… he should be able to get some more quickhacks now. He’d been eying weapon malfunction, mainly because it would support his up close and personal style of fighting with his Mono-wire. Should be able to upgrade his deck too. Maybe get it changed to that Biotech one he’d been eying up.
He skirts to the side of the road near Misty’s Esoterica and waves at Misty as he walks inside.
“Hey, V.” Misty waves back at him. “Vik has somebody down there right now. He shouldn’t be that long.”
“Gotchya.” He walks over and sits down on one of Misty’s very comfortable chairs. He clicks his fingers against the chair as he waits. While he waits, he decides to zip Rebecca the deets on where to go tomorrow. He hears footsteps coming up from the stairs as Viks patient comes out of the door. He stands up and starts walking down to Vik when he gets a message from his Holo.
- Preem!
- Got a lot of options here. Which ones should I bring?
She sends a picture of a pile of guns on her floor. Some pistols, SMG’s, the shotgun that she used, and a ton of others. V grins as he shoots a message back.
More guns the merrier. Would love to see that - shotgun again though
- Fuck yeah!
- We’re gonna kick their asses tomorrow!
V shuts off his Holo and goes into Viks shop, feeling very, very excited. The mission tomorrow? It was gonna be fun as hell. He could already tell.