ReVersal

"Hey, there a reason our 'client' didn't get the cops involved?" David asks Maine as they and Pilar sit in an isolated corner of the private parking lot.

"You really wanna know or are ya' just making small talk?" Maine shoots back, folding his arms as he idly scans the area.

David shrugs, "I'm new to all this, I don't get why they'd hire us instead, can't be cheap getting all of us either." he mutters, glancing down at the pistol Ori had helped him buy. A Liberty made by Constitutional Arms, fourteen rounds and able to fire them all in under four seconds. An excellent choice when paired with his Sandevistan, or so he'd been told.

"Pfft, like those pig-fuckers could be anywhere near as good as us. You get them if you wanna get told there's nothing they can do. You hire us to get what you want done." Pilar states.

Maine nods, "Usually most punks don't ask, but I'm more in the game of keeping my crew upright, so Kiwi and I vet every gig we get. Jobs like this one usually call for subtlety, be it some suit misappropriating company funds to buy themselves some nice wheels, or a husband not wantin' his wife to find out his extracurriculars, if you know what I mean." he flashes a toothy grin before continuing.

"This though? Look around kid, all these rides, different quality, makes, and conditions. What's it look to you?" he throws a question out there.

"An unenthusiastic collector I'd guess? Someone just buying whatever someone offers?" David volunteers.

Maine hums, "Not a bad guess, you'd be surprised at how much shit is just left collectin' dust cuz' some Corpo asshole got an urge. But nah, reason why our client didn't want the NCPD around is because most of this shit's stolen."

...

That brings David up short, "So, we're helping someone steal cars...?"

"Don't get cold feet now, rookie. Don't know if you realised it yet, but we're mercs. Kill for cash, kick dogs and punch kittens and all that." Pilar laughs, rolling his wrist, "It ain't our biz to ask questions, just do the job."

David glances at Maine, "I don't care much about the stealing, but aren't we getting involved in something we shouldn't? What if all this stuff belongs to someone bigger than we can handle?"

Maine chuckles, "Don't worry about it. Kiwi had a look at some of the cars and they're not from anywhere specific. But it's good you're thinkin', runnin' into gigs is how guys like us bite it."

[Heads up, got a truck making a drop outside the lot. Three-no five guys. Two heavily armed, most have got good chrome and ICE walls.] - Kiwi

[Let 'em get closer. Falco, don't let the driver get away. Rest of you, converge at my go.] - Maine.

"Looks like there won't be much waitin' around. Time to show us what you got, kid." Maine grins at David as he stands.

The three sneak behind cars, slowly approaching where the thieves were apparently at. Maine's bulky form made it exceptionally difficult to find any hiding spots, but thankfully there were enough trucks and pickups around to provide cover.

David grips his pistol tightly as they close in on the targets, hand trembling despite his determination. He'd never killed anyone yet, but the nerves were getting to him... He grits his teeth and firms himself after observing Maine and Pilar's nonchalance at the situation.

-------------------------

"Guy who owns this place must be nutso, ditched his guards since they couldn't do squat to us." one of the thieves snickers as another gets to work cracking the lock on one of the more expensive vehicles.

"Serves 'em right. Fucker stole from Padre, losing some Eds is the easiest I've seen someone get off... Probably should be quicker though, wouldn't put it past 'em setting up more security systems. If flesh don't work then steel'll prevails an' all that."

The woman hacking the electronic lock scowls, her long, dark pink hair swept to the side as she habitually chews her lip. "I'm trying, rides like this aren't easy to break into y'know. I'd like to see one of you try to break in anyway."

A man hefts his heavy machine gun behind her, "I can think of a couple ways. 'Sides, we'd have a lot easier time if you hadn't tagged the guy's fukin' merch."

"Hey, they fucked with Padre, they deserved it." she retorts, grinning as the door clicks open. Her face falls however when the sound of gunfire starts.

"SHIT! GET DOWN!"

-------------------------

"SHIT GET DOWN!" one of the thieves shout as Maine fired a shot, hitting the guy square in the face. To David's shock he doesn't go down despite missing half his face. The wound was grisly, bleeding profusely and revealing the flesh and Cyberware underneath.

All of them but the sole female grab their heads and shout in pain as Kiwi and Lucy attempt to hack them. Their ICE walls somehow manage to repel the attack however, allowing them to start returning fire.

Pilar laughs and fires his Smart Gun into the sky, the self-propelled bullets turning in mid-air and peppering one of the more heavily armed goons.

"Come on... Come on... Go." David hurriedly whispers to himself, trying to force his body to move. Finally, he stands and fires his pistol over the front of the car he was using as cover. Only the first few shots hit however, the recoil and lack of trigger discipline caused him to blow the magazine almost immediately.

"Shit." he curses to himself, activating his Sandevistan the world pause around him. He moves, running towards the enemies and making sure to not be in the line of fire of Maine and Pilar. All while reloading his pistol.

After that, he draws the knife from his belt and attempts to stab it into the neck of one of the men. Unfortunately, the one he'd ended up buying with his limited funds lacked the durability or sharpness to get through the guy's Cybernetic armour, causing the tip to literally break off.