Chapter 24

"So?"

Panam looked at me with interest. Judy was chewing on a piece of pizza we hadn't eaten last night and waiting for me to answer Panam's question. And the question was simple, what did Regina say about buying the nuclear reactor that powers all the new avis? And the question was really very important to us. Because it would solve one of the biggest problems that we would face if we decided to settle in the desert. And it wasn't even about Aldecaldo, some of whom under Sol's care could settle under the steel foot of biotechnics, it was about us, as Solo's group, who wouldn't have to pay rent or rent to other people's uncles anymore...

"It's easier to buy an avi than to find a reactor from it."

"Ahem... and how much is that gonna cost?"

"Well. According to Regina, you can find the most beat-up avi for at least a million bucks.

Panam and Judy whistled and shook their heads.

"So, what, we're giving up on this idea?"

I scratched my cheek thoughtfully.

"No, uh. we'll just put the idea on hold for now. Eventually during the repair we can envisage replacing the engine and installing a reactor, but for now we'll study up and do what we can."

"What about the water?"

I cast a glance at Panam and sighed.

"Well, I've been thinking about the whole idea overnight... and it doesn't really need a reactor, but it would take gasoline."

I shook my head.

"...and some other things will have to be bought. So for now we will repair Begimotik and for this we will need some opposite parts..."

"Okay, I hear you. And by the way, I talked to Mitch yesterday, when you were at Vic's, and he appreciated the idea of converting cars like this into apartments. You've seen the size of the tents, and they'll be smaller than our one-bedroom, and if the Behemoth's living area is three times bigger when parked, it'll be a good living space for six to twelve nomads at once. You can store your things in the car, but a bed in a warm, airtight body is worth a lot!

"I thought you were against the motorhome..."

I looked at Panam carefully.

"Well, it's a house. and this is the Hippo, and it's so passable, it's just--

Panam smacked her lips, showing that she was not at all against such an idea.

"...the more specifically this solution will help a lot, we can provide on the hull mounts for containers with clothes or food, so that to unload the clan cars, then on the road we can fulfill certain orders..."

"I see you've made up your mind already?"

I raised an eyebrow in surprise looking at Panam.

"А?"

"Well, about life in the clan."

I shook my head.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not sure it's my thing yet. at least not like this in the tent."

I shook my head again.

"No, there's a certain beauty to it, but to live like this permanently. I certainly couldn't do it. I'm too used to the comforts of the city and the benefits it provides."

"But Hippo."

"What about Hippo?"

"Panam, you don't forget that among other things, your clan can just disappear..."

Judy joined in the conversation and the words she said clearly didn't please the Pans, but she couldn't object. She just frowned and turned away from us.

"Don't pout, Judy's telling the truth. If Saul's idea goes through, what's left of your clan? Splinters who didn't follow the leader? And how many of them would that be? Ten men? Ten men out of the 100 that are in the camp right now?"

"At least they can be relied upon..."

"You're right, you could, except, suppose we joined, you became the head of this mini clan, and then we were attacked by the Stilettos. What can thirteen people do against a full-scale attack? They'd put 50 men against us and we'd bleed to death.

"Are you saying I should forget about the clan?"

"Panam, don't twist David's words..."

Judy looked carefully into her friend's eyes and shook her head.

"All he's saying is that if you want to keep the clan together, it's up to you to find ways to strengthen it. To make even Sol accept the idea that serving Biotech isn't as profitable as being a free clan."

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

There was anger and irritation in Panam's voice.

"Well, for a start you can jointly with us make a project of modernization of Behemoths, it is possible and not only them, I suppose for the promised type of housing will be suitable and Kavkaz models Bratsk, I just saw that on the platform of such at your riper office for reception is made. A little re-equipment and it will be a real eye-candy!

"Why, then, do we..."

"Why did we get Hippo?"

"Yeah..."

I shrugged.

"It's just VERY rare to find it for sale! Usually it is only available to government agencies and corporations that can afford it. Not even afford it, but in principle only they are authorized to buy it."

"And how then..."

"It's simple, only the engine and cab are left, and the body, which should also be covered with armor, has already been dismantled and in its place is a regular steel box. And a couple of other systems have been removed..."

"But then. It doesn't make any sense."

"Not really. You see, even though the specific systems have been removed, but you can buy their analogs, even if not of Militekhov standard, but also quite good. So a bit of work and Behemoth will return to itself eighty percent of the original characteristics. So we will have a small, well armored monster."

"I see...but what about the Caucasus?"

"And it's not designed for this kind of thing. No, you can find a model twelve by twelve, on the platform of which you can even make a wheeled tank, but the cost ..."

I shook my head.

"Even eight by eight, the price will bite, though the living modules of them will be delightful."

"I see. So what are our plans?"

"Plans?"

I grinned.

"We need to buy a couple of parts, then we can go to Aldecaldo's, I think it would be more reasonable to do the main work there instead of in the middle of the street. We should also get an antenna, so that Judy doesn't go without information and communication with her gang..."

"Well, actually, I already talked to them and told them I was leaving."

I blinked in surprise.

"No, no..."

She waved her hands in front of her.

"...I didn't mind making brans for them, but working for them is far less lucrative than working for you, so the choice here was obvious."

I shrugged with a sigh.

"Well, the choice is yours, I'm not going to refuse the services of a raner, and as a girl I like you and you know it ..."

Surprisingly, Judy blushed faintly and nodded her head. And I think I was starting to break through her alienation from men after all. Okay...

"...so all I can say is... Joyful hugs!"

I hugged Judy, who was a little confused, but Panam supported me, and soon we were enclosing her in a kind of sandwich of our bodies. A couple of seconds later she responded to the hug by hugging me, since I was right in front of her.

"So..."

I pulled away from Judy and caught her gaze.

"You do remember your task, don't you?"

"You mean finding all the data to infiltrate the archives and server rooms where my case data might be stored? I remember."

"That's what you do, and don't forget to choose an antenna and amplifier to work properly from the wastelands."

Judy nodded her head.

"And you and I will start with a trip to the car junk yards and junkyards, where we'll shop for some of the parts we need."

"Okay, have you made a list yet?"

"Back yesterday. when I scanned the Hippo before I bought it. Still, I didn't want to buy something that was really junk..."

Panam nodded her head contentedly...

*** A short time later. ***

"Where'd you get it?"

Mitch walked around my Behemoth and shook his head in admiration. Our appearance caused an unhealthy excitement at Aldecaldo, even Sol came to see the unprecedented sight, a Hippo as personal transportation, and in nomadic territory.

"Bought it from a government corporation. They decided that it was too expensive to dispose of it, but to remove some of the armor and equipment and sell it as a civilian truck would be just fine."

Mitch whistled.

"What do you want to do with him?"

"You're going to laugh..."

Mitch looked at me and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"A motorhome that can expand when parked, doubling its size at least twice, and preferably three times."

Mitch whistled.

"That's a lot of requests. what's that for?"

"Well, I want to give up living in the city, and I'm a city boy after all, used to comfort, so..."

"Well, all in all, I like the ideas... let's see what we can do with it all... but I'll help in my spare time, you know, clan first."

I nodded my head, I couldn't expect anything else...

*** A little over a week later. Victor's clinic. ***

"Well, congratulations to you, kid..."

Vic clapped me on the shoulder, and I knew he wasn't holding back at all, but due to the new synthetic muscles, which had already been completely replaced and had fully taken root, as well as strengthened bones, joints and ligaments, I didn't feel the blow that would have shaken me before.

"...you are fully healthy and ready to work."

"Sandi?"

"You can use it, but at first it's best to limit your time and speed."

I nodded my head and gratefully extended my hand to Mick for a handshake.

"Thank you, you, Vic, you just have golden hands and..."

"Kid, don't forget, you paid me for everything I did. So don't get all pink and snotty on me."

Vic was clearly embarrassed by my thanks.

"Well...whatever...when to come see you for a checkup?"

"I'm thinking a week and a half to two weeks, but no later than three. I'll have to check again how the synthetic muscles are doing, how they interact with the sandi... Not that I doubt it, but it wouldn't hurt to check it out."

"That's right..."

I left his clinic and nodded gratefully to Vic, then walked across the small courtyard and into Misty's store, where the girls were chatting happily, discussing the skydive we'd made, even though it was a couple days later than I'd originally planned.

"Davy, are you all right?"

Misty smiled kindly at me. She was on a break with Jackie, so she allowed herself to flirt lightly with me. She was still in love with her boyfriend, though, so she didn't cross the line into light flirting.

"All right, Misty."

I walked over to her and kissed her cheek.

"...Vic recognized me as fully healthy and gave me a work permit. So soon Knight City will be whispering again about Tikhon, who has become even more productive."

"How much more?"

Panam shrugged her shoulders.

"It's not about more...it's about quality..."

I looked at Panam carefully.

"Judy, you're all set, right?"

"Yeah, uh. we've got a week before the deadline, so we can get to work on the locations I've selected. I've gathered all the information I can, bought some of it through Regina, done everything I can to make sure the infiltration goes quietly and according to plan."

"That's good..."

I hugged my girls, and the fact that Judy was almost mine was obvious to anyone who saw us. And we said goodbye to Misty and left her store. It was time to get back to work after a long vacation, and the first thing I had to do was let Regina know that I was back in the game...