Born of Silicon

It still hurts to hear Vince’s story. Even now he makes Mara sound better than she was. Lucas walked out of the room when Vince finished and I followed. He dropped into one of the many seats scattered around.

“Cass, is his story true?” He never takes his eyes off the ground.

“Well he didn’t do Mara justice, she’s way worse in reality. But that’s what abuse does, isn’t it? For what it’s worth I don’t think he meant to hide his history from you. It’s just, how do you even start a conversation like that?”

“I guess. I dunno, it just feels like if he was keeping all this from me, what else could he be hiding?”

“Well I can tell you one. Him and Ivy? They’re dating.” I say with mock secrecy.

He rolls his eyes at that and gives a small grin. There we go, there’s some emotion.

“The world's worst secret.” His face drops back to a serious mask. “Come on, be serious.”

“Lucas, I’ve been with him for almost fifteen years. If he had some grand secret I’d know. Not to mention Ivy can basically read minds, and she’s one hell of a gossip when we drink together.”

“She is not!” Lucas’s mouth hangs halfway open in disbelief.

“Swear to God! I know way more about that man than I ever wanted to.”

“No evil secrets?”

“Nah. Just a hell of a lot of embarrassing ones. When he’s better, ask him about Riga and Tony.”

“Why?”

“Just trust me.” I’m definitely getting Ivy in trouble, but I can’t pass this up. 

“I don’t like that look on your face.”

Shit really? I guess it’s hard to control my face when I’m this tired. I try and fail to reign my smile back in. 

“It’ll be hilarious, don’t worry.”

“Ok, I guess. What changed? Vince said you were afraid of him. How’d you go from afraid to basically his daughter?”

“Silver was busy setting up their gang. There was an awful lot of political shit that needed to get done, and that’s far from my strength. I stayed in the compound, surrounded by unknown strangers. I trusted Silver, and they saw something in him, so I gave him a chance. Turns out it was a pretty damn good one. I helped him figure himself out, and he helped build my confidence.”

“I’m kind of surprised Ivy hasn’t been with him since the beginning.”

“Ivy only came into the picture five years ago believe it or not, after Drew. Sometimes you just connect with a person on a different level.” I shrug. “Or at least that’s what the gossip says.”

“Thanks for talking to me.” He sits there, thinking in silence for quite a while before continuing. “I think I’m for sure going to stay with everyone at least until Blue’s free. I’ll decide what I’m doing after that.”

“I don’t think we’re going to be working with Vince either way. There’s no way Ivy or I are going to let him fight.”

“That’s true. Say, where do I get food in this place? I’m going to grab some for everyone.”

“A few floors down, unless it’s changed since I was here last. Just tell them to put it on Silver’s tab, but bring some cash just in case you need to bribe a guard or something.”

“Is that a joke?”

I just shrug and watch him walk off. I sure hope it’s a joke, but you never know. I should probably give Vince and Ivy some time alone. 

Might as well go negotiate. Room number seven is very predictably labeled as Seven’s room. I knock and an immediate response comes from inside.

“Come in.” Glad to see I don’t have to pop the lock. 

Seven is lying on his bed, a discarded ice pack sits on his nightstand. How the hell do they have a working freezer all the way out here? Silver can barely afford to keep the one in the compound running. 

He doesn't seem pleased to see me, but does look relieved I’m not Vince. I jump right to the point.

“We have something we need to retrieve at the southern junkyard. We need a backhoe or a team to excavate with. I know how this works and I’d prefer to skip most of the haggling and for you to give us a reasonable deal.”

“You’re more direct than a punch to the face, or a knee. I like that.” Seven’s smile sends shivers down my spine. “A backhoe is in high demand, lots of sand out there to move. A team is downright impossible, why don’t you fill me in a bit on what you need to get back? See if we can’t replace it with something else.”

“Can’t tell you, and impossible to replace. We could just wait until the next storm from the west, but It’d be more convenient to get it regardless of the next storm’s direction. Just tell me what it’ll take to get the backhoe or an IOU if we don’t need it.”

Seven sits up a small bit and continues without taking time to think.

“Couple of bandits set up a checkpoint right down what used to be main street. We have bad relationships with at least one group on every other street, making trade far more annoying than I’d like. You make them go away? You’ll get your hoe.”

“How many people?”

“An even dozen.”

Shit, all four of us would have trouble with that. Vince is for sure out of commission, and I’m not sure I could trust Lucas with my life right now. 

“I could maybe do that if I had Vince. But you ruined that, didn't you? And your little reveal has Lucas off balance, he’s unreliable for now. You’ve got me and Ivy, a scout and a sniper.”

“How about this then? Pretty much every bandit heads out to the checkpoint every day, leaving the inside unguarded. There’s another skyscraper right next to the building. They hate us, but you’re unknown. The two or three of you head in there, jump across into the bandits building, blow a hole in their base’s roof, and jump in. Keep the bandits out until the next storm hits and boom! No more bandits. Easy.”

“Do we get backup?” I already know the answer.

“Don’t have the men to spare. You want to dig? Take out the checkpoint.”

“I’ll talk to the others about your suicide mission, but don’t get your hopes up. If we lose anyone just know Vince is the second worst melee fighter in this group. And unlike him I have no problems with taking home a metal trophy.” That last bit is mostly a bluff, but hopefully a pretty good one. By the look on his face for just an instant I’d stay it worked. 

Threatening may not be the best negotiation tactic every used, but fuck it. If anyone deserves it, he does. I turn around and leave without letting him get another word in. I head straight for our room.

Lucas is already back with food and Ivy is gently feeding Vince some soup. Lucas still looks out of it and is silently eating in the corner. He’s not coming with us.

“Hey, Ivy, can I talk to you real quick?” I pop my head in and ask.

“Sure. Lucas, could you help Vince eat?”

“I can eat on my own.” Vince complains from his bed. The stain on his shirt says otherwise. 

“Sure.” Lucas completely ignores Vince’s argument and sets his own food to the side.

“What’s wrong?” Ivy asks the instant we’re out of earshot.

“I spoke to Seven. Only way we’re getting the backhoe is with a suicide run. He wants a group of at least twelve bandits taken out from a checkpoint. Lucas seems unreliable so it’s just you and me. 

“I’m assuming no backup?”

“Can’t spare the men.” I say in a mocking imitation of seven. “His only idea is that we sneak in through a nearby building while they’re out, and hold out in their base until the next storm.”

“He wants us dead.” She says flatly.

“Like I said, suicide run.”

“You take Lucas’ guns, I’ll grab Vince’s rifle. Find out if this place has an armory and grab ammo and a few guns to rig up traps with. Explosives too if they have some. We’ll head out around noon tomorrow. I’d like to be back before the storm.” 

“Put it all on Seven’s tab?”

“Naturally.”

“This is why you’re my favorite.” I’m so excited to go shopping.

It doesn't take long to find the armory. The basement is the single most heavily guarded floor in the building. A dozen guards equipped to the teeth stand around the room. The show floor is filled with rack after rack of guns and knives. Built into the back wall is a counter with a tired old man sitting at it. Behind him is where all the fun stuff is, ammo, cybernetics, even a few explosives. The man watches me like a hawk when I come in. That’s fine. It’s not like I would want to steal anything, even if I could.

I pick my way slowly through the racks. Shotguns and some string are of course our go to trap. Quick, easy, effective, and relatively cheap. But I take my time fantasizing about what I could get up to with half the gear in here. I end up taking four sawn off, single barrel shotguns to the desk.

“Put it on Seven’s tab. I also need eight shells. And I’d like to look at some of those grenades back there.”

“Big guns for a little girl. What kind of explosives are you looking for?”

Like I’ve never heard that one before. Not my fault getting my legs blown off stunted my growth. Whatever, being short makes me quicker anyway. 

“Let’s do two flashbangs, and two, no make it four, grenades that won’t bring the roof down on me. Oh, and something to make a hole in a wall or floor.”

“You better not be planning on using these to rob me.” He mumbles as he disappears into the back room. He returns with exactly what I ordered. “Eight shells, Two magnesium based flashbangs, homemade. Four fragmenting pipe bombs, and a larger shaped charge. Do you even want to know the price?”

“Sure don’t!” I scoop everything into my bag. “When you go to collect, tell him thanks from Vince.”

“I’m not a messenger.” He grumbles as I leave. We are going to have some fun with these. The shotguns are just short enough to be concealed in my backpack. Perfect. I don’t want Vince to worry too much. The guards in the room continue to stare until I’m well on my way upstairs. 

Soon enough I find myself back in Vince’s room. Ivy raises her eyebrow when I come in to ask how it goes. I give her the smallest possible nod. So subtle it’s impossible for anyone without her eye to see. Lucas is slowly picking at a half finished plate of food, and Vince is dead asleep. Maybe I shouldn’t use that wording.

I wolf down my slightly cold dinner and dive into bed. I’ve got a big day tomorrow.