Cyberpunk 2077: Hyper Light Drifter

"Everybody got their cross to bear. And I got mine and I got yours to share~"

"..................."

"See you driving down my road. Trouble in the wind I already know~"

".................."

"Suffer me! SUFFER ME!" Panam screamed along to the music. 

The animated nomad whipped her Thornton across the Badlands. She was incredibly happy. A successful dish of vengeance alongside the acquisition of her vehicle left her energetic. All that was left was to finish the dropoff with Boz.

All of the necessary merch was stashed in the back seat. Should be a quick handoff that only required Lei to look intimidating…If these guys were as trustworthy as Panam said. 

Looking at her vitals through the infovisor, the sickly woman could see the healthy green status turning yellow. A slight deterioration which meant a whole lot of coughing soon. Hopefully the pills would lessen the duration and severity. 

"Suffer me…I'll be on my way. Yeah, yeah~"

"......................"

As the radio blared, Lei clenched her fists. Pain slowly traveled through her chest and spread weakness through her limbs. It wasn't as debilitating…though it still sucked. A round of coughs were threatening to escape her lips but the drifter steeled herself. She closed her eyes and rested the back of her head on the seat.

Her hands trembled but were hidden under the cloak. She was in control. It would be fine. This was already progress. Before, she would've immediately slumped to the floor in a wreck.

The truck eventually turned into the parking lot of Sunset Motel. An armored van was parked nearby with three guys waiting around. Definitely armed. Looked like 6th Street. Panam stopped right in front of them. 

"Stay in the car. I'll be quick." She looked at Lei.

"....................."

"Lei?"

Lei gave the nomad a quick thumbs up. Panam shook her head at the lack of verbal response but moved on. She reached into the backseat to grab the merch, giving Boz and his two buddies a magnificent view of her bottom. Probably a reason why their deals went so smoothly.

"Hey, Boz." The two shook hands.

"Panam! Good to see you. Where's Nash? He doesn't seem to be answering my calls. Heh." Boz greeted with sarcasm.

As the two began to converse, Lei finally released the cough she'd been holding in. Blood splattered her hand and dripped onto her legs. Immediately, she started to feel much better. Her blood sizzled before slowly evaporating into binary code. It was always fascinating to see.

"Don't call him anymore. There's no need." Panam said. Boz chuckled. 

"You got balls, girl. Oh? What's this? A bonus of some sort?" He gestured to Lei in the car. The sickly girl rolled down the window. 

"We work together." Lei casually explained. 

"Hmmm. Change chooms like you change clothes, girl." Boz looked at Panam.

"Here you go, Boz. First class merch."

"Mmhmm." He grunted. 

Boz had his boys inspect the goods. After a brief look, they nodded to him. Boz' eyes shined blue for a moment. 

"Everything in order?" Panam asked.

"Check your account. Should be pretty plush in a couple minutes."

"It's been a pleasure…though wasn't Rogue supposed to be paying me?"

"Consider it a tip. You earned it." He said. 

"Really? Thanks, Boz."

"Hm. Let's roll." 

The three military vets turned gangsters boarded the van. Wheels turned as it made its way out of the lot. Soon as it touched the road, it peeled off at high speed. Panam came around to the truck's passenger and leaned on the window frame. 

"Lei."

"Panam."

"Wanna join me for a drink? There's a bar in the motel."

"Sure."

Both women made their way over to the motel bar. There were more than a few people inside. Seemed to be a hangout of sorts. Panam sat down while flagging the bartender. A gruff man with blonde hair.

"Hey, Noah."

"Hey. New biz or new friends back there?" The bartender asked. Seems he noticed the dropoff.

"Take a wild guess. Everything been good with you? Those bozos come around again?"

"Raffens? Nah. They've been pretty quiet lately. Sure they'll be back soon enough. Seen plenty worse. So what can I get ya?"

Panam turned her head to Lei. She eyed the sickly woman up and down. Only then did she look back at Noah.

"Broseph. Two of em."

As the bartender went to get drinks, Lei centered herself. Vitals were still yellow for the time being. She just needed a little rest.

"What was in the package? For 6th Street." Hearing the question, Panam raised an eyebrow.

"You didn't peek? It was Baloperidol. Drugs for the cyberpsychos in our midst."

"I see. So they've been dealing. Thought they were upright citizens?"

"Everyone falls eventually., Money doesn't grow on trees."

"....................."

"Speaking of cyberpsycho." Panam stared at her face.

"Don't even try it." Lei said.

"Take it off! This ain't Night City. There's only friends here."

"No."

"Come onnn. Are you still mad at my reaction when first meeting you?"

"Why would I be mad? It's just my reality."

"What a sad thing to say. Take it off. Doesn't it annoy you wearing that all day?"

"Of course it does."

At that moment, the bartender arrived with the drinks. Panam curled her pointer finger…a gesture telling Noah to come closer. He would obviously oblige. 

"Yeah?"

"Noah, want you to see something. Help me convince my choom to take off her visor. She's insecure about her face. Look, her hands are shaking."

"Wha-I'm not insecure!" Lei exclaimed. The nomad was totally getting the wrong idea. Definitely not why her hands were trembling.

"What's so scary about your face, huh? Lemme see." Noah spoke up. 

"Why does it matter so much…" The sickly girl complained. 

Even Meredith loved removing the visor. Did Lei just give off that type of aura? The 'I hide my face' type of vibe? Was it a power play?

"It's a 2v1, Lei. Majority rule."

"Siiiigh."

Lei casually removed the piece of equipment while grabbing her drink. Without even looking at them, she took a gulp of the alcohol. Only then did she look up. 

Noah's eyes were slightly wider than usual and his mouth was open. Extremely pale skin…perfectly framed bangs and silky black hair…black lipstick on full lips to match her nails…Long fluttering eyelashes. Eyes that looked dead inside.

"Whoa…I mean…wow." He said. 

"I knew Noah would like you. Thought of it on the way here. You're his type." Panam commented. 

Lei took another sip while eyeing the frozen bartender. Her lips slightly curled into a smile. Then she blew a kiss. 

"Eh-erm." Noah cleared his throat and turned away. He was fiddling with cups and readjusting his shirt. 

"Did he just get a stiffie? Hahaha! Looks like you have an admirer, Lei." Panam joked. 

"I did NOT get a stiffie. What the hell, Panam?" He complained quietly.

The sickly girl looked the man up and down. He wasn't that bad looking…his attitude was nice, he liked her, was friends with the nomad…hmm. Her hand went to her chin as she considered-

'Don't even think about it.' Johnny Silverhand glitched onto the seat beside her. Lei glanced at him. He'd been quiet for a while.

'What? I didn't even do anything yet.'

'If I have to watch you sleep with that guy, deal's off. Done helping you.'

'Damn, jealous much?'

'It's more than that. Don't care how much fun you have with other women. But don't forget that you're MY bitch. Got it?'

'Rude. Possessive too. Not like I was going to be his input. Probably won't ever see him again.'

'Said what I said. Take it or leave it.'

'Asshole. Fine, Johnny.'

Lei would continue to hang with Panam for another hour. They spoke about many things, including the gangs of Night City and which of them were working for megacorporations. 

For example, the Tyger Claws had connections to Arasaka before the 4th Corporate War. Scavs were hitmen for hire. 6th Street occasionally helped Millitech and Kang Tao. Maelstrom said fuck everybody. Valentinos worked with NCPD. Animals, the small brawler gang, worked as bodyguards for a bunch of corps.

Once that hour had passed, Lei excused herself. It was a long ride back to the city and she wanted to lay down. As a result, her black Kusanagi went past the limit of 1000cc bikes, hitting 200+ mph. Don't drink and drive, folks. Can't steer with one hand after all.