Chapter 87 - Scav Hunting, Panam's Heart, Skullwork, Steamy Interview & Certainty III

She frowned, then, before driving, pulled up the video on her Agent and handed it to him. "It is all over the Net. Every news channel and radio station is buzzing about it."

Panam noticed how Cypher gawked at the screen, then proudly smirked, and then seemed to mumble something under his breath. She didn't say anything.

"I'm looking sharp as hell in this. Like James Bond or something. Hey, take me to Lake Farm. Also, you got a first aid kit?"

"Behind your seat," she said, punching the destination into the nav. "What were you even doing? I saw you at that party last night, and now this. What the hell happened in just a few hours?"

"Shit happens, Pan."

She noticed from the corner of her eye as Cypher removed his black shirt. She gave a full look and found countless red dots all over his body. They looked like bruises from an impact. And the way Cypher applied some cold packs on them and flinched told her enough.

"Those from the bullets?" she asked. "How did that suit tank all of them? No, hold it, why were you even in there solo? You could have called me. I would have picked up anytime, Cypher."

"Yeah… that's kinda sweet, Pan. But it wasn't a big deal, honestly. I was bored, ran into some Scavs, and dropped them. Good scav's a dead scav, right? Same deal with Wraiths. They had four people grabbed too, two of them kids. They're good now."

"You did it to save people?"

"Huh? I ain't no hero, Pan. Don't take it the wrong way. I did it for me. And yeah, I cooked up a new kind of cloth that can stop high-velocity rounds. What, you want some? I can make you a few like what you're wearing, maybe different colors. But you ain't wearing much, you're gonna have to cover up. Not that I'm complaining, just so we're clear. This is perfect."

Panam rolled her eyes at his shameless compliments and hesitant ogling at her chest. She was used to it, but it was hard to say it didn't do something this time.

"I will think about it. Was going to call you anyway. You said to meet you later at the party. Not sure if it is the right time after all this. But what is this job you mentioned? Said my clan gets work too?" She said, cruising through Heywood. "Mitch is on edge. Swears Saul is ready to cut a deal with Biotechnica."

Truth be told, she was slightly desperate. Her clan was surviving, but not thriving. All their hopes and dreams behind coming to Night City were shattered once they arrived. Legal gigs were limited, and illegal gigs didn't pay unless they involved flatlining someone.

The only hope she had was Cypher. The man was now a corpo. When she'd met him first, he was a nobody, at least that was what she knew. And even now, after seeing that video, she knew Cypher was far from those office-sitting executives.

"That? Eh, not a big deal. I'm starting a few businesses. First one's moving stuff all over the States, mainly into big cities to supply my shops. We're talking guns, bulletproof clothing, and chrome down the line. The second one's the Continental. That building I bought, it's turning into a hotel for bounty hunters, mercs, that crowd. Gonna need some muscle to run the place. And yeah… there's more coming."

Panam ran numbers in her head. Aldecaldos were good at transporting goods across America. That was one of their main jobs to begin with. And to work as security for a hotel seemed reasonable and respectable as well.

"As for you," Cypher continued. "I ain't trying to throw you into danger. But I know you're a beauty with a bite. I'll toss out some risky gigs now and then. You and your Aldecaldos crew can grab a few."

Panam went silent, hearing that. The radio was on low, and as they crossed Arroyo, the city's landscape started to change. More wild, more dirt, more dust. She eyed Cypher now and then, noted him wearing his shirt back on.

Reminding herself that this man standing beside her just killed thirty-six people a few hours ago felt weird. Despite what he did, she felt nothing. If anything, she was impressed. Of course, they were Scavs, but that much violence by a single man wasn't the norm, not even in Night City. And he was mostly ganic, from what she knew.

How did Cypher Blackwell achieve so much in such a short time? She was intrigued and had no answer. Yet at the same time, she felt it was unnecessary to ask. He had already done more than enough.

"Take a left from there. See that lakehouse? That's my crib."

She saw the dirt path going left from the main road, alongside the lake's shore. On the opposite side of that road was an old milk farm, which now looked new with fences and more.

"You live here?"

"Yes, ma'am. I live here, almost died here too. This is where Obsidian was born. C'mon, I think I've got a couple drinks in the fridge."

Panam brought the truck to a halt near the parked car. The lakehouse looked so ordinary from the outside, yet calm. She could imagine why Cypher lived there.

"Maybe next time. I should go talk to Mitch. Saul won't go for it easily." She declined, although she really wanted to.

"I thought you left Aldecaldos."

Panam scratched her head, a little flustered. "Well… I did stop living there, but I didn't leave. It is complicated. I don't live in the camp, but I swing by regularly. You know how it goes out here."

"Ah, like a little breakup between lovers. Yeah, I get it. In any case, see you around." Cypher opened the door to get out.

"Wait!" Panam called, not thinking, her hand snapping to his arm before he could get out of the truck. "One question. Why? Why do this?"

"They're Scavs. They gotta die—"

"No, I mean it. Any normal guy would say I used you after what went down in that tunnel. I was acting like a total gonk, and I almost got you flatlined. But you let Mitch haul the rides. And now you do this. Why?" She asked, catching how rushed she sounded. It threw her off. For some reason, her chest felt tight. Folks in Night City do not show kindness without a reason.

Cypher relaxed back in his seat, and she let his arm go, waiting for an answer. She hoped to hear something important. A good enough reason. A revelation of what he wanted from her and her clan, so she wouldn't feel like she was taking advantage of Cypher.

"You're gorgeous, so pretty privilege, I guess."

"..."

"Hah! Just kidding, or am I?" Cypher's eyes locked with hers. "I don't know, Panam. Why don't we just kill a cat when we see it? Why're we nice to it? You don't overthink it, you just do it. And yeah, you messed up in that tunnel, but that's done.

"What matters is you're legit, and I know you'll have my back if things go bad someday. So I got a rule: when you run into someone crazy enough to be loyal and real in this city, you keep them close and don't let go. So fair warning, Pan, you ain't running from me."

With that, she watched him get off the truck and close the door.

"Hey!" She called him again, foot ready to press on the gas. She smirked as she eyed him out of the side window. "You'll have to catch me first."

She backed her truck at speed and watched Cypher still standing in place through her windshield. He wasn't moving, nor waving, just dumbly staring at her. She laughed to herself and backed onto the main road, disappearing back towards the city.

####

"What was that?" Cypher watched Panam's truck disappear. "Why's my heart thumping, Atlas?"

Right away, Atlas' old man avatar appeared in his vision, dressed in a white suit, walking in front of him. "My evaluation suggests she is growing feelings towards you, and your body reciprocates. I must agree, Ms. Palmer is a loyal friend to have. Hard to catch a partner like that."

Cypher eyed Atlas with curiosity. When even an AI of that scale liked Panam, how could he not?

"Since when did you become a love guru?"

"Since yesterday. Given my access to all the data in the city on people, I realized I could create a dating application that connects individuals most suitable for each other and most likely to form a relationship. I have assigned AZRAEL to process the data."

"That mutually assured destruction AI?" Cypher squinted, "You really turned that poor guy into some dating app admin?"

"He had no nuclear warheads left to administer."

"Damn, talk about a demotion." Cypher finally turned and entered his house. He could feel little vibrations from underneath. The Microbots were still at work. "Did you edit the video? You made my fall on the third floor graceful."

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