Kiwi, Faelan, Dorio, Sasha, and Galina were on their way to Gordon's restaurant two days after completing their revenge operation.
The goal of the night? Unknown, but they knew it was going to be more than just a meal.
Galina was driving their usual delivery van, humming to herself. It was the only private vehicle with enough space to carry them all.
Maybe she could afford a decent car with her current salary, but she found the van more comfortable—especially since she'd made a couple of discreet upgrades.
Meanwhile, the glowing optics of the quiet girls in the back and Faelan occasionally typing on the Pip-Boy made it clear they were having a last-minute conversation.
[Sasha?]
[I've got nothing, but Mom's been looking into a lot of stuff and talking to people ever since her chat with Uncle Gordon. It must be something serious.]
Dorio turned her optics toward the window, watching as the streets became cleaner, less run-down, and the clothes or chrome of the pedestrians got progressively fancier.
[Uh, are you sure we don't need to dress up a bit? I looked up the place we're going to, and calling it expensive is putting it lightly.]
Just looking at the online menu and the prices…
Three street rats could chrome up to a decent level with what they charge for a tiny plate of stir-fried organic veggies!
[Yeah, that's why Fae pulls in some good cash.]
[Only top-quality ingredients! I hope the chef remembers what I told him.]
[Don't worry, Uncle Gordon guaranteed nothing synthetic would be used in the food.]
Faelan nodded in relief—he'd be irritated if they served him a dish with organic ingredients mixed with some trashy synthetic sauce.
[Since we don't know anything, let's not worry. Whatever's coming will come.]
[Kiwi's right. Speculating won't get us anywhere.]
The ones most familiar with Gordon Ramses were Galina and Sasha, but the former wasn't saying a word, and the latter knew nothing.
To avoid complications, Galina pulled into the alley behind the restaurant and went straight to the delivery entrance. Everyone got out of the van and was quickly greeted by Gordon, who led them through the staff area of the restaurant.
"Welcome, everyone! You must be Dorio, right? A pleasure to meet you." Gordon shook Dorio's hand enthusiastically and immediately led them to a round table covered with a purple velvet tablecloth, with enough chairs for everyone to sit comfortably and equally spaced.
Dorio was tense, almost afraid to touch anything, break it, and have to pay for it.
"You're just in time, I've just finished cooking," Gordon said as if he didn't notice Dorio's state. He clapped his hands and, to everyone's surprise, several miniature drones emerged from the kitchen carrying steaming plates of food with rich aromas "Let's dig in while it's still hot—bon appétit!"
The food was very different from the dishes last time; this had a more homely, pleasant, and warm vibe.
"I found some recipes from sixty years ago—not online, in an actual paper book! It was being auctioned in Vigalmont and I just had to get it," Gordon bragged as he wiped the cranberry sauce from the Dutch meatballs off his mouth with a napkin "These days they're mostly used for reference or inspiration, but thanks to Faelan's privileged access to goods, I can use them for what they are—actual cooking recipes!"
Faelan was on alert—neither he nor the others missed the casual glances exchanged between Gordon and Galina during dinner.
Sasha couldn't hold back anymore—her imagination had gone hyperactive, and she spoke before thinking.
"Is Uncle Gordon going to be my new dad?" she asked, looking at her mother with the kind of expression only someone who had just made a stunning discovery would use.
Galina spat out the sip of fifty-year-old wine she had just taken, coughing as she pounded her chest and grabbed a napkin to clean herself.
"What? No!" Galina denied loudly, completely thrown off by the sudden question "Where did you get that idea?"
Gordon almost looked offended by the response—he wasn't that bad a catch!
Sure, he'd never have the guts to handle a woman like Galina.
After all, he preferred to be the one wearing the pants in a relationship… not the other way around.
"You've both been sitting like what's under your butt isn't a cushioned chair but a giant, very sharp fork," Kiwi said, now that Sasha had broken the atmosphere "Just spill it already—what's the reason for this dinner?"
Gordon and Galina exchanged glances once again.
If even twelve-year-olds could see through them, their acting skills had seriously rusted more than they thought.
"First, I want to clarify that the dinner itself was originally just that," Gordon explained, trying to make a point.
"It's just that things have happened these past few days, and I had to shift the focus a bit."
Dorio looked at her now-empty plate, clean enough to see her reflection, and then frowned as she turned toward the kitchen.
Couldn't Sasha have waited at least until dessert was served?
This was the best food she'd ever eaten in her entire life!
"And I suppose this involves Fae," Kiwi said sharply.
"Actually, it concerns both of you," Gordon corrected.
"You're not going to try to adopt us, are you?" Faelan asked.
"No, I don't think I'm father material—and you're already draining my pockets anyway," Gordon brushed it off with a wave of his hand "Do you two still have that Wasteland Project in mind?" he asked with sudden seriousness.
Kiwi and Faelan exchanged glances.
"Yeah. Why?" Kiwi asked cautiously.
"I have someone who wants to invest in the project," Gordon raised his hand to stop any interruption "Let me finish. First, both Galina and I can vouch for this person without a doubt. She is—or rather, was—Galina's junior during one of her past jobs."
Everyone turned to look at Galina.
"I was the one in charge of her training, teaching her how to move through the real world," Galina revealed, without going into too much detail. "The girl is fiercely loyal, the kind of person who's got your back without hesitation if you earn her trust. I missed her."
"And why would she want to invest in our project?" Faelan asked.
"Because she's in a bad spot," Galina clarified. "Think of how I was before we met—well, three times worse."
Three times worse?
"I'm going to need some context."
"Her husband died recently and she hasn't been able to claim the life insurance. She's got a considerable debt in her name and to top it off, she just found out she's pregnant and decided to keep the baby," Gordon explained, painting the broader picture. "All she's got left is the life growing inside her, a tiny apartment in Vista del Rey with a few months' rent covered, and… the property deed for a plot of land in the Badlands."
Oh. Now he was starting to see where this was going.
"We don't have enough money," Kiwi said immediately. "And from what you just said, neither does she. How do you expect her to invest?"
They were saving, sure—but they were still far from being able to afford land, even from someone in a desperate situation.
"Hold on," Gordon stopped her with a hand gesture. "Look, her plan was to sell the land deed to pay off the debt and have enough money to get by until she found a job. But when we learned about the property, we realized there was a better way to help her—and help you, too."
"You need to understand that the value of land in the Badlands is relative," Galina took over. "If she sold it, she'd get peanuts compared to its real worth, but it would still be enough to cover her back."
Everyone nodded in understanding.
"So we suggested the following: she lets you use the land in exchange for a fixed bimonthly payment. Basically, you'd be renting it," Gordon explained. "She gets the urgent cash she needs to focus on having the baby, and you get to start your project ahead of schedule. She even agreed to add a clause stating that once you have the funds, she'll sell you the property—as long as you hire her for a job in your company so she can support herself."
"That last part is very generous—and specific," Kiwi said, looking from Gordon to Galina.
"I told you, she learned from me," Galina laughed.
"Wait, she still has a debt to pay off, doesn't she?"
"I'll handle that part," Gordon said, thumping his chest firmly. "Her husband saved my life twice—this is the least I can do to repay a part of that debt."
"So, in summary," Faelan said, scratching his chin, "because you're paying off her debt, she's agreeing to rent out her Badlands plot for a bimonthly fee. Later, she'll sell it to me when I can afford it—on the condition that I hire her so she can make a living."
"That's it," Gordon nodded.
"What size are we talking about, and how much would the rent be?"
"It's three hectares located in this area, south of Pacifica," Gordon pulled out a map clearly prepared in advance and activated the projector. A green zone lit up near a newly built reservoir. "It's a patch of land that can pass as an experimental farm—perfect for your idea. There should be enough room to grow crops, but it's not so big that you'd need a private army. Basic defenses or drones will likely be approved."
It was starting to look promising…
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but that looks like one of the zones abandoned by Arasaka after the Fourth Corporate War," Kiwi pointed out a blind spot in the information. "And that reservoir next to it... that's got to be Laguna Bend, the town that was just flooded and has been all over the news lately."
"It is," Gordon confirmed as he looked at the town swallowed by human greed. "That should solve your water problem for the farm, right?"
Faelan stared at the location for a long time. Why did it seem so familiar?
He had the feeling Laguna Bend was important somehow, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember why.
Still, he couldn't deny the offer was perfect for his plans.
"You still haven't told us the rent. Or even the name of this 'junior' you've been talking about."
"Oh," Galina blinked as she realized her slip. "Her name is Gloria Martinez. She's about twice your age, and as for the rent…"