Author's note: For this chapter to make sense, you need to have read the prologue.
"So let me get this straight, Martin is carrying cyberware contraband, Vasko has some rogue soviet AI in his system, and Krisi is carrying a BD of some Corpo war crimes?" After a moment of silence at the table, Martin responded, "That seems about right." Kirov takes another sip from his glass, when a call comes on the Holo, "Marko, I'm listening," "The bodies of known members of the Drakic Brotherhood in Beograd," "Thank you, Marko, I'll remember this."
Kirov hangs up the Holo and lets out a noticeable sigh. Seeing this, Krisi asks, "You gonna tell us who the Drakic Brotherhood is, or what that's supposed to mean?" Kirov takes a larger sip from his glass, finishing what was left in it, "The Drakic Brotherhood, a group out of Serbia, we worked together a few times, but the last few years they transitioned to being a death squad for Militech." Vasko just looks down, as Martin stares at the ceiling, "We are all lucky that they didn't send the A-Team, not even I could have handled them by surprise."
"Martin, what corp produced the chrome you stole?" "I didn't steal anything; it was complicated." Martin answered defensively, "I asked, what corp made the chrome?" Kriov stared at him, "I don't like your tone." Martin met Kirov's gaze, not giving in. After a silent round that Martin didn't want to lose, he begrudgingly answered, "Militchech." Kirov finally looked away, "Good, now we know who was the target tonight. Martin, let me see the chrome."
Martin goes over to his bag and puts it on the table. Kirov takes hold of the gauntlets and takes a closer look, "It's not just gorilla arms for sure, they wouldn't go this far for that." Taking a look inside, he sees what seems to be neuroreceptors, "This is experimental tech, like nothing I've seen for sure." Putting it back on the table, he takes a look at Martin, this time with less hostility and asks, "Now, since you have already seen this, you're a dead man if they catch you, so I can set up a deal for you to sell it and run."
"Don't get me wrong, I appreciate you saving my life earlier, but I can't understand why on earth you are going out of your way to help us. Anyway, you look at it, it's suspicious?" They all look at Kirov, having the same question in their minds, waiting for his response. "Does it help if I tell you I don't know either?"
Martin and Kristiana look at each other, unsatisfied by his answer, but not willing to push it too far since he is their only way out right now. Martin looks at the chrome, still not fully understanding why he took it, but he feels a connection to it, like it was promised to him. "I'm getting it implanted." Kirov looked at Martin in shock, maybe a little bit of confusion, "That's enough chrome to turn you into a cyber psycho tomorrow, you're not exactly a -" "I said I'm getting it implanted, with or without your help." Kirov was clearly annoyed at being interrupted, but admired Martin's determination.
"If you still have a death wish in the morning, I'll take you to my ripperdoc. If you're gonna do this, may as well do it right." Martin nods, appreciating the offer. "As for tonight, you guys can find a room and make yourself comfortable, and don't leave the suite."
An hour or two later, Kirov found himself on his balcony, smoking a cigarette and having his drink of choice. He couldn't sleep. He usually cured this with a bottle, not a glass, but he had an early start and an important day tomorrow. Looking out at the Sofia skyline, zoned out for a moment, the cars driving by, people walking, AV's flying across the city. The city never really went to sleep, nor did he.
"What made you come into the bar?" Kirov hadn't noticed Kristiana standing behind him; it had been a long time since he had been snuck up on like this. "I was thirsty." He clearly hadn't quenched his thirst since he kept on sipping from his glass, "You always this avoidant?" "Are you always this aggravating?" Kirov retorts annoyingly, "The other two, they have personal, selfish reasons for doing what they did. Martin wants to be a boxer, Vasko wants to be the next big Netrunner. But you, why didn't you just go along with the job you were given, or better yet, tell them you can't fix it and run away?" She looks at him, he isn't making eye contact this time, "That is what I did-" "No, you made a copy, you took the BD with you. Why?" She took a moment and responded, "Because it's the right thing to do."
Kirov took one last drag of his cigarette, tossed it off the balcony and walked to his room. "Come to me when you are ready to tell the truth; until then, goodnight."