Chapter 45: The Gig Goes On, But I'm Telling You, the Price Just Went Up
"Yeah? What is it?"
Rogue's voice echoed in his head. Rhys took a deep breath, glanced again at the contents of the opened container, and reported, "We got hit by Wraiths."
Rogue's reply was immediate. "I don't operate like that."
Rhys nodded. "I didn't say it was you. And probably not Babs either... well, actually, he might have something to do with it."
Rogue: "Hmm?"
"The crew Babs sent out before us got snatched by the Wraiths. They must have tortured the intel out of them. The Wraiths ambushed us—dozens of guys, multiple vehicles, heavy weapons."
"What about the cargo?" Rogue asked, her priority clear.
"We lost one container," Rhys reported. "But that's where it gets weird. We zeroed maybe a dozen Wraiths. Their backup arrived, but instead of coming after us for revenge, they just grabbed the container and pulled back."
Rhys continued, "Jackie was just saying, when did the Wraiths get so reasonable? What do you think?"
Rogue was silent for several seconds. In the video feed, she shifted, crossing her arms. "...You opened the cargo, didn't you? Tell me, what was inside?"
Rhys looked down and took a picture of the container's contents. At the same time, Maine and Jackie, their faces grim, opened the second container. Sure enough, it held the same thing.
Rogue's eyes flashed with anger as she viewed the image Rhys sent, but then she sighed. "Alright, just come back. Since you lost one container, I'll dock thirty thousand from your pay. I'll deal with Babs. He owes me an explanation."
"That's it?"
"What else do you want?" Rogue scoffed. "You think I set you up, right? But I didn't. This gig was only worth ten K because I had no idea Babs was cutting a side deal with the Aldecaldos."
"No idea? But everyone says you have eyes and ears everywhere in Night City," Rhys countered calmly.
His words made Dorio, standing nearby, tense up. Rhys sounded like he was... questioning Rogue. The Rogue. Was Rhys insane?
"Eyes and ears? Yeah, that's what they say. I know what happens on the street. But this? This involves the Badlands. And it involves a corporation."
Rogue's voice sharpened. "You really think a bunch of Nomads could get their hands on this? This has Biotechnica written all over it, some deal cut with the Aldecaldos. At this point, I don't even know if Babs was involved or just another pawn. And you're asking me? What, you want me to give you an explanation?"
"Rhys, as a merc, knowing when to keep your mouth shut is an important skill," Rogue added, her tone softening slightly. She remembered running into similar bullshit back in her own merc days. But honestly, she hadn't intended to screw Maine's crew over on this one. And the situation escalating like this? It wasn't surprising. Was anything ever simple in this city? It was the same damn mess decades ago, and it was the same damn mess now.
Though, back in her day, Rogue never took this kind of crap. If a client tried to pull a fast one, if someone messed with her gig, her response was usually to kick down their door, shove a gun in their mouth, and have a little 'chat.'
Thinking about it, she felt a flicker of anticipation. She wanted to see how Rhys would handle this. Would he just eat the loss, come back to Night City, and take the remaining seven thousand eddies? Or would he go after Babs and demand answers?
What? Me? She hadn't been directly involved. Rogue just managed the contracts, passed them along. Sure, she provided intel and support, but if Babs went behind her back and made a deal with the Aldecaldos, what could she do?
"I need Babs' contact info," Rhys said after examining the container's contents again.
"Alright. You really got balls," Rogue chuckled, a mix of amusement and something like approval in her voice. "Sent it to you. If Babs was involved, then he's the one who broke the code. The pay didn't match the risk. So if you go after him directly, no one can fault you."
"I'll back you up on this one. I don't like getting cut out of the loop, but this mess started because my intel was incomplete." Rogue quickly forwarded the contact information.
"What's the plan?" Maine asked, walking up to Rhys.
Rhys looked at him. "Maine, looks like zeroing Janus wasn't enough. We need to make some more noise. Otherwise, we'll keep getting stuck with these bullshit gigs. I'm sick of this crap."
Jackie immediately chimed in. "I'm with you! Hey, listen, my problem before was I was too damn nice. People kept screwing me over. I'd do the job, end up with zero eddies, sometimes even lose money."
"Call him first. Let's hear what the bastard has to say," Maine nodded.
Rhys initiated the call. After a dozen seconds, the connection established. A video feed appeared, showing a portly man in an expensive suit, his hair meticulously combed, wearing thick glasses.
"Who is this?" the man demanded immediately.
"Are you Babs?" Rhys asked.
"Who gave you my number? I don't recall knowing anyone like you," Babs said, his eyes narrowing.
Rhys didn't waste time. He sent the picture. "Recognize this?"
"..." Babs was silent for a moment. "I remember," he said, his voice hardening, "specifically stating that I didn't want the containers opened. I even had the Aldecaldos prepare a little 'gift' for you as a show of good faith. What, are you trying to threaten me now? If word gets out you tampered with the cargo, you think you'll ever get another gig?"
"Threaten you? Because of this 'cargo,' we got ambushed by Wraiths! Babs, your previous crew wasn't very tight-lipped, were they? The Wraiths lost over a dozen members going after this stuff. Do you understand?"
"..." Silence stretched for several long seconds. Finally, Babs spoke, his voice tight. "Alright. Just bring the remaining cargo back. I'll give you an extra bonus."
"I'll add another twenty thousand. How about that? You just want eddies, right? Fine, I'll pay."
Rhys laughed. "Two containers, twenty K? Sure, sounds great."
"What?!" Babs, who had been trying to maintain his composure, exploded. His jowls quivered with rage. "Two containers? Something happened to my cargo?! Fuck! Do you know who that shipment was for?!"
"Shut your mouth, corpo-pig!" Rhys snapped back. "I don't give a damn who it was for! Rogue is involved in this too, understand? The payout you offered doesn't match the mission parameters. Rogue's gonna want to have a little chat with you about that. Even if we come back now, what the hell are you gonna do?"
"You—"
"I said, shut your mouth." Rhys's voice turned to ice. He glanced back at the container's contents. "Here's the deal. I have a proposal for you."
"The gig goes on. But I'm telling you, the price just went up."
Babs took a deep, shuddering breath. "How much?" he growled.
"The container the Wraiths took? I can get it back for you. But it'll cost you an extra six hundred thousand."
"Fuck you! Six hundred K?! Why don't you just rob me?!"
Rhys smiled. "I am robbing you. What, you got a problem with that?"
"This stuff is worth way more than six hundred K, isn't it? I bet besides Biotechnica, plenty of other corps would love to get their hands on it."
"Fuck you! Fuck you! FUCK YOU!" Babs was practically screeching now.
"Say it again," Rhys said softly, his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Fuck— Fine! You win! Six hundred K, right?! You get the stuff back, I'll wire—"
"No. It's seven hundred thousand now," Rhys interrupted calmly.
"You—"
"Say it again, add another hundred K. Come on, try me," Rhys said, his smile widening.
"Alright! Seven hundred! You bring back the goods, I'll transfer the eddies!" Babs said quickly, his small eyes darting nervously.
"No. You transfer the eddies to Rogue first. When I get confirmation from her, I'll go get your box back."
Babs's fat face trembled with rage. After a long moment, he slammed the disconnect button.