It was an hour since they’d taken the call and Conrad’s body had to be left behind with the others. Connie had no choice. It was either the choice of being eaten or eaten alive by the scavs. She had a feeling that having your insides pilfered by the Maelstroms was a experience that the live-radio interviews on NC Live 

Braindance addicts crowded the alley they were in, some slumped over in their drunken stupor and others waving their hands in their air as if they were trying to catch fairies. Their gaped, drooling mouths heaved out wet, mucous breathes in a quiet chorus. They were down to five personnel, including herself. Connie checked both ends of the alleyway, checking that the coast was clear, before pressing a button on the side of her helmet. 

“ This is TT-S-1479 to TT-Central. Multiple 10-99, I repeat, multiple 10-99’s.” 

There was a short burst of static before an elderly voice, wracked with years of smoking, took over. Connie’s shoulders sank in relief as the familiar voice of Major Dhatri took over. Things would be alright now. 

“ This is Major Dhatri. Sitrep, TT-1479.” 

“ Call is FUBAR, I repeat, call is FUBAR. We are currently located on 5th, Vista El Sonya, Heywood. Multiple contacts on our location. Requesting reinforcements over.” 

Connie’s blood then went cold at the major’s reply. 

“ All available trauma units are currently taking calls. You’re on your own, Zhu.” 

“ Roger, over and out - “  Connie cancelled the call, her hand shaking, before she let loose a frustrated scream  “ Fuck!” 

She punched the brick wall before turning to her team. There were five of them left. She couldn’t tell their expressions under their helmet but this wasn’t a good look for her. Taking a breath in to recompose herself, she tried to assert order over her panicking squad, speaking in a clipped fashion. 

“ Alright, everyone, listen up. I’m taking one out of our paychecks and calling a Combat Cabb.” Groans of disappointment could be heard in the alley. “Our pick-up is a 10 minute ETA nearly half a klick away. Now, move it on the do-” 

The temperature seemed to lower by 15 degrees as the entire team heard the sound of metal scraping off concrete. Across the end of the alleyway was a Maelstrom gangoon, the entire left side of his face carved out and replaced with a hideous metallic simulacrum of itself. His red optics flickered and underneath that inhuman gaze was a curled lip of satisfaction. He ran his thermal machete against the side of the alleyway, the edge bouncing off the uneven surface. 

“ Lookie what we caught here.” He giggled. “ A buncha bonesaws.”

Connie heard the click of receivers, shadows above them on the roof. She began to feel slowly like a rat in a cage as she barked out orders.  

“ Oh fuck! RUN-” 

[hr]

“ - RUN!”  Connie burst out of her blankets, gasping like a fish taken out of deep water. Her breathing slowed as she took in her surroundings. Bottles of synthetic vodka laid on the floor next to her. The orange sunrise of Night City flowed through the blinds, illuminating the dust that floated in the air. The other breathing occupant of the room murmured in annoyance, a languid arm rising out of the blankets to pull her back into her embrace. 

“ What was that, Scalpel?” 

“ Nothing. Just a bad dream.” 

[hr]

Because I was bored.