Cyberpunk: The Magnet fruit

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At the moment, David's entire focus was on balancing the tray of drinks he held carefully in his hands. The last thing he wanted was for some rowdy bar patron to bump into him and spill them.

Completely unaware of the danger closing in, David was lost in thought.

After all, who expects misfortune to strike twice in one day? Most people wouldn't think they'd run into trouble again so soon—unless they were extraordinarily unlucky.

Arriving at the door to the V22 private room, David let out a relieved sigh.

Not a single drop of the drinks on his tray had spilled. The ice had melted just the right amount, and tiny carbon dioxide bubbles still danced on the surface. This was when the drink would taste its absolute best.

With a smile, David raised a hand and knocked on the door.

"Coming!"

The sound of footsteps echoed from within, and moments later, the door opened.

Rebecca's cheerful face greeted him, her expectant prosthetic eyes gleaming with a mix of red and green light.

"Finally!" she said, her voice full of excitement. "Are the drinks ready? I've been waiting for this!"

David chuckled as Rebecca looked up at him like a bird eager to be fed.

"Here," he said with a faint smile, bowing slightly as he handed the tray to her. "Try it and let me know what you think."

Rebecca giggled, reaching out to take one of the drinks.

"You're quite the gentleman," she teased before taking a long sip through the straw.

The moment the drink touched her tongue, her whole body shivered. Her prosthetic eyes contracted and expanded involuntarily.

"Ha! So sour and so cold—it's perfect!" Rebecca exclaimed, her excitement overflowing.

Then, looking up at David with an eager expression, she asked, "You made this yourself?"

David nodded, trying to suppress a laugh at Rebecca's exaggerated reaction.

Inwardly, though, he was amused. So this is what it looks like when someone says a drink is so good it makes them tremble?

Rebecca, clearly pleased, smiled and patted David on the shoulder like an old friend.

"What's your name?" she asked. "Next time I come here, I'll make sure you're the one mixing my drinks!"

David couldn't hold back his grin.

"Sure," he said. "I'll make it for you next time. My name is—"

Before he could finish, a loud voice cut through the hallway.

"Hey, is that really you, kid?"

The harsh tone was laced with malice, and David froze. Both he and Rebecca turned their heads toward the sound.

At the end of the hallway, a scavenger with a set of prosthetic "lookout eyes" was approaching, a sinister grin on his face.

"It seems the gods are smiling on me tonight," the scavenger sneered. "I can't believe I ran into you here!"

David's stomach sank as the scavenger closed the distance, speaking in a slow, menacing tone.

"Kid, my boss wants a word with you," he said. "I think it's time we settled up for the mess you caused today, don't you?"

As he spoke, the scavenger flexed his mechanical hand. Five razor-sharp prosthetic claws extended from his fingers, each one gleaming under the dim hallway lights.

They weren't high-end implants, but they were menacing enough to get the point across.

David's expression darkened.

They couldn't grab the chip earlier, so now they're coming to me to claim losses? he thought bitterly. This scavenger has skin thicker than the walls of Night City.

Rebecca glanced at the scavenger and tilted her head curiously.

"Who's that guy?" she asked.

"Scavenger," David replied without emotion. "Couldn't get what they wanted, so now they're just looking for trouble."

Rebecca took another sip of her drink and shrugged.

"Want me to handle him for you?" she offered nonchalantly. "But you owe me a drink next time—on the house."

David blinked in surprise.

Is she serious? he wondered.

Rebecca noticed his hesitation and added, "I'm not doing it out of the kindness of my heart or anything. It's just that I think you're a nice guy. And besides..."

She gave him a playful smirk.

"You're not wearing any prosthetics, right? If you were missing an arm or a leg, who'd mix my drinks?"

David sighed, shaking his head.

"Yeah, I'm not augmented," he admitted.

"Exactly," Rebecca said, as if she'd made her point. "So stay in one piece and keep making good drinks."

Before David could reply, another loud voice erupted from the opposite end of the hallway.

"Hey, you little b*****d!"

The bellow echoed through the hall, momentarily stunning everyone. Even the scavenger froze in place, looking toward the source of the sound.

Three heads, five pairs of eyes—all turned toward the other end of the hallway.

Standing there, his massive frame covered in rippling muscles and a machine gun prosthetic arm gleaming under the fluorescent light, was none other than Greli from the Beast Gang.

David's face darkened even further.

Great, he thought. Blocked at both ends. What sin did I commit today to deserve this?

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