Trigger warning: mentions of alcohol abuse.
Let’s get started. Paperwork is such a pain…
I love how these forms never get bored with making me state the obvious.
Hm, that won’t do.
Mucho mejor…
Initiating the hack!
Computer broken, bank account empty, all my contacts MIA or dead… Must be monday.
What kind of dumbass would…
Vale. That dumbass.
Shouldn’t have given you my comm code, cabrón. ¿Qué tal?
I wonder where you are right now. I bet you hit a big payday and you’re living high on the hog somewhere. Some of us are born winners and some of us are… me.
Hey, you remember that Renraku run when things went to hell and we lost Dowd? Or that makeshift saloon on the docks afterward? I really had your back that night didn’t I?
…
[Dowd. That’s a name you haven’t heard in a long time…]
Late for another appointment, Sangoma?
Sarcasm doesn’t suit you. Let’s wait another five.
Do you ever stop whining? I get it. Now take a pill and relax.
Sure, Sombra, sure. Whatever you say.
[He shakes his head.] That run went sideways nine ways to Sunday. Now the Fixer is late.
Smell funny to you?
Hell yeah, it smells funny! Look at where he set the meeting. This was supposed to be a public place.
Cut the drek, Sam. We both know why Dowd went down and it wasn’t the Fixer or some other paranoid chip-dream of yours.
[Sam smiles a toothy smile] I’ve been waiting for this all night. New Larry has something he want to say, don’tcha Larry? Go ahead, spill it.
You were sloppy.
[He laughs.] Sloppy? You think I was sloppy? You’ve been twitchy all day, son. Look at your hands - they’re shaking.
You’ve been drinking on the job, Sam?
On a run? No. Not a drop. Not today, not ever.
[New Larry checks is watch. Licks his lips. Looks over your shoulder at the darkness. He’s looking for someone and it’s not the Fixer.] Okay I see where this is going. You chummers are damaged. I’m out.
Did you keep us here long enough, Larry?
[He stops and a smile slowly appears on his face.] Looks that way. Sorry, Sombra. I kinda like you. I just like money better.
We’ve got incoming!
[New Larry relaxes and throws you a drek-eating grin.] Looks like my new Renraku friends are finally here. They’re gonna take that hard drive off your corpse… buddy.
We should choose our friends more carefully, Sombra.
Ah! If you start having standards, you won’t hang out with poor little old me anymore. Buy you a drink after this?
You’ll owe me several.
You got it.
[New Larry is the first one to eat the dust. You made sure of this. Funny how having a big mouth never made anyone bulletproof.]
[The fight seems to draw out for hours. The Renraku Strike Team is organized, trained, heavily weaponized. And they brought a mage and a shaman with them. You had a close brush with a fireball. Your coat is done for, no way to save it. You’re not sure you’ll ever be able to get rid of the smell of smoke either.]
[But you’ve made it. All three of you.]
Part of the Life, Sam. You know that.
You were born for this gig, Sombra. Me… not so much. I think I’m gonna hang it up - find a nice brothel somewhere. Stay drunk until I croak.
Oh.
What about you?
Me? I do this. It’s the only life I know.
Well, you’re a dumbass.
Takes one to know one.
I’ll drink to you when you’re dead! Aw, who am I kidding? I’m not gonna outlast you. Guess you can drink to me.
I will. Pinkie swear.
Well, that’s not depressing or pathetic at all.
So, I set up a dead man’s switch to send you this call. I got a hundred thousand nuyen insurance policy, payable when you find who creased me. Alive with a conviction or in a body bag with justification - either works.
After three years of radio silence, there you are, asking me to murder someone from beyond the grave. You sure know how to make a girl feel special, Sam.
Contact my law firm - Rogers, Mengert & McCain - when the job is done. They’ll know what to do. [He turns to his left.] Chet?
[Sam straightens up. Talks seriously. First time.] Look, Sombra… I’ve led a drek life and I probably left a drek corpse. I’ve hurt people… hurt myself… I don’t know. Maybe I just want the last word. Maybe I just want someone to give a crap that I sucked air for awhile. What do you say?
A thousand nuyen buys a lot of drinks.
And I did promise to drink to you when you’re dead.
Hope you just said yes.
Well… Seattle can’t be any worse than this. I’ll see you soon, cabrón. Wait for me.