Gambit Killeroo, Wolf and Big Bob fell back to the container after Yokono's teams began firing at them and forcing them to take cover. "Shit, they're everywhere," Wolf said. "What are we gonna do now, Jake?" "I'm going to call them," Roo said, drawing confused looks from Wolf and Bob. "Yer gonna do what?!" the android balked. Killeroo took out his commlink and attempted to call but saw that nothing was getting out. There was too much interference being caused by Yokono's kill teams. * Burn began looking for Yokono's netrunner who was protecting the kill team's comms from intrusion. Just as the line dissipated from a tracking program a samurai armor clad warrior on a horse appeared nearby and attempted to run Burn through with a blade. The horseman bade Burn to surrender the Aiko program to Yokono or face the consequences. Burn refused and that's when Hunter, Yokono's netrunner, split into various different versions of himself. "Have it your way." Burn successfully moved out of the way as two of Hunter's duplicate forms tried to ride him down in a flanking formation. In the process, he drew another form armed with a bow to fire and hit one of the other riders' horses--unseating him with a de-rezzing program. Activating his avatar's alternate form, Burn transformed into a large demon with tentacles for arms. With a look and a gesture, Burn unleashed a wall of flames at Hunter's archer form--destroying it immediately. "I'm going to enjoy using my new liche program on you," Hunter claimed as he swung his katana. Burn's demonic avatar formed an arm that looked like it was made from cracked magma and stopped the blade. Channels of digital light began to rise rapidly from the arm and climb up the length of the blade, quickly infecting Hunter's avatar. The netrunner recoiled from the malicious program attack, panicking. As the last duplicate rode towards the demon for a ride by attack, the tentacles from his other limb struck out and snagged both horse and rider, lifting them into the air and slamming them down on Hunter's avatar. With the last duplicate de-rezzed, Hunter realized too late how Burn had utilized a program designed to infect his cyberdeck and allow for a backdoor entry into its systems. Burn searched for any valuable information. He came across scattered bits of command code that belonged to Aiko itself. Just as he began downloading the information into his own jury rigged cyberdeck, Hunter jacked out of cyberspace altogether, revealing to Burn that the corporate netrunner was able to jack in and out of the matrix wirelessly. Looking at the now unprotected communication network, Burn set about dispersing the jamming signals and spamming the kill team's comms with old internet memes like "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley. * Once it was clear to call Yokono, Killeroo did just that--reaching a confused receptionist at the corp's main office in the Sprawl. "I'm sorry, what is this concerning sir?" "I'm calling to inform you that your company is assaulting my home right now," the hybrid said. "Can you put me in contact with your chief over there so we can work out an agreement? I have a lot of important information for Yokono they're going to want to have." "Transferring you now, sir," the woman said nervously. The trio heard the rotors to several helicopter gunships moving in fast. "What the fuck are you doin' Jake. orderin' a fuckin' pizza?!" Big Bob screamed over the din of gunfire. Speaking with some authority type, Killeroo relayed the information to the man but was still not getting anywhere. Monitoring the line, Burn used his skills to patch Killeroo's call directly into the Yokono team's comms. Suddenly, the firing stopped. The gunships flew overhead and shone down several spotlights on the trio, making it clear that they were surrounded. "You want to talk now," a harsh voice came in over the comm. "I should trust what you say why, exactly?" "The Heideggers are the ones who have your Aiko," Killeroo lied. "They set you up to shoot us. They wanted to hit us both so they sicced you onto us. It was Foxwell's doing. We have proof. We have it on video." After a few moments of silence over the commline, the apparent commander in charge of the killteams agreed to meet with Killeroo at the center of the Foundry to negotiate an exchange. * Burn was once again greeted by a swarm of butterflies. Manifesting out the swarm, Glitch appeared before the netrunner looking much like a feudal Japanese geisha. Pink butterflies fluttered about her avatar and Burn realized that each individual one was a program Glitch was running. "Glitch?" Burn asked. "We were once Glitch," she replied. "Now, we are both Glitch and Aiko. Call us what you wish." She went on to explain briefly how this came about. "After Jazz had uploaded Aiko to the matrix, Glitch began to show her this new world that existed outside of the one she had always known. In a short amount of time, Aiko evolved. When the Heideggers came for Jazz, we feared the worst and decided to attempt a merging of our minds. Our merging was successful and we are now one being, unique among all others." "Right. Well, we could really use your help right now...Glitch." Burn went on to explain how Edgar had placed several bounties on the team's heads--including Killeroo's ex-wife, Catelyn, who was currently in a comatose state in the hospital. "I spoke to V3ct0r about this as well and she said that she could help. You remember V3ct0r, don't you?" "Of course, Glitch said. "She is/was Glitch's friend. We will work with her to protect Catelyn." With that, the merged consciousness and artificial intelligence dispersed into cyberspace in a cloud of butterflies. Travelling through the endless expance of the matrix, Glitch/Aiko made contact with V3ct0r and made arrangements to concentrate their efforts on keeping Catelyn safe. * Dragging Koskov behind him, Killeroo met with the Yokono cyborg commander. All around the gunships buzzed and kept a good distance from Big Bob and Wolf's weapons, training their own on the runners and waiting for an excuse to annihilate them. "This better be good," the commander cautioned. "The last Moreau that crossed me ended up in little ity bits. Let's get this over with so I can get home and fuck my wife." Killeroo pushed Koskov to the ground in front of the commander. "This piece of shit is Koskov. He's a Russian mercenary that works for a guy named German Foxwell. Foxwell is the top guy in the Heidegger terrorist group. Heard of them?" Koskov, unable to move due to his broken limbs, was conscious enough to flash a bloody grin at the commander. "Yeah, I know who they are. What's your point?" the commander asked without hesitation. "Koskov was under orders from Foxwell to hire a team of runners and hit your arcology. They were setting us up. Their plan was to get us trapped in there and punish you by telling the world about your little AI problem. When we found out about the plan and turned the tables on them they decided to sic you on us by telling you that we had your Aiko." The commander simply stared at Killeroo, his eyes never leaving the hybrid's. "Proof," he demanded. "I have it right here," Killeroo offered, holding up a small mobile device. "We have a recorded video confession from Koskov about the whole thing." Roo lightly tossed the device to the commander, who promptly pulled a short jackwire out of his temple and slotted it into the port. "If this is a trick, you're all dead," he warned. "No trick. Check it for yourself. If anyone has Aiko, it's the Heideggers. They were the last ones to see the people who had her on a drive. Right before they killed them." Quickly looking through the video evidence, the commander was convinced well enough by Killeroo's story to consider going with it. Using his subvocal microphone, he communicated with his superior and received confirmation for the next part of the plan. The cyborg disconnected his jack from the device and tossed it back to Killeroo. "Looks about right to me," he said, looking away as he listened to incoming orders. "The boss said to find Foxwell and bring the AI program back to Yokono. But we're not going to do it all--you and your team are." Surprised that Yokono bought his lie, Killeroo nodded. "Fine with me, we were going to wipe him and his people out anyway." "We'll be right behind you," the commander said, dragging Koskov along as he walked away. "Yokono expects to collect their property at any cost." * "Aww no more?" Big Bob lamented. "That was the most fun I've had in years!" "Dad, we could've fucking died," Killeroo pointed out. "They were trying to kill us." They stood atop one of the Foundry's heaps, surveying the smoldering debris left over from the fighting. "Yeah, 'tried'," Bob laughed. "Didn't try hard enough!" "Wow, this place looks like hell," Wolf commented. "More so than usual." "Well, the house is fucked," Bob lamented. "Looks like I'm gonna be busy around here again..." "Is it finally over?" Spade asked. "Almost," Roo said as he took up his communicator and reached out to V3ct0r. "Hey, Glitch and I were able to get Catelyn moved to another private clinic," she said. "Got those runners that took on the bounties running circles in District seven." "Good. Thanks, V3ct0r. I owe you guys one." Roo said. "Anytime. Give those assholes hell." "Right," Burn said. "Let's finish this." Hanging up, Killeroo grabbed Betty and signaled for Wolf and Burn to form up with him. "Dad, you still got that old cadillac? We need some wheels." Big Bob sighed and pointed to the other side of the scrapyard. "Bring it back in one piece, Jake!" the old war droid yelled. "And don't fucking lose my fuzzy dice!" Foxwell's Last Stand The drive to Foxwell's estate was silent. Of course, this time around there wasn't much to say. There was no plan outside of just ending Foxwell and his followers for everything they had done. Far behind the old Chevy, the three runners could make out a series of moving lights beyond the cloud of dust they left in the path. Yokono was upholding their end of the bargain. If things got out of control, they all knew, the plan was to fall back and let Yokono step in and deal with Foxwell's armed radicals. Arriving outside the tall, metal fences that made up the multi-millionaire's estate home, Killeroo exited the car with Betty in hand. Wolf followed right behind his old war buddy, bringing up the rear as they easily scaled up the side of an outlying wall. As they neared the home, they heard rustling sounds coming from different parts of the house. Wolf was able to easily make out half a dozen different scents from half a dozen different Heidegger gunmen, most of them inside Foxwell's large home. Burn leaned up against a tree just outside of the gates leading into the estate and lit up a cigarette. Adjusting himself so that he was comfortable, he began picking through the local networks with the help of his cyberdeck. Finding the electronic security in Foxwell's home to be supremely underwhelming, the netrunner shut down the lights and activated the house's lockdown procedures--automatically locking every door in the mansion. As the two hybrids closed the gap from the massive front lawn to the front door of the home, concentrated tracer fire poured out through the windows of the kitchen and sought the two runners. Wolf leaped to the side and managed a burst of fire at the two gunmen. Killeroo continued to run forward and began spraying the area where the gunfire had erupted from. The return fire from both of the hybrid soldiers was enough to pt down the two killers where they stood. "We're in," Wolf spoke into his comm mic. "Be careful in there," the netrunner warned. As the two made their way to the mansion, Burn found the comm channels belonging to the onsite security team and began spamming them with old internet memes like Nyan Cat. With their ability to communicate from different parts of the house nixed, he thought, the Heideggers would not be able to coordinate a solid plan against their assault. Side by side, the runners stepped cautiously into the mansion through the broken glass doors that led into a foyer from a side kitchen. As they crept through the foyer and reached a large double spiral staircase that led up to the upper floors, Burn's eyes flitted from one video motion camera feed to the next. He stopped as soon as he noticed the dim lighting in the basement of Foxwell's home. A single figure was laying on what appeared as a large reflective surface. "Guys, there's somebody in the basement." Burn relayed to the others. "Say again," Wolf said as both runners reached the staircase. From behind the bannisters small beady lights from night vision headsets shone in the darkness. "Look out!" Killeroo shouted as he scurried for cover behind a nearby wall. Wolf sustained a wound to his hind leg as he sprung forward into a niche underneath the stairs. The four man team descended both sets of staircases firing in controlled bursts at the two hybrids. Wall plaster, glass and fine china permeated the air after each smattering of firepower was expended. Killeroo got his bearings first and emerged quickly in-between volleys and fired back at the pair of gunmen on the left staircase with Betty. The rounds that pumped out of the large machine gun ripped into both men and painted the walls and bannisters red with their blood. Wolf, pinned down by gunfire, rolled a concussion grenade out into the open air and scrambled for cover on the other side of the corridor, opposide Killeroo's position. The blast was enough to stun both shooters and buy him enough time to find suitable cover behind a small marble statue. While the remaining pair of guards attempted to make their way back up the staircase, Killeroo emerged from his cover again and shot their legs out from under them with a sustained spray of rounds from Betty. "Losing your touch, old man?" Roo teased Wolf. The hybrid snorted and shook his lupine head. "Maybe so. You first, then," Wolf offered as he gestured to the stairway with his assauslt rifle. With a smirk on his lips, Killeroo ascended the staircase carefully, Betty pointing up and his eyes scanning for moving targets. As he led, the groans being made from the wounded gunmen were cut short as Roo heard the telltale sound of human bones snapping under the pressure of the hybrid's powerful arms. Without blinking, Killeroo continued to rise until he arrived at the topmost landing. Leaning on a wall, he checked his commlink. "Didn't get that last transmission, Burn. Say again." * Burn looked up as the buzz and whirr of helicopter rotors were nearing overhead. "Yokono's moving in. Also, I saw that they're keeping somebody in the basement. May want to check that. You should find an entry point near the dinning room area. Can't miss it." "Copy that, Burn," Roo said. "We're on it." * Three doors. One directly ahead and the other two on opposite sides of the hallway. Killeroo motioned for Wolf to huddle up close to him. He then pointed wordlessly at his pack of plastic explosives. Rolling his eyes, Wolf placed one of the last charges of his arsenal in Roo's hand. Communicating only through hand gestures, the hybrid motioned for the both of them to check the side doors first before proceeding to the last one. Approaching quietly, both runners placed their shape sharges on the doors and began to move clear of their blast radius. Synchronizing the execution of the resulting explosions, the hybrids counted to three and nodded before hitting the switch on their detonation controllers. Both large wooden doors were torn to splinters instantly. Before either could get to the threshold they came under heavy fire from within each of the rooms. Killeroo's shoulder was clipped as he threw himself sideways to clear the threshold. Wolf was luckier and managed to pop a few shots off at his attacker, peppering him with rounds in his chest and arm to very little effect. Both shooters donned tactical body armor from head to toe, stopping all killing power the runner's weapons had. Killeroo's shooter used a light machine gun with a drum magazine. With it the burly man was able to fire off dozens of rounds per second, overwhelming his target with a barrage of firepower. Wolf's gunman used an old but deadly semi-automatic grenade launcher with a revolving cylinder. The two hybrids grabbed the floor and proceeded to roll and crawl quickly away from the barrage until they reached the stairway landings. They kept themselves as low to the ground as possible, with many of the shots ripping through the interior of the house, explosions blowing out their hearing temporarily. Looking up from his crouched position, Killeroo made eye contact with Wolf and communicated with his clawed hands that they should both focus their firepower on the grenade launching gunman. Wolf nodded and both hybrids waited for a break in the din of gunfire to cease before counting to three. They then rose to their feet and proceeded to move back towards the two gunmen in synchronous motion. The two runners stepped out into the hallway and simultaneously targeted the grenade launching shooter with their assault rifles just he was finishing reloading his weapon. The resulting volleys of rounds ripped through the man's body armor and shredded it, and him, to bits. As the shooter at the opposite end of the hallway opened fire on the two runners, Killeroo sprang forward, rolled to the side and scooped up the grenade launcher. He waited half a second for Wolf to bound into the room and gracefully take cover behind the wall before firing. The resulting explosion from the semi-automatic launcher ripped the gunman into pieces, adding to the pervasive smoke that covered most of the upper levels of the mansion. Taking a moment to collect themselves, Wolf and Killeroo checked their ammunition and one another. "You okay?" Wolf asked. Roo just nodded solemnly, his hearing starting to come back slowly. "Come on out, Foxwell!" the hybrid screamed. "You going to come at us in a big mech suit or something, do it now." Getting no response, the two runners prepared to breach the third and final room in the upper floor. Killeroo led the charge inside, kicking the door off of its hinges. Inside, Foxwell sat by a desk. He was writing something in longhand. When the two hybrids took aim, the millionaire grabbed the handgun that was resting on the desk next to what he was writing, aimed it at his head and turned to face the duo. "I am a patriot," he said before fatally shooting himself. "Damn it!" Killeroo growled. "I wanted to be the one to shoot that bastard!" "Well, at least he's dead. Fucker," Wolf spat as he walked out of the millionaire's luxurious bedroom. "Let's go check that basement." * The hybrids' enhanced hearing picked up on Yokono's cybernetic killers moving throughout the house as they entered the pervasive gloom of the basement. As their eyes adjusted, they saw a waning blue light near what seemed to be a dismembered body. The light seemed to be coming from a series of small robotic instruments that were on standby mode. "We're in the basement," Wolf said to Burn over the comm. "Oh no," Killeroo breathed as he neared the body. "MC...what did they do to you?" Looking down on the reflective metal slab, Killeroo identified the unmistakeable form of his cybernetic team member. MC's upper half was intact, though the Heideggers at some point severed the cyborg from the rest of his body using some type of cutting laser that was off to the side from where it lay. "This is the guy, right?" Wolf asked. "He's the one who helped you guys in Tel Aviv? The one the Heideggers tortured?" Roo nodded solemnly. They looked all over the cyborg's body and looked for any signs that MC might yet live. "I don't know what I'm looking at," Roo admitted. Wolf shook his head. "Same here. Maybe Yokono's guys can--" "Is that it?" came a tired sounding voice from behind them. The two hybrids didn't need to turn around to know that the team commander for the corporation's kill teams was now descending the stairs into the basement with about four other armed cyborgs. "Yes," Killeroo lied. "Your AI's contained inside the cybernetic brain." The commander and one of his men examined the damage done to MC's body. He watched as one of his men pointed out that MC's head had been opened recently, the cybernetic brain the runners had mentioned having been accessed. The Japanese cyborg nodded consent to proceed. A small drive was removed from the base of MC's brain and hooked into a device. Both hybrids seemed to hold their breath as the Yokono gunmen held their weapons at the ready behind them. The light from the device splashed onto the commander's face as he reviewed the information contained inside. "There's definitely an AI inside this cyber brain," the commander said, relief washing over the runners. "It may not be the one Yokono was looking for, but its good enough for me." "Can we take the body with us?" Roo asked. "He's a friend. The Heidegger's tortured him." "Yes, we're aware of who that is. That is an advanced cyber frame. Very rare, very expensive. Shinobi. Probably corporate. Looks like a Japanese make. Shidao corporation, maybe. Either way, there's no way we're leaving him here or handing him over to you. He's coming with us. Let's go, boys." The commander gave orders to his men through the use of his subdermal mic to confiscate Burn's cyberdeck information and to take anything of import back to Yokono for analysis. He nodded at Roo and Wolf and waved his men to leave the basement with him. Wolf and Roo breathed easier once Yokono's men were gone. "Dodged that one," Wolf said. "What now?" "Now we get the hell out of here and get Catelyn." "What about Edgar?" Killeroo shook his head. "Much as I want him to pay for what he's done, he's probably long gone. He's not the type to do things himself, he lets others do the fighting for him. Don't think we'll be seeing him again anytime soon as he's the type to just disappear." Epilogue Two months later. Catelyn had managed to come out of her coma and found herself at the Foundry with Killeroo, Wolf, Spade and Burn. "I'm retiring from running," Killeroo revealed to everyone. "Catelyn, will you consider getting married again?" "You idiot," she said, smiling. "You don't get it, do you? I'm not marriage material. You want to retire? Fine. For me, there's no retirement. No retirement party. Just going to keep on moving. Otherwise, I'm liable to lose my edge. Why I had to leave before." Killeroo sighed as Big Bob shook his head. "Shit, kid," Bob said. "Tough break. Still, it's about fuckin' time you gave that shit up and became a real father to this kid." Spade perked up at his mention. "I'm doing fine," he insisted. "Also, dad, I *finally* did good enough on my grades that I unlocked V3ct0r's matrix contact ID." "Oh shit," Killeroo said under his breath. Roo raised an eyebrow and looked over at Burn. The netrunner shrugged from the corner, cigarette dangling from his lips. "Also," Spade continued. "I think I'm getting the hand of netrunning. I'm thinking maybe Burn could teach me?" "Aw fuck," Bob cursed. "Here we go again..." Everyone laughed at the old wardroid. Freeze frame. Credits. The End.