The Merc and The Netrunner (a cyberpunk tale)

Chapter 12 Trauma

Right as Diego arrived back at home and opened the door Quartz was there looking at him with a pissed off look on her face "Where the fuck were you Diego Flores" Quartz said as she stood up and walked to him "Lizzy wizzy the singer asked me to do a gig for her and she wanted me to do it alone however I got the eddies" Diego said to Quartz trying to be honest to her. "You did a gig without me and I didn't get a message or anything neither some eddies as like a cut Diego" Quartz said as she held her stomach "Agui (here) some eddies *transfers eddies* for you" Diego said as he sat down on the couch looking out the window seeing the lights of night city "Thank you Diego oh I felt it the baby kicking come here Diego" Quartz said as Diego placed his hand on her stomach and the baby kicked. Diego couldn't help, but ask "When did Vik say that the baby would be born and what's going to happen with your cyberware Quartz" looking at her with a confused look on his face "Vik said the baby is fine I'll be due sometime in a few days however with my cyberware I have to get some of it removed, but my hacking cyberware I can keep" Quartz said drinking some water rubbing her stomach.

"Ay dios mio (oh my god) I don't know what to say however I just hope the delivery goes well because I don't want to miss that seeing our child being born" Diego said looking at the city lights. "I can't believe after that gig you did by rescuing me from the Valentino's and the tyger claws we would be a couple and having a baby together" Quartz said with a smile on her face "I was doing a gig that Padre gave me and than next thing I'm saving a beautiful netrunner" Diego said as he looked down as he grabbed a beer and started drinking it. "Hey you okay did I say something wrong" Quartz said putting her hand on Diego's shoulder "Just these gigs and all I still have nightmares of my best choom Anthony he was the best shooter and was the life of the party whenever we partied" Diego said as he finished the beer and looked at Quartz. "Why don't you tell me about him and get it off your chest" Quartz said as he held his arm laying her head on his shoulder "It's a long story but I can tell you some parts of what happened that day be warned you might hate me or hate him however I'll tell you" Diego said to Quartz as he took a breath in.

*Flashback a year ago*

"Anthony you know what are we supposed to looking for Wakako didn't even" Diego said as he was punched in the arm by Anthony "Shut up okay look we are looking for something valuable okay so keep your mouth shut and let me do the hard work while we both go in there and see what the tyger claws have" Anthony said as he climbed over the wall pulling up Diego as they landed safely behind a container. "Huh it seems lightly guarded for a big warehouse what the hell" Diego said as noticed a couple of guards talking to each other and Anthony quickly ran where they are knocking both of them out "At least make it a challenge" Anthony said as he began to parkour to an open window as Diego couldn't help, but sigh and noticed that more tyger claws coming in as Diego hid as Anthony started going in guns blazing as he shot a couple down. "Cabrón va a llegar a matarse a si mismo (The bastard is going to kill himself)" Diego said as he started shooting with his M-10AF Lexington at the tyger claws as they started shooting him back while one tired to quick hack into Diego's systems he quickly shot down the netrunner Diego noticed that Anthony was shot down and he couldn't help, but ball his fist up and "YOU BASTARDS" Diego screamed as he tossed a couple of grenades and shot at them every tyger claw to make sure there were none left.

"Diego" Anthony said weakly as he spit out blood "Anthony no no no I can try and get you to" Diego said before he was interrupted by Anthony "No you got to go on without me be the merc You so destined to be I will do with them now GO!" Anthony said as Diego noticed more tyger claws coming as he ran away leaving his best friend behind. The tyger claws notice Anthony in his weak state "So you are the one that decided to break in here and all for what vengeance or that little drive that we stole" One of the tyger claws said as Anthony quickly pulled a couple grenades from his jacket "hasta luego tu cabróns (See you later you bastards)" Anthony said he was quickly shot in the head as the grenades went off. Diego noticed the explosion and he couldn't help, but cry to know that his only friend the one that he was close with the one that he called a brother was gone "I could have saved him what was I thinking" he said to himself as he drove away delivering the cargo to wakako.

*Back to the present*

"That is how I became the lone mercenary for hire that's why I decided to walk alone after that tragic night" Diego said to Quartz as she couldn't help, but kiss him and say "I understand that is in the past you don't need to worry about it I am right here now okay I will always protect you and our child". "All you need to worry about is just your pregnancy and make sure that our child is healthy okay well I'm going to call it a night" Diego said as he got up from the chair and went to their bedroom as Quartz followed him and she couldn't help, but snuggle into his chest "Hey I understand the pain that you went through I never knew why you were the way you were before I met you, but You will always be my choomba" Quartz said as she looked at him and kissed him. "I still feel like I could have done something to rescue him or at least you know do something so he wouldn't have to die" Diego said as tears started rolling down his cheek "Dry your tears Diego You are in safe in my arms now okay I love you tomorrow is another day" Quartz said as she fell asleep holding him as Diego smiled and said "Thank you Quartz I love you too my beautiful netrunner" as he also fell asleep.

(Sorry for this chapter being posted this late I thought I could post it a week however I got busy with some personal stuff however I am fine I am not flatline I promise chooms You will get more chapters soon let me know what you think is going to happen to our characters and don't forget if you like the story please share it like it and comment what you'd like about it Well see ya soon chooms)