"J & J's Pleasure Motel?" It was Leon who responded as he asked in a tone that suggested he was baffled.

Daren nodded seriously as he turned to look at Leon. "Tomorrow is a big day, it may be my last day in this world".

"I don't want to go with any regrets. I want to approach tomorrow with a clear mind and a firm will, this is the best way for me to ease my nerves and be at my best for tomorrow's showdown".

Leon looked around and he was surprised that none of the others reacted in a baffled manner like he did.

Then, he remembered that half of the people here were Synths.

He looked at Talia, then seeing that she was not about to say anything, Leon voiced out his doubts. "Going to a pleasure motel, is that not the same thing we're trying to fight against with Parasite's Zmer gang?"

"No," Daren shook his head seriously. "There's a clear difference between sexual assault, sex without consent, and willing sex".

"I've killed multiple thugs who are rapists, I'm not a rapist".

"Also, I'm not a Synth. I'm a biological being with flesh and blood, and I also have desires, desires that heighten in certain situations, certain situations like the eve of a big battle".

"Yes, there are pleasure motels that force girls into sexual slavery and that's what we're trying to fight against".

"But there are also those who do it as a legal business. Afterall, in a world of Ascended where we face ADE corruption and Neon Beasts, it's inevitable to develop pent up desires. Women help us to calm down". Daren said seriously.

"A pleasure motel is seen everywhere in the world, even in the Freegrid Collective's Megacity, so it's not a rare sight".

"The only rule is do it right, do it free and willing, that's the rule of the Freegrid Collective".

He looked at Leon in the eye. "Trust me, I have certain principles that I live by, I'm not going out there to have sex with a girl, I'm going to have sex with a mature woman".

"And if I see a girl there or a man trying to have sex with her, I don't mind rescuing the girl and warning or even killing the man on the side".

"It's part of life as an agent of the Freegrid Collective".

Leon finally understood where Daren was coming from. In hindsight, it was normal, afterall, Daren is just a man.

In the past week and months, not only were they running from the Zmer gang, he also followed Talia to the fringe of the Wastes where he valiantly protected her and fought in the siege of the cargo trailer.

Since then, they've been playing a game of wits with the Zmer gang as both sides sought ways to tear each other down.

It was only normal for stress to set in after all this, and as a man, sex is indeed a way to release pent-up stress.

Leon suddenly flashed a smile that all men understood as he looked at Daren. "What's your type?"

From a wholesome and philosophical conversation, the conversation suddenly had a U-turn and Talia who listened by the side could not help it as her eyes twitched slightly and her face turned pink.

She held back the urge to glare at Leon.

Hearing that question, Daren was taken aback at first then he grinned. "Heh, I love tall girls with big boobs and big ass".

Leon grinned. "Attaboy".

With that, Daren finally looked at Talia for permission.

She waved a hand dismissively. "Just don't forget to protect yourself, and also remember to come back and rest properly for tomorrow".

"Sure thing boss".

Talia gave Daren a single paper bill- 1 Neo Credit. The Cyber Gladiator flashed a big grin, thanked his boss, waved at his crewmates and then he walked out of the cell tower base with a swagger in his steps.

As soon as Daren left, the others immediately went to work except Brick and Talia.

Brad helped Ghostwire carry the drones as they went to where the reactor was kept to try make the drones into invisible C-5 drones.

As for Rex, Leon, and Kain, they went to a different cyber-lab as they worked on perfecting the blueprint of the ADE Nullification Shackles.

Talia sat in a chair, fiddling with her plasma dagger while Brick sat rigidly on a chair that was opposite hers.

In the end, the Synth broke the silence.

"I'll go grab a bottle of Synth-beer".

Talia didn't object as she threw him a 1 Neo Credit bill at him. Brick caught it, thanked her, and then he also started walking out of the base.

"Stay safe". Talia reminded.

Brick nodded and then he left.

And just like that, Talia was the only one remaining in this cyber-lab.

She continued fiddling with the plasma dagger, and as she did this repetitive action, she soon entered the memory lane.

Brick and Daren were not the only ones feeling the monumental impact and pressure of the moment, she was also under immense pressure for tomorrow.

She had a lot of fears that she masked under her confident smile.

She could not help it as she remembered her mentor, the man who gave her freedom. He was long dead but Talia felt like he was still alive, even more so this night when the weight was heavy on her shoulders.

She still remembered his words like it was just yesterday.

"You fear fear and fear is not there".

"Uncle Jeff, what do you mean?"

"Heh, it means the world is not as scary as you think, you're just scared of it. When you decide to overcome your fears and face it, you'll realize that it was just in your head, the fear was never there".

"Really?"

"Of course, why would Uncle Jeff lie to you?"

Talia smiled as the memory invoked emotions hidden in the depth of her heart. 'I wonder how he'll think seeing me now'. She thought.

'Uncle Jeff,' she thought silently. 'I hope you're still watching me, your girl is an E Rank NetRunner now'.

She grinned. 'If I survive tomorrow, I'll visit your grave again when I return to Iron Reef and I'll buy you a new flower bouquet'.

With that, she stopped fiddling with the dagger as she stood up and left to one of the multiple rooms in the base.

She laid down on a bed and closed her eyes to sleep.

She needed all of her strength for tomorrow.

…

In a tiny underground bunker of the cell tower base…

Brad's forehead was filled with sweat as with Ghostwire squatting beside him, he looked at the glowing reactor as they brainstormed on how to integrate the invisibility technology on the C-5 drones.

The Synth had a stoic look on his face as they worked.

After a while, Ghostwire could not help but mutter. "Should I tell Leon about this?"

"Who's Leon?" Brad looked at him; he still didn't learn the name of his crewmates yet.

Ghostwire coldly looked at him. "Human-skin guy".

Brad coughed. "Oh, ok, that guy". Inside though, he was crying. 'C'mon bro, we're teammates now, can you stop being so cold?'

After a few more minutes of hesitation, Ghostwire stood up to leave. He was going to call Leon.

…

In a different cyber-lab of the cell tower base, Leon, Rex, and Kain stood in front of a sturdy glass table as they made the final touches in Rex's blueprint.

And finally, they started constructing.

Since it was his blueprint, of course, Leon gave the construction rights to Rex who was more than happy to do it.

Construct!

One component at a time, the construct started coming to life as grayish white ADE swirled and surrounded Rex's gloved arms.

By the side, Kain watched it happen with a complicated look in his dull gray eyes. 'I feel like I'm witnessing history'.

After more than 15 minutes of going at it, a complete construct finally appeared in the sturdy glass table.

"I'm done!" Rex pumped a fist in excitement.

Leon scrutinized the construct. Just like it was in the blueprint, it was a pair of grayish black cuffs that were attached to deep black chains.

Leon's System lit up with a new HUD screen as he used the Snoop function.

DING!

~----~

[Snoop Function activated!]

[Target: ADE Nullification Shackles]

[Classification: Class-neutral ADE-Reactive Armament]

Name: ADE Nullification Shackles

Manufacturer: Rex Mallow

Power Source: ADE Condenser Cell

Material Composition: Carbon-titanium steel, 304 stainless steel, lightweight aluminum alloy

Weight: 15kg per chain

Compatibility: Class-neutral

Maintenance Grade: Green (easily maintainable)

[CORE SYSTEMS:]

>Force Durability: This shackle is made from a great combination of metal and alloys to ensure a balance of strength, precision, and weight. It is extremely durable and resistant against force.

[WEAPON ADE SKILLS:]

>Weight Modulator: When activated, this converts user's ADE into additional weight for the shackles. The more ADE used, the heavier the shackles. It can become as heavy as a mountain.

>ADE Nullification: When activated, a suppressive anti-ADE field is triggered on the chains and transferred through the handcuffs. It directly cuts off ADE circulation, restricting all Ascended abilities.

…

[System Remark: Rex Mallow's Masterpiece.]

~----~

"How is it?" Rex asked as he looked up at Leon expectantly.

Leon slapped Rex by the shoulder and hugged him. "You killed it bro, you made a f*cking masterpiece!" He laughed.

For the next few minutes, they spent their time testing the true capabilities of the shackles and it was safe to say that it was terrifying.

When Rex used it on him, Leon felt like a mundane human again.

For an Ascended, that was a horrifying reality to face. Only when it was used on him did he realize just how devious the weapon was.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door of this cyber-lab and then Ghostwire opened the door and entered.

The NetRunner paused and stared intently at the cuff and chains, then he ignored them and looked at Leon. "I need your help".

"Right now?"

Ghostwire just stared at him.

Leon chuckled. "Ok, I'm coming".

He looked at Rex and Kain. "Use the remaining materials from the boss and try to create another jury-rigged bomb. After that, we can rest".

He left with Ghostwire.

He was indeed the last puzzle needed to complete integrating the new technology to the drones.

With his input, within 25 minutes, they combined brains to create a modified version of the C-5 drones that could turn invisible.

DING!

~----~

[You have successfully modified a Blueprint: C-5 Drone]

[New Blueprint Rank: E]

[You have been rewarded with 15 Data Points!]

[Current Data Points: 62]

~----~

Immediately after, Ghostwire deployed the drones.

With a satisfied smile, Leon returned to the cyber-lab to find that Rex and Kain succeeded in creating the third jury-rigged bomb.

He grinned. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

"How should we distribute the bombs?" Kain asked.

"Let's take one each". Leon replied immediately. "In terms of combat power, we're essentially the weakest in the whole crew, so it's only normal that we get to hold on to a trump card like this".

"Ok". Kain nodded as he and Rex took one each.

Leon kept the other one for himself.

Only then did they find one of the rooms in the building and went to sleep. Tomorrow was D-day, and it was going to be a big day.

…

In the bar area of an inn, Brick sat isolated in a corner as he devoured a bottle of Synth-beer.

The bar was uncharacteristically scanty.

The tension was still heavy in the air. He could tell that the storm was not just brewing anymore, now, it was extremely close to erupting.

"Another bottle". He demanded.

He leaned back against the wooden chair as he thought. 'I hope we get to see another day after tomorrow'.

…

J & J Pleasure Motel…

Daren swaggered into the pleasure motel in a bombastic manner and instantly his bearing told the madam that this was a rich customer.

Her instincts were long honed to sniff them out.

She quickly whispered a few instructions to her assistant as she watched Daren bombastically order 10 bottles of beer.

Soon, a beautiful Caucasian petite girl approached the flamboyant Geneform but Daren raised his head, appraised her, and wagged a finger, ruthlessly rejecting her.

The girl froze before awkwardly walking away.

The madam who secretly watched this smiled in understanding.

A minute later, a mature tall ebony woman with a shapely figure, voluptuous breasts and a huge ass approached and immediately, Daren flashed a smile.

After a few round of drinking, they disappeared into a room.

Daren had a blast that night.

…

In multiple tents across community G, families stayed up late as they shared pistols and ammunition between themselves and their neighbors.

A middle-aged Geneform muttered with emotion and conviction.

"Tomorrow, we fight for our land".

"Tomorrow, we fight for our community".

"Tomorrow, we fight for our lives!"

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