The middle-aged man with a thick, wiry beard didn't flinch at Arthur's comment. Instead, he chuckled, eyes twinkling with a mixture of relief and mischief, and extended a firm hand. Arthur accepted it, their palms clapping together in a gritty handshake that spoke louder than words. It wasn't just a greeting—it was an olive branch offered on the dusty edge of a new alliance.
Anyone who could single-handedly eliminate a Militech convoy, especially in a place as lawless as the Badlands, was worth both respect and wariness. Thor, the bearded nomad, understood this instinctively. Arthur wasn't just another merc; he was a weapon in human form—dangerous, sharp, and potentially useful. In a world where strength often dictated survival, aligning with such a man wasn't just smart. It was essential.
But Thor's offer wasn't solely out of practicality. That was what set wanderers apart from the hardened, chrome-drenched residents of Night City. Out here, far from the flickering neon and corporate propaganda, some semblance of humanity still lingered. People respected grit, but they valued trust. Life among the nomads was brutal, but not heartless.
Arthur leaned casually against his battered car, The Sword in the Stone, letting the beer in his hand rest on the roof. "Welcome to Night City, Thor. Closest thing to hell with electricity. You smell like you crawled out of a scrapyard covered in exhaust fumes."
Thor laughed heartily, slapping his knee. "Don't worry, I did crawl outta hell. Escaped Militech with my ass intact, and believe me, that's a victory. Name's Thor," he said, the humor in his voice not masking the exhaustion beneath.
Arthur nodded knowingly. He'd heard stories. Thor wasn't new to the game. Years of wandering, scraping by, and holding together whatever pieces of his clan he could—all that etched itself into his sun-scarred face. He was the kind of man who didn't seek trouble but often had it dropped in his lap.
Thor turned and motioned to the others clambering out of the old vehicle behind him. "That bald guy lugging the crate? Mitch. The moody one next to him is Scorpion. And behind the wheel—Panam."
Arthur stepped forward, offering a handshake to each. "Arthur Martinez. Just call me Arthur. Small-time merc, Night City born and broken. You need help, jobs, or someone shot—I'm the guy."
Scorpion raised an eyebrow. "Small-time merc? You blew up a Militech convoy. Either you're modest or full of shit."
Mitch chuckled, hauling a crate of beer to the dirt. "Careful with the praise, Scorpion. This guy might start charging for breathing near him."
Thor reached in, grabbed a dusty can, and tossed it toward Arthur. "Sorry it's warm. We haven't exactly got refrigeration out here."
Arthur popped the tab, took a swig, and gave an approving nod. "Could be worse. At least it's not synthetic."
His gaze drifted across the group. He liked what he saw. These were people hardened by the road—weathered but unbroken.
"So," Arthur said, wiping his mouth, "what the hell did you steal to get Militech so worked up? Usually, they don't go full demon over a few spare parts."
Thor sighed, the joviality fading from his face. "We jacked one of their armored vehicles. Thought it was just supplies. Turns out, they were transporting something...personal. Ashes. Belonged to one of their old execs' mothers. Hell if I know why it mattered."
Before Arthur could respond, Panam jumped down from the cab, fire in her eyes. "What, we're not allowed to hijack anymore? Since when do we ask corporations for permission to survive?"
She stomped over, the fury in her steps echoing louder than her words. The tension in her clenched fists spoke volumes.
Thor sighed. "I told you not to hit the corps, Panam. This isn't just another smuggling run gone wrong. Militech doesn't let things go. We stirred a nest of devils."
Panam shot him a glare. "And what were we supposed to do? Let everyone go hungry?"
Arthur sipped from his can, watching the two argue. He understood both perspectives. To nomads, looting wasn't theft—it was survival. But robbing Militech? That was playing with fire while soaked in gasoline.
"Whatever it was," Arthur interjected, "you tripped a wire. This wasn't standard retaliation. They sent a tactical team—full chrome, elite reflex enhancers, the works. You don't get that kind of response for stolen supplies."
Mitch, standing nearby, crushed his can in one metallic fist. Foam sprayed from the sides. Everyone turned at the sound.
"Sorry," Mitch mumbled, inspecting his arm. "This old thing's been acting up."
Arthur eyed the exposed chrome plating. It was vintage—clearly a model from decades past. "Processing unit's probably fried. Those old arms weren't built for Militech chases."
"You fix limbs, too?" Mitch asked.
Arthur grinned. "I've patched up enough corpses to know what not to do. Swap out the neural chip, rethread the conduits—you're good as new. I've got contacts in Watson who might have spares."
Mitch looked surprised, then nodded in appreciation.
Panam sat down, popping her own can open with a frustrated hiss. "You think we should give it back?"
Arthur looked at her, serious now. "I think you need to decide whether it's worth more than the people standing around you. Because Militech won't stop. If you stay in Night City, you either go underground, or you face the music."
She didn't answer immediately. Her jaw clenched as she stared at the horizon. Everyone in the group knew what she was thinking. Whatever was in that transport wasn't worth dying for—but giving it up felt like surrender.
Thor broke the silence. "What we wanted was a fresh start. Some land, a roof, maybe a chance to raise kids without sleeping with a gun in your hand. But if this is the price…"
Arthur finished his beer and tossed the can aside. "Then maybe it's not worth the price."
Panam looked up. "And if we don't fight, we'll be scavenging till we die. You think that's better?"
"No," Arthur replied calmly. "I think you find another way to win. One that doesn't bury half your people in the process."
Thor placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "He's right."
Panam said nothing more. She looked like she wanted to argue but couldn't find the words. Eventually, she just nodded, letting the wind carry her thoughts away.
The sun dipped lower, turning the Badlands gold. Shadows stretched long across the sand as the heat bled into the night.
For now, they had beer, air, and the fragile bond of survival.
And for wanderers, that was enough.
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