Running out on the Edge

Like A Boy

No POV 

We begin this chapter, moments after where we had last left off, with David standing before his Ripperdoc with the Sandevistan in his hands, wanting to get it implanted into his body 

David: "High time I chromed the fuck up"

Doc: "Get the hell out. Wanna sell? Heard my offer" 

David: "I'm not selling. Came here to chip this shit" 

Hearing this got a laugh from the Ripperdoc before replying 

Doc: "Listen, Davey. That there is a military-grade piece. Got to have the build to handle it. And, choom, that's something you ain't got" 

David: "Spoken like a ripper who really cares about his customers" 

Doc: "Ha! Pretty snarky for a kid who can't afford me"

Doc then laid back on the chair he was in as his toy got back to work with pleasuring him and resumed watching his XBD, much to David's ire 

David: "Fuck you" 

David then turned to leave before the Doc then called back to him, thinking of a new idea that could benefit the two of them and a smile on his face 

Doc: "Whoa. Wait a minute. Fuck it, man. I'll bite" 

Doc then raised himself off the chair as the conveyer belt of arms rotated until eventually coming to a stop as the Doc attached his arms to it by the hand and then removed them entirely before attaching a set of new arms entirely, these ones designed for surgery involving cybernetic upgrades

Doc: "I'll chip you up. But when you come back, crying to yank it out because it's poaching your brain, the Sandy is mine for free. So, ready to rip?" 

Hearing this proposal, David turned back to him before the scene then changed to show David on an operating table as Doc began to cut into his back, no form of anesthetics to prevent him from feeling the scalpel slice him open from behind and remove his spine before replacing it with the Sandevistan. An agonizing process that David felt the entire time

The next day, we get the sight of David walking through the halls of Arasaka Academy, only wearing his pants and his Mother's EMT jacket, the back stained with blood fresh from the recent surgery and as he stepped into the classroom, the holographic teacher spotted him quickly as it spoke 

Teacher: "David Martinez, you are currently under suspension, please vacate the premises" 

Paying the teacher no mind, David walked towards Katsuo who had a grin on his face at seeing the Street kid walking towards him, completely unaware of what was in-store for him

Katsuo: "Check it out. Get a load of this guy. Is he serio--" 

He was cut short when David walked right up to him and kicked him out of the chair, causing the class to end as the teacher directed the students to leave while the matter was to be resolved, leaving only David, Katsuo, and his two lackeys in the classroom. Katsuo quickly getting up to look at David with confusion as to why he'd start a fight here

Katsuo: "You gonked, Martinez? We're at school! The cameras. Have you lost your--" 

He was stopped yet again as David threw a punch to his face, knocking him to the ground and causing him to spit out blood before David then removed Gloria's Jacket, glaring at Katsuo

David: "What? Are you afraid of getting caught? 'Cause I know I sure as shit ain't. Hell, I'm already going to be expelled so come on!" 

Hearing this, Katsuo then grits his teeth before standing up and activating his MMA freeware and his cybernetic hands, expecting an easy beatdown like yesterday as he performed the same moves as before, throwing a flurry of fists at the Streetkid who looked unfazed now as David then activated his Sandevistan, time moving slowly as he maneuvered his way around Katsuo before stopping on the left side of him leaning in and then delivering an incredibly hard punch to the Corpo kid's face, sending him flying into the neon lit wall, smashing it as time resumed to normal. Katsuo's lackeys fleeing in terror and hoping to not be next while David held his now sore hand and Katsuo was curled up against the wall and staring at David with terror as he nursed his injured face, the side of it cut from the shards of glass and his nose broken