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James arrived at Misty's shop just as
Jackie's driving was far steadier than James had expected. The luxury sedan glided through the rain-soaked streets of Night City, neon reflections smearing across the windshield like oil on water. Despite the chaos of the city, Jackie kept his hands calm on the wheel, navigating traffic with practiced ease.
Their destination was an ordinary apartment building, forgettable by design. Lucy had rented a unit here under a false identity—just another ghost address buried in the city's endless housing records.
"Take him to Room 512," James said as he stepped out of the car.
Jackie looked down at the unconscious Takahashi Hayami, sighed heavily, and reluctantly scooped him up in a bridal carry.
"I'm really questioning my life choices right now," Jackie muttered.
---
Room 512
Inside the apartment, Kiwi was already waiting.
She stood near the window, cigarette glowing faintly in the dim light. When James and the others entered, she crushed it out and straightened.
"Bathroom," she said simply. "Put him there."
"Oh," Jackie replied.
He'd originally planned to say hello—Jackie was friendly by nature, especially toward a cool, dangerous-looking netrunner—but Kiwi's tone made it clear this wasn't a social call. He carried Takahashi into the bathroom without another word.
The bathtub was already filled with ice-cold water. Cables, monitors, and signal stabilizers were neatly arranged.
Under Kiwi's direction, Jackie connected several data cables directly into Takahashi's BCI ports.
"What else can I do?" Jackie asked eagerly, clearly wanting to be useful.
Kiwi pointed at the door.
"Leave. Close it."
"Oh."
Jackie froze, shoulders slumping, and shuffled out like a scolded kid.
Only Lucy remained inside, acting as secondary support. Her job was to monitor the signal and cut the connection instantly if Arasaka ICE retaliated.
Kiwi stripped without hesitation and lowered herself into the bathtub, letting the ice water swallow her completely.
Lucy had originally volunteered for the deep dive herself—but James refused.
It wasn't about fear. Lucy was brave enough.
It was about necessity.
There was no reason for her to relive Arasaka's digital hell when he could simply pay a professional.
Deep diving into Arasaka Corporation systems was never pleasant. Corporate ICE didn't just defend—it punished.
---
Waiting Room
James didn't enter the bathroom at all.
He sat on the sofa, flipping through Night City's late-night TV channels, which were as absurd and unfiltered as ever.
Jackie sat beside him.
"That's it?" Jackie asked, cracking open a soda James handed him. "We just… sit?"
"What else?" James replied, eyes still on the screen.
Jackie drank, feeling mildly unsettled.
The money felt too easy.
Takahashi Hayami wasn't a high-ranking executive. His Trauma Team coverage was only Gold tier, provided by the company, meaning the ICE protecting his data was serviceable—but nothing elite.
Breaking into his core didn't take long.
---
Job Complete
Not long after, the bathroom door opened.
Kiwi stepped out, hair dripping, expression unchanged. She handed James a data shard.
"This is everything you asked for."
She didn't ask questions. Didn't linger.
Pure professionalism.
"I've transferred the payment," James said. "Want Jackie to give you a ride?"
"No need." Kiwi was already pulling on her jacket. "If there's another job, call me."
"Sounds good."
Kiwi left without looking back.
James accepted a portable terminal from Lucy, inserted the shard, and began scanning Arasaka personnel records.
Within minutes, he found it.
His father's file.
Not an executive. Not a legend.
Just a Counter-Intelligence supervisor.
Yet even that position was something most Night City residents could only dream of.
The death report was short.
> Cause of death: Car accident.
James' expression didn't change—but something hardened behind his eyes.
Within Arasaka, Counter-Intelligence had always been losing ground to Operations. Casualty numbers made that painfully clear.
A corporation was a walled city.
Those inside wanted out.
Those outside would kill to get in.
And politics inside those walls were deadlier than bullets.
Then James noticed something else.
A new onboarding report.
The vacant position left behind by his father… had already been filled.
He opened the profile.
Jackie glanced over—and froze.
"V?"
"You know him?" James asked.
Jackie nodded slowly. "Close friend. We grew up together. After he joined Arasaka and got shipped overseas, we stopped talking much."
James studied the photo.
A breakthrough.
Finding truth from outside the corporation was nearly impossible.
From the inside?
That was another matter.
"Jackie," James said calmly, "can you introduce me to V?"
Jackie hesitated.
"I won't force it," James continued. "But my father died in that position. V is stepping into something dangerous. I need his help—and he'll need ours."
Jackie exhaled.
"I'll ask him. If he agrees, I'll set it up."
"That's enough."
---
Cleanup
"What about the corp guy?" Jackie asked.
"Put him back in the car," James said. "Auto-drive. Send him home."
"No silencing?"
"For what?" James replied. "He doesn't know who hit him. And if he talks, Arasaka will fire him before he finishes the sentence."
Jackie nodded.
Lucy wiped every remaining trace.
No loose ends.
---
Rain and Neon
James and Lucy slept until noon the next day.
Rain drizzled endlessly over Night City, neon lights bleeding through the mist.
Beautiful.
Deadly.
Acid rain. Toxic fog.
James ordered food. They ate quietly by the window.
Then his optics flashed.
An invitation.
The Afterlife.
Night City's most infamous Edgerunner bar. More than a club—it was a symbol. A place where legends were remembered and failures were forgotten.
Rogue had noticed him.
"Job?" Lucy asked.
"The Queen of the Afterlife wants me to drink in her morgue."
Lucy laughed, feeding him a bite. "Say that out loud and her fans will riot."
"I'm not wrong."
Still, James accepted.
Even without a job, the Afterlife was worth seeing.
Lunch… turned into bed.
Later, Lucy stayed behind to rest.
---
The Afterlife
The Afterlife sat in Watson's Chinatown, rain pouring outside.
James took the metro, umbrella in hand.
Luxury cars lined the street.
Security stopped him.
"This the Afterlife," the guard said. "You sure you belong?"
"I'm Mr. BT."
James showed the message.
The guard stepped aside.
"The Afterlife welcomes you."
Inside, the bar pulsed with noise and neon.
Claire Russell greeted him.
"A Johnny Silverhand."
He regretted it immediately.
"One cola," James said afterward, rinsing his mouth.
Then—
A commotion.
Two familiar figures burst inside.
Rebecca was shouting. Guns almost came out.
Sasha hacked security just long enough to drag her in.
Rebecca spotted James.
Her anger vanished instantly.
"Pancake Vendor!"
James ignored her.
She pouted.
Eventually gave up.
"Fine. Drinks," Rebecca said. "Maine's waiting."
They headed to a private room.
Not everyone earned space like that.
Maine's crew had arrived.
And James had officially stepped into Night City's inner circle.