Fireside
The fire crackled and shook, drawing in the eye, hypnotising anyone watching. The faint scent of CHOOH2 fuel on the air and someone around another fire strumming a guitar added to the effect, leaving everyone in a sort of silent waking sleep. The weight of what had been decided earlier in the day was on everyone's mind.
Panam's mind felt blank as she sat up against the wheel of Beast, cuddling V as they both stared at the flames. Off to the side, Mitch was staring too, sitting on a fold-up chair.
And it stayed that way for a while. Comfortable silence, avoiding the huge thing hanging over all their heads.
But Panam couldn't help herself. She didn't know if she was getting bored or worried, but she shifted her weight every few minutes, random thoughts about what had to happen coming to her mind without warning. Plans to break into Arasaka, plans to escape, plans to survive the years afterwards, all half-baked.
All of a sudden, she couldn't keep silent any longer. The words burst from her like they were trying to escape.
"We can't do it ourselves," she declared out of the blue, throwing a rock into the fire, "Well, not with only Alt like last time. No way we walk away from it." V nodded beside her, though his eyes never left the fire.
Mitch moved on his seat, leaning forward on his legs and looking at the two of them
"But can we even pull together the right people?" he asked, "Things are sorta different this time. You heard what Silverhand said, the cure isn't simply plugging into a network. We actually gotta wait around a while."
He tossed an empty beer bottle in the fire. "Sure, the Waterfront will have a lot more toys we can steal, but we won't have a convenient tunnel to take all of it out of the city. We'll have every badge and corpo in the way."
Panam opened her mouth to speak, but found she had no words. It seemed like an impossible ask.
V moved from Panam, stood up and stretched, before pulling his jacket closer around himself. It was getting cold despite the fire.
"We're going to need anyone we can get," he sighed, "Whoever will pull some weight."
"Risky," Mitch said, "If we bring anyone, it means we won't be able to trust everyone. All it would take would be one person to tip off Arasaka to the plan, and we're screwed."
"So we compartmentalise," Panam shrugged, "Keep the full plan from anyone who doesn't need to know. Real question is who do we think will sign up. We should probably start with people who we actually know."
Mitch smiled, looking up quickly. "Well, the other nations all owe us favours," he said, "We can get clans from the Snake Nation and the others to join us, they're just north of the border or hanging around here, and they all need a payday. Ex-Bakkers are still a bit wild for most of the Snakes, we can start there."
"What about the Meta?" Panam asked, "If we need transport, they're the people to ask. They still claim to be nomads, if we can get them to pitch in then our entry and exit problems are solved."
"Long shot, but they'll at least keep quiet about us asking," Mitch said, "Assuming we don't get them, we'll need a way past the Militech border guards. We'll probably need it even if the Meta do sign up, it'll just be easier if we pull that off."
V cleared his throat. "Leave Militech to me," he said, "I've got contacts."
Surprised to hear that, Panam looked at him, brow raised.
"Who do you know at Militech?" she asked, "Didn't think Arasaka folks would be too friendly with them?"
"Well, I saved the lives of two of their people," V replied, kicking the dirt a little, "One before we did the Konpeki heist, the other you already know about. Another during the street races I did for the eddies with Claire Russell. Stout and Sampson. Stout's the Senior Operations manager for Night City, and Sampson ranks highly in the border forces administration, so all we need is one of them."
Panam chewed the inside of her cheek a little, wondering why he seemed reluctant to talk about these people. She reminded herself to ask him later in private.
Mitch whistled a long note, clearly impressed. "Well look at Mr Fancy Pants corporat," he smirked, "Almost forgot you made it to the city racing finals though. You and Claire made our guys look like they drive in slow motion during the Badlands race."
"One more reason to love him," Panam smiled, "I'm guessing Militech would be happy to help us deal another blow to Arasaka too, right?"
"Hopefully," V said, "But inside Night City, I've racked up a lot more contacts than that. Saved Brick's ass from his own Maelstrom crew, got the Valentino boss Gustavo Orta out of the city before his 6th Street girl's father killed him, and speaking of 6th Street, I out-shot the lot of them in a contest and won their respect. If we need muscle, I can get it somewhere."
Panam's jaw almost dropped. "You want to bring the city gangs into this?" she asked, "That's insane, V."
The ex-corpo looked back in the fire, pensive.
"We're going to need mayhem, Panam, fuckin' bedlam," he replied, "We're going to have to set the whole city on fire and make it look like Arasaka's fault. It's going to require firepower."
Panam shuddered a little, V's words sounding more like Silverhand's just now. All it would take to complete that picture would be a rant on how mayhem should only be the beginning, about how revolution had to happen. Not on her watch. Revolutions ate their children.
"And what's to stop the gangoons from shooting us when our back is turned?" Mitch asked.
"Mutual self-interest," V replied, "We offer them part of the take, and if they pull it off with us, they get the street cred for doing it too. Rep is everything in Night City."
"Not everyone is in a corpo mindset, V," Panam said, hardly believing her ears, "They don't weigh risks and benefits like you do. The gangs will say no, and will probably kill us for asking. Especially when they hear you're bringing others into the play."
"I'm sure at least one of the gangs will try," V conceded, "But I think we've got a real good chance at least two of them signing up. There's a lot of shit they'd want to take in those waterfront warehouses."
Mitch took a swig of water from a bottle, as if to wash that the whole idea from his mouth. "Forget about the gangs I say," Mitch said, "What about your other friends? Judy, that cop guy... hell, what about Rogue and the Afterlife mercs?"
V paused, thinking for a second with his eyes raised to the sky. An expression he had adopted since he came out into the desert, where he could see the stars.
"Judy isn't a soldier, but maybe she'll look at a few BDs, to get some intel," he mused, "Could use another netrunner or two, got a few who owe me. Sandra Dorsett, Bugbear, Wakako's guy..."
He paused for a second, thinking over something. "River, the cop guy, is definitely not someone we want to even tell about this though. He's not up for mayhem, he's likely to rat us out to his cop buddies if we try and rope him into it."
Mitch shook his head. "Doesn't sound like much of a friend," he remarked.
"Everyone has their principles," V replied, "River's wouldn't let him just stand by as we started a war in the city. Besides, his sister's husband was an Aldecaldo and wasn't exactly good to her. That might be the bigger problem."
"It's Kutcher's ex-wife," Panam added, for Mitch's benefit, "You know, girl down at the south city trailer park who he didn't want to join the life? I'm barely old enough to remember those arguments, that I do is proof they were pretty bad."
Generally, the family tried to bring in anyone who had kids with a member, but Kutcher refused to allow it, no matter how much Saul or his predecessors argued. Saul had caved and just let the matter be... which is not something Panam would have done. The memory stirred a little anger in her, but not too much. Saul was new to the throne when the decision had been made, and he needed unity first and foremost.
Mitch grimaced, glancing away. "Kutcher..." he said, "Always was good in a fight, never backed down, but..."
"But he was always a damn creep," said Panam, kicking the bad memories down, "Drunk too."
V cleared his throat, not catching anyone's eye. He seemed to have gotten the wrong impression about Kutcher and Panam. Another thing to deal with later.
"I know that sort of thing has gotta happen to every clan," he said, "But either way, it hasn't given River a good impression of the Aldecaldos. He can't be trusted with the mission even if we are on good terms."
No objections there.
"What about Rogue, the Queen Bitch of the Afterlife?" Panam asked, "And Claire, if she's not too busy."
That comment set off stormclouds on loverboy's brow.
"Claire is gato and all," V said slowly, "But I want to keep her out of it."
Panam blinked, rendered speechless by that statement.
"You're the one who said we're going to need anyone we can get," Mitch responded, "Besides, she is Afterlife too, she's not afraid to get shot at."
"Took the words right out of my mouth," Panam added, crossing her arms.
"It's not her fight," V disagreed, "She just wants to live her life, remember her husband. Wouldn't want to push someone like that who's not in the game to do this."
"V, don't do that," Panam snapped, "Don't make decisions for other people. Let her decide."
"I'm trying to keep the civvie bodycount as low as possible," V said back, "Claire isn't Rogue."
Panam got up and paced a few yards around the fire, her jaw firmly shut, without thinking about it.
"Rogue isn't gonna sign up and you know it," she retorted, putting her hands on her hips, "If you're going to ask her, ask Claire too. Hell, you were talking about asking some borged up Maelstrom psycho not three minutes ago. They sure as shit don't care about casualties."
V breathed out sharply, something he did when he didn't want to fight but was finding it hard. It always tempted Panam to laugh. Of course, she had her own tell for that scenario and he knew it too.
"Alright, I'll ask her," he conceded, "But I'm going to be clear as crystal that the whole idea is gonna get her killed. If she wants to be a gonk, then I'll wash my hands of it."
Panam narrowed her eyes at him. "I knew you would see reason."
V snorted, before suppressing the chuckle, but not fast enough.
Panam guffawed in triumph. "How are we going to contact the folks in Night City?" she asked, "Calling them up has gotta be a bad idea, right?"
"Arasaka or NetWatch won't be able to listen in," V said, "But they would be able to know that we've called outside my usual schedule, and as you both know, I stick to my schedule."
His insistence on time-keeping was annoying sometimes, Panam thought, but it sure as shit let him get a lot done in a day. Between teaching kids sword skills, tuning cyberdecks and hacks, tinkering with guns and cars, reading like it was drinking, and being with Panam herself, it seems he packed in everything he could.
Of course he did, he had thought he was dying. Wasting a single minute would've been crazy.
"So you keep reminding us," Mitch said flatly, "Living with you is like living with my old drill sergeant, sometimes. Up at six in the morning, if you please." Mitch was exaggerating, the man was often up early working on machines anyway, but he still had a point.
V flashed a smile and his middle finger. "We need plausible deniability, just enough doubt that we're not gonna do anything stupid," he continued, "If we try and keep it covert or distant, Arasaka will know something is up. "
Which left an open question. "So what?" Panam said, "How do we get in contact with Rogue and the others if we don't call them?"
"Lemme guess," Mitch interrupted, "Some dead drop messages, or a courier Arasaka doesn't know. Old school spy shit, low-tech, untraceable." His love of some particular old movies was shining through.
"Actually, I was thinking of going myself," V replied, "Half of the people we need to talk to won't agree to sign up over a call anyway."
Panam and Mitch exchanged looks. He must have gone crazy.
"They'll arrest you on sight," Mitch said, "MaxTac will jump you like a lizard jumping a cockroach."
"They'll arrest me if I slink into town, trying to avoid attention," V said, "Or if I go in looking like I expect a fight. Suspicious that way, especially if the family arrives in California at around the same time. They'll know I aim to do some harm to someone, and then..."
He motioned his fist being caught by his palm, like it was jan-ken-pon.
"But, remember what Johnny said; we're famous now. If I act like the bigshot I supposedly am, go back without the family and brushing shoulders with just the right people, on the other hand..."
This time, his fist scuttled by his palm, as he whistled.
"They won't be able to touch us without every media and screamsheet reporting it," Panam said, completing the line of thought, "We'll even be able to visit everyone, because it'll just look like a visit."
"Exactly," V nodded, "'cept I have to go without you, at least at first. Panam, you gotta sort out the support of the other clans, you're the only person who can. Can't wait for you to do it, the longer we wait, the longer Arasaka will have to discover the whole thing."
"Hold on just a fucking minute!" Panam said, her voice rising, "You must be fucking crazy if you think I'm about to let you go back to NC alone!"
Where 'Saka ninjas would be waiting for their chance.
"Didn't say I'd go back alone," V replied, hands held up, "Just that you know the nomads better, I know my contacts better, and we need them at the same time. There's no getting around it."
"I'll go with you," Mitch said to V, trying for compromise. To hell with that.
"No, I'll go with him," Panam insisted, "And he'll wait until we've got the other nations on board."
"I agree with V, he can't be seen trying to convince them," Mitch said, "Hell, even if he stayed in camp out of sight, Arasaka is gonna notice. We need a distraction to divert their attention and resources, V going back to NC in a blaze of glory is exactly the sort of thing that'll work."
Heat flashing to her face, Panam couldn't deny that point, even though her entire being wanted to. She turned from the fire, hanging her head.
"Unbelievable," she muttered.
"Hey, hey, it's alright," V said, slipping his arms around her waist from behind, "I was able to get around the city even after kidnapping Hanako Arasaka, and after the Konpeki heist too. I won't lie and say it's not dangerous, but it's nothing I haven't handled before. Nothing we haven't handled."
Panam couldn't contain herself. There was no stopping it... there was only bargaining. She turned around, peeling his hands off her back, and poked her forefinger right into his chest.
"You better stay alive until I arrive," she declared, "Or I will haunt your ass. You better pray there isn't an afterlife or a soul prison where I can find you, because I will make your immortal existence fucking hell for putting me through it."
"I think I can manage," V smiled, again drawing her in with his arms, eyes glazed over as he tried to kiss her. Panam shoved him away, playfully rather than angrily.
"So it's settled," Mitch said, "I'll go with V."
Shaking her finger, Panam rounded on him. "You can't," he stated, "The panzer needs servicing and upgrading for this job, and the family will need a leader while I visit the other nations." And while I am with V in Night City after that is done, she thought.
"So who does he bring?" Mitch asked, "All of us can hold our own in a fight, but aside from you Panam, not too many have the right instincts for city life."
"I suppose giving me a half dozen of our heavy hitters would look suspicious too," V added, "More than one or two, and it isn't just a visit to anyone watching."
They needed someone with experience, someone who wasn't flashy but was damn deadly too. Someone who wouldn't mind being the lone gunman in a lawless city. Someone who could take care of themselves if the worst happened...
"Cassidy," Panam said quickly, "He's the quickest shot we have, plus he's done deals in NC loads of times."
"Cassidy is pretty subtle too," V agreed, "Except for the hat."
"The hat is practically boring compared to what some people wear in Night City," Panam smirked.
"It isn't exactly fashionable though," V pointed out, "Not that I've seen what is fashionable, it changes month to month."
"Does it matter?" Panam asked.
V shrugged, moving to grab another beer, until he thought better of it and instead leaned against Beast. The truck didn't seem to mind.
"Okay, so Cassidy goes with you to Night City," Mitch said, pulling up a bottle of beer from the box to his side, "How to get there? Can't just drive up to the border and cross it. Until you contact your Militech friends, they're going to be on high alert."
"We wait for a sandstorm and buck it across the border in Beast," V replied, slapping the hood, "We still have contacts in the border force who can tell us the patrol schedule. I'll be driving, Cassidy on the gun to deal with the drones."
There seemed to be a certain flaw in the plan.
"And from there, where would you go?" Panam said, "It isn't like you can drive freely around the city, not until you're under the wing of someone who can pull a lot of media eyes. And you'll need to drive to get to one of them, so maybe rolling in such a recognisable and heavily armed vehicle is not the best idea."
V smiled widely.
"We'll only be going to Judy's cabin by the lake, at least at first," he said, "Still got the key. We can make it that far, no problem."
A spike of jealousy not felt in months shot through Panam. She had not been pleased when told that Judy and V had what sounded like a very romantic time diving together, though V had assured her that Judy was very much not into guys. On top of that, V had almost died at the bottom of the lake, just to add insult to misery.
V must've known, because he looked at her with soft eyes, pleading to relax. It worked, and she did. A little.
"What's at the cabin?" Mitch asked, oblivious to anything else going on between them, "Someone famous secretly go there too?"
"No, what I'll do is call Delamain from the net connection there," said V, as he began gesticulating, "The original guy might have gone beyond the Blackwall, but his kid is still kicking around, running that taxi service... and I heard he's running an AV service now too. Delamain works anonymously, so me and Cassidy can catch a flight to where we need to go."
Panam had to admit, that was a good plan. Anyone looking to interfere would need anti-aircraft missiles to get to V that way, or the best luck in the world to catch him before he hopped on the AV. She wandered on over.
"Nice thinking," she said, "But you know who you have to go see first, right?"
He inspected the dirt at his feet for a second, thoughts to himself, before raising his head again.
"Mayor Peralez owes me a favour," V replied, "He's got the political connections to keep me safe, and he turned our assault on Arasaka into a big win for him. Said it was proof the corps couldn't be trusted, managed to get a few reforms through on the back of it. Not enough, but still."
Mitch cleared his throat, meaningfully.
"This is the same Mayor Peralez who's being mind-controlled by an AI, right?" he asked, "Doesn't sound like the best candidate, pun not intended."
The man had a point, Panam thought, and it certainly wasn't who she had in mind.
V tilted his head. "It was Johnny who thought it was AIs," he said, "We did see Mr Blue Eyes nearby at the time, the big political fixer, though Johnny was oddly silent on that."
The whole issue with the mayor being brainwashed was a good reason to exclude him from the plan, but it wasn't the biggest one.
"It isn't the Mayor you need to go see," Panam said firmly, leaning on Beast beside V, "You're still thinking too much like a corpo, like you're below these people. That isn't gonna set the city on fire, if that's what you say you need."
She took his hand, and squeezed it.
"Way I see it, you gotta get those assholes to come to you, while also convincing them you're not up to anything crazy. If you go straight to the most powerful politician you know, they'll think you're asking for some sort of favour, a power-play against them."
V looked at her, eyebrow cocked. She had surprised him with that analysis, and in a good way.
"You're probably right, but what choice do I have?" he asked, "Only other options I can see are Militech or Rogue, but they have the same problem as going to the Mayor, only worse. 'Saka will definitely know I'm there to fuck them again if I start things off meeting Stout and Sampson."
Panam sighed theatrically. "If Johnny is to be believed, you're already a celebrity," she said, "If that's true, then you have one more person. Plus this person has the security to keep you safe enough, some things you can use while you're there, and the media pull to get every tongue wagging."
She kissed him on the cheek, as the poor guy seemed ever more confused.
"Panam, who the hell are you talking about?" V asked, "I don't have any corporate or merc contacts like that."
"Yes, you do," Panam said, "Kerry Eurodyne."
