見ぬが花。
Minu ga hana.
The dust and dirt had been moistened by morning acid rain and then cooked to a hard pan over the soft soil underneath, producing a deep crunch wherever the car's tires carried its weight. It was evening again and the sun had already been obscured in the west by the megabuildings of Night City, leaving the artificial glow of the sky-commercials as a far less graceful replacement.
Takemura drove his car down the first 'avenue' of the trailer park slowly, as his headlights picked out kids in dirty clothes, playing with VR sets, shooting multi-coloured plastic guns at each other.
He was briefly brought back to his own childhood briefly, of the gutters of Chiba-11. Such VR headsets would've been high class items in his day, things to be taken from the weak and sold or enjoying by the strong. In some parts of Night City, they still were.
They might have been poor, but the children of this trailer park were half-way to nomads; free from the constraints of people living just a half kilometre away.
The running virtual battle paid him no mind, giving him a wide berth as the game had been programmed to do with any vehicle, but the adults were another story. Seeing a high performance vehicle was not strange to them, but his Mizutani was high-priced and not equipped for the long journeys that the likes of the Aldecaldos or Wraiths would have used such a car for.
A rich man had come to the little trailer park, an interloper.
Normally, any time someone from Arasaka would have had to come to a place like this, it would've been with a suitable disguise or with heavy-handed force; someone other than a Japanese driving a van, or a column of armoured cars carrying soldiers.
Takemura had convinced Michiko-sama of another way in this instance.
He came to the section of the park he was looking for and turning onto the lane, passing by a wreck of a black car, with no doors, being driven by a ten year old girl. He slowed as he noticed this, afraid she would crash into him, but it was a fleeting sight. He continued to the end of a cul-de-sac below a water tower, in among the trailers.
Turning off the car, Takemura observed the trailers he had come to visit. The lights were on in both, but he couldn't see any figures inside; they were in other rooms or sitting where the windows did not allow a view of them.
Ignoring the peeking eyes from the other trailers, Takemura stepped out of his air conditioned car into the dry heat of the open air, loosened his top shirt button and walked right into the lot where his target lived.
He navigated the red-and-blue plastic chairs and the white 'Kynsha King' sun umbrellas, both coated in a dusting of mustard yellow dirt, and climbed the small steps onto the porch of the primary residence. At that moment, the door opened, letting yellow light pour outside.
A woman stepped out in front of him, looking to block his way inside; the sister. Takemura would've taken her for a nomad, as she had a sort of driving jacket on over a t-shirt which was a common fashion trend among those communities, but he knew she had lived at this address for at least fifteen years.
"Who the hell are you?" the woman asked, looking him over, "What do you want?"
"Goro Takemura," he replied, giving her a respectful bow, "I wish to discuss business with River Ward. This is his home, is it not?"
The woman chewed her lip, her brow creasing as she thought about it. This was as good as admitting Mr. Ward did live there, but Takemura already knew with certainty anyway. A surveillance pass by a drone had confirmed it the day before... the day V had stepped into Militech HQ with the whole city watching.
"Yeah, this is where he lives," she said at last, before raising her voice, "River! You've got biz out front!"
There was a commotion from inside the other trailer, the sound of doors being opened and closed, before the man Takemura had come to talk to appeared.
River Ward was well built, tall, and had an upgraded optic in one eye, a new one. It seemed the private sector had not disagreed with him, he must have been making a bit more money than his days in the NCPD. The data available to Arasaka on this was not solid, his income wasn't fully reported. His capabilities must have been formidable to afford a new model optical.
The man approached rapidly across the space between the trailers, and jumped past the steps to join them.
"Go on inside Joss," River said, "I'll handle this."
The woman looked at him sternly, but not in a way that seemed to reject the presence of the newcomer; if anything, Goro thought she was warning him not to fail. The situation in the family was as Arasaka Counter-Intelligence had stated.
He bowed once more. "Goro Takemura, Arasaka Corporation," he said, "We have a mutual acquaintance."
River narrowed his one natural eye, before he gave a nod. "You helped V," he said, "But I thought you had left Arasaka, that they wanted you dead. Last I heard, you were an Afterlife merc."
It was Goro's turn to be surprised. This man was very well informed. It boded well for his plan.
"Michiko-sama brought in new reforms and I was welcomed back," Goro replied, "It was a great relief. I was an effective mercenary and Rogue-san was an excellent patron, but I was ill-at-ease."
"What brings you here exactly?" River said, with more hostility, "If you're looking for V, he hasn't been here and I wouldn't tell you where he was if I knew. He hasn't called or messaged since returning." Clearly the man was offended about that last failure on V's part.
Goro spread his hands in front of him. "As you can see, I have come alone and unarmed," he said, "Is there somewhere we can discuss business more comfortably?" Meaning, more privately.
River frowned, glancing at the other trailer for a moment before responding.
"We can talk out here," he said, "Plenty of eyeballs on us."
It was indeed the case. The number of onlookers had increased, and children had gathered near the car, their VR headsets pushed onto the top of their heads as they watched. The man was implying he did not trust an Arasaka man where no one could see them. This was wise, particularly for an associate of V.
Not able to decline without failing in his purpose, Goro inclined his head and gestured to the tables and chairs. River led him to the nearest table and sat down in one of the red plastic chairs at once, while Goro rounded the table to sit opposite.
The blue chair there was filthy, and Goro was wearing white. Not wishing to get dirty, he sighed and took out a handkerchief, beginning to wipe down the surfaces, getting rid of the dust. It came off easily enough, thankfully.
"Don't like to get dirty, I see," River remarked, observing closely.
"Yes, where it is possible to avoid it," Goro replied, "This is not unrelated to the reason I have come to you this evening." Satisfied he had cleaned the seat enough, he sat down.
"This is about V, isn't it?" River said.
"I'm afraid so," Goro replied, "Can I presume that you have seen yesterday's news?"
River nodded. "V walked into Militech," he said, "There's speculation about what he wanted from them, but it seems he got it."
Goro had watched V walk in from the head office window himself, with Michiko-sama beside him. It had changed everything.
"I am sure you can see our concern," Goro said, "Perhaps the most famous living mercenary and Militech, both hated enemies of Arasaka, cooperating."
"I can see that," River agreed, "What I can't see is how it's my problem. Doesn't matter how much money you offer me, what you people did to V was criminal and I won't help you with this 'concern'."
"Yes, what happened to V was terrible," Goro agreed, without a shred of a lie in his heart, "But he was placed in that position through the act of trying to rob Yorinobu Arasaka... Or has he not told you that?"
River remained silent, neither confirming nor denying his knowledge of how Johnny Silverhand came to exist inside V's head. Stubborn.
"He proceeded to commit many more criminal acts against us," Goro continued, "Despite my offer to address the matter of the Relic chip through a mediation with Hanako-sama. It most certainly would have allowed in a peaceful resolution. He chose violence instead."
River's facade cracked slightly, as he turned his head away. This was information he had not known before. Goro felt satisfaction, knowing that this was a good man. A man of order.
"Do you know how many people V and the Aldecaldos killed in his assault on Arasaka Tower?" Goro pressed on, "One hundred and twenty three, excluding the seventy eight Militech personnel that were killed to access the tunnelling machine."
River turned his head back. "I knew it was many," he said, "But I did not know it was that many."
Goro looked up at the sky. "He will kill far more if he is not stopped," he said, "With Militech's assistance secure, it is likely that he is planning yet another attack on us. On the previous occasion that Militech allied with the top mercenaries of this place, the result was the Night City Holocaust. Twelve thousand died."
Returning his gaze to River, he found the man leaning over onto his knees, looking at the ground.
"You're saying you think V is capable of that?" he asked, "That he would commit mass murder to punish you for what you've done to him?"
"With complete certainty," Goro replied, "To understand why I am certain, I must explain how the chip in his head worked somewhat... it was designed to write the personality of the human contained on it to a new body. This means that V now has the thoughts and memories of Johnny Silverhand affecting his actions, even now after the engram has been removed."
"And Johnny Silverhand definitely would commit mass murder to get back at Arasaka," River concluded, leaning back in his seat again, "V's inhibitions against murder are lowered."
"And V did not have a great inhibition against murder to begin with," Goro agreed, "He worked for Arasaka, after all. We have his psychological reports, and he worked in a department with a reputation for bloodshed, though that section does not create it needlessly. Silverhand's engram has removed any notion of proportionality."
River rubbed the back of his neck, biting his lip in the exact same way as his sister had. "Look, I believe you and I'm regretting getting involved with the man," he said, "But what V did for me... I can't turn around and kill him. He helped my family when no one else would."
Goro placed his hands on his knees and leaned forward. "I have not proposed that you kill him," he replied, "And when you say V helped your family, I presume you are referring to your nephew, yes?"
River glanced at the second trailer again. "Yeah, Randy," he said, "Do you know what was done to him?"
"I have read the police report," Goro said, "You say you cannot help us because of what V has done for your family, but Arasaka can offer your family much more."
"You could pay me a billion eddies and I wouldn't kill V," River said, "Or help him be killed either."
"There are some things money cannot buy, not without influence in addition to it," Goro countered, "Arasaka Medical has the best doctors in the world. If you assist me with my request, we can assure your nephew has the greatest chance possible to be fully rehabilitated."
River shook his head. "I don't believe you," he said, "You want him dead."
"We want him neutralised," Goro countered, "With his return to Night City, his fame has reached new heights. Simply killing him would create a martyr. His legacy and ideology must be addressed, he must be shown to be the criminal that he is. If that happens, then he can be dealt with by the proper judicial authorities."
Goro knew that River trusted in the courts. As an ex-detective of some note, he would've had the contacts to kill the man who had defiled and abused his nephew, yet River had not done so. The chance of dealing with V non-lethally was not large, but it was enough that River could keep his conscience clear enough to do the job.
"And that's what you want assistance with?" River asked, "Digging up the dirt on him?"
"That is one task," Goro replied, "The other, more important task is to find out what he is planning. To prevent yet another large loss of life, perhaps even another corporate war. With Militech involved, it is possible this is a prelude to an attempt to remove Arasaka from the North American continent."
Goro was convinced of that last fact. Militech's ambitions were never to be underestimated.
River exhaled a breath heavily, bringing a hand to his face. "No killing?" he asked.
"Whether or not we kill V will depend on how effective you are," Goro replied, "The more information we have, the more precise our response can be. If we do not learn about his plans soon, we will be forced to take very drastic action."
River nodded. "Okay, I'll sign up," he said, "But I want Randy's treatment to begin immediately, and I want to be paid, enough so we don't have to worry about treatment costs ever again. Half now, half after this is all over."
He named a number in the low eight figure range. For the risks he was taking, it was very reasonable. V was not someone you crossed for less, if you were intelligent. But it was still nothing to Arasaka.
"Of course," Goro said, "But I must warn you... taking payment in advance will tie you to us. You will not be permitted to breach the contract. The consequences of that would be overwhelming."
"Yeah, I know," River said sadly, "That's why I'm doing it. Randy... his life is basically hell because of what that freak did to him and it wasn't great before that. His brother and sister don't understand why we can't get the right help. My sister is happy that he's alive, but worries about his future every day. I have to take this chance, and I can't allow myself any room to change my mind."
Goro recognised that instinct to protect well.
"Arasaka is a company run by a family," he said, "We understand such things. Michiko-sama in particular knows that terrible things must be done, to preserve the family dignity and honour."
Which was why she was plotting to avenge her grandfather and aunt... and why Goro was deeply grateful for the chance to assist her.
River shook himself, like he had just been asleep. "What now?" he said, "Do I sign right this moment or?"
"A representative will send you the necessary documents," Goro said, standing up, "We will also provide you with any intelligence you need, within reason. If I wanted a place to start, I would recommend watching V's friends in Watson... the ripperdoc and the spiritualist. Misty's Esoterica was the name of the store."
"Thanks for the tip," River said, "And I report to you?"
"You do, regularly please. Good luck, Mr. Ward."
And with that, Goro walked back to his car, and wondered how Viktor was doing a bit, considering the man had saved his life. It was a strange thing, to be saved by a man that V trusted implicitly and now to be on the hunt for V.
He got back in the driving seat and called Zaburo-san as he reversed out of the lane, the onlookers slinking away as he drove. The phone rang four times before Michiko's bodyguard picked up.
"Takemura-san, I was expecting to hear from you earlier," Zaburo grumbled, "Michiko-sama is in a meeting with NetWatch again. I hope you have good news."
What an asshole, as Rogue would've said.
"I have recruited the private investigator," Takemura replied curtly, "He sold himself cheaply, out of desperation, and will take payment in advance. More information about V's movements and plans should flow."
"That is indeed good news," Zaburo said, "And what of the other matter?"
"I am meeting with the Tyger Claws bosses at the Clouds club tomorrow evening," Takemura replied, "It seems they are very displeased with V."
