Only managed to sleep a bit.

Dreams and nightmares knocked me back into the living and waking world. Frankly it was alright. The content of my mind seemed to be nothing pleasant as of late.

Not a fucking surprise I suppose.

So I found my way to the top of my building complex. I lived in Vista Del Rey, a regular hotspot for most of the City.

Typically it's dreary and depressed, but every now and then the heavens open up with a torrent of water.

It's a heavy rain that has blanketed Night City. Most people are off the streets, trying to avoid getting soaked by the downpour.

It's fun to look at them all and imagine what kind of people they are. I wonder who the psycho's are, mixed between the crowd as they would be. Anyone you pass on the street could be a stone cold killer, fucked in the head, or owe a substantial amount of money to someone else.

Everyone's got problems, and thinking about the people beneath me, walking the streets below the building I'm sat on, I'm envious of their issues.

Because what the fuck am I supposed to do with this? The Arasaka Relic chip I've had lodged in my brain until a few minutes ago.

The chip is dying, even as I study it. Keeping it in my head is the only way to emulate its cold storage bio-requirements, so taking it out to study it comes at the cost of its life expectancy.

So much fuss over something I could snap with my fingers and a smidge of effort.

Arasaka was on a rampage now that their lord and all mighty Saburo Arasaka was dead. It's unbelievable that it happened, but seeing as I was right there, in Yorinobu Arasaka's apartment when it happened….

I still couldn't understand that, how the son had killed the father with his bare hands.

In our attempt to delta the fuck out… Well Jackie caught the rough end of the bargain.

"Smasher" I hiss.

Whatever the chip is, it might turn out to be a good bargaining tool, so without another thought I plug it into my head.

Not a moment later I'm receiving a call.

"Wakako"

The old Japanese lady, Westbrook's most esteemed fixer, Wakako Okada took a deep and elegant pull of her cigarette.

She was the spider of her district, casting a very large web which had its supports backed up the Tyger claws. A lot of influence in her neck of the woods.

"V, how are you?"

I snorted, thinking 'shit, but thanks for asking'

"Good. Sold my soul to the Afterlife"

"So I've heard" she snapped off in Japanese for a minute before shifting her attention back to me.

"This isn't a courtesy call V, someone has been asking around for you" she tapped out the cigarette, "this person wants a meet"

Well that's not a good sign.

"Arasaka?"

"Most certainly"

Shit.

"But unlike others I've dealt with. Polite gentleman, but hurried and worn. He has hounds at his heels, like someone else I know of" she finished pointedly.

This was another headache to add to my growing receipt.

Never could tell with some suits. Wakako has good eyes for people, regardless of what they are, but a Corpo assassin with a brain would know to go to fixers first.

If I was a priority target for Arasaka, they'd have a lot of capital they could spend to hunt me down.

The chip only made things worse, but as long as I had it, they didn't. Maybe I could talk to someone about putting it in storage somewhere? Either ransom it or keep it as a bargaining chip.

Heh.

Bargaining chip.

"V?"

"Sorry Wakako, zoned out for a second. Give me his deets and I'll play it from there" I shook my head briefly and stepped away from the edge of the building.

Wakako's cigarette was making me crave one.

"Of course V, sending them now" her eyes glowed blue, "take care"

She hung up before I could even say goodbye.

"Some good work kid" Rogue poured out a glass for V, who accepted and downed it in one.

She transferred him his pay, before loading herself up with another Silverhand special.

"If not a bit messy in Heywood"

He was seated across from her, as he seemed to prefer. Now Rogue had no problem with him placing himself next to her, she figured she could take him down if needed, but his detached attitude was thorny.

Same outfit as before. He always preferred a high collar jacket and tank, black baggy pants, and a decent pair of combat boots.

Sombre color choices, but it added to his imposing atmosphere.

"I did the job, nothing more"

Rogue shifted herself to face him fully, nearly offended by that statement.

"Give yourself some credit. You ran with an exceptional timeline, within hours of one another. I expected you to take the whole week, let alone a day"

Not to mention how he blew up nearly an entire building just to nab one target. Boys will always be fond of their toys, and V seemed to have a soft spot for explosives.

He didn't react besides placing the empty glass back on the table.

"So I've gotten an interesting request from out of the blue"

"To meet?"

Rogue's eyes narrowed, "yeah, a meet. He wants to talk to you personally"

V chewed on her words for a second, digesting them as he thought to himself. Rogue knew he was wrapped up in some shit. I mean, Saburo Arasaka dies the same day V and his Choomba shoot up Konpeki?

Doesn't seem like a simple coincidence.

And just because the news said Saburo died of poison didn't mean jack shit. Corpo's can manipulate nearly anything the people of Night City are aware of. Just because the news says it, doesn't mean it's true.

"Corp?"

Now that's an interesting response. V wanted to know if Rogue's caller was a corp.

"Far from it. The Padre wants to talk to you. In fact I was thinking about giving him a call, asking him about you"

Rogue said that intentionally, trying to get some kind of a response out of him.

And respond he did.

V sighed, his slouch uncoiling as he lent back into the Afterlife's plush seat. A hand came up to rub at his eyes. For a moment, he actually seemed quite relaxed.

Then he sat forward, his focus entirely directed towards Rogue.

"Specifically, what did he say?"

"He told me to he wanted to talk about the 'ramifications of your actions' and if you truly wished to 'go down this path'"

V frowned, but remained silent. His gaze had drifted off, unfocused but pointed down at the table between them.

"His words, not mine" Rogue tilted her head, studying her Merc, "didn't think he'd be so pissed about whatever you pulled in Konpeki"

He returned to reality in a heartbeat.

Looking at his boss, "any jobs for me?"

Rogue smirked. He had neither confirmed nor denied what Sebastian Ibarra wanted to talk to him about. She didn't know enough yet, but V definitely had deep ties to certain people on the streets.

If things got out of hand she'd contact Padre personally.

In the meantime…

Rogue opened her little job box, filled with shards of various kinds. She knew exactly which ones she was going to give him.

"I hope three isn't too much of a workload" she smirked, passing them to him.

"What kind?"

"Two are simple recovery and demo work" Rogue pointed to the one on the far left, "that one is going to be a bit more difficult"

"How so?"

"NCPD captain someone needs zeroed"

V blinked, looked down at the shard and then back to Rogue, "is there a timeline?"

"Our client says, and I quote, 'as soon as humanly possible'"

V nodded and stood. He was just going to go back to work. No hesitation, no concern, no worry.

Nothing.

He wasn't even considering the ramifications of taking down a Badge, let alone a captain.

"Just like that?" Rogue couldn't help but ask.

"Just like that" V replied, "see you later boss" and he walked away.

Honestly, she admired his work ethic.

Captain Thaddius Carmichael of the Night City Police department was having a spectacularly good day.

Not only had Internal Investigations turned a blind eye to his little side biz in Westbrook, but his lawyer had managed to turn up with more evidence against his ex-wife.

The custody battle was going to be a piece of cake.

Today was just any other day, besides all the positive improvements of his life. Firstly he'd managed to clear nearly all the paperwork that had come across his desk.

Thank god he wouldn't have to eat into his break time.

The boys from the lower sixth were headed out to Tom's for a quick bite.

Retiring from his desk for a moment, the middle aged man stood, testing his newly implanted elbow joint. While not a full chrome conversion, it amazed him how he could barely notice the artificial replacement for the limb he'd lost in one hell of a gun battle.

He'd never been fond of unnecessary modification, but he was glad to have lived long enough to appreciate the leaps most of the large Corporations had made in the last 12 years.

Even Biotechnica had some new superb and cutting edge implants. Some people even said they were a few years away from 'growing' enhanced organs.

How crazy was that? Biotech that operated at the same level as chrome….

There was a knock at his door, stealing him away from his musings.

"Come in," the Captain acknowledged, burning his face in a report to appear busier than he really was.

Fortunately for him, it was one of the regular beat cops.

"Hey Captain" a junior officer, Macmillan, popped through his doorway, a bemused expression on his face.

"What is Mac?"

The Mexico born officer shrugged his shoulders, "not sure what to make of it, but it's addressed to you"

Thaddius blinked, but looked up.

"What is addressed to me?"

"Uh… well…" the Rookie was at a loss for words.

The captain sighed, "just spit it out kid"

At the heavy command of his superior officer, Jose Macmillan tried his best.

"What's left of a vehicle sir, attached with it was a note addressed to you from a love heart"

"..." Thaddius held his tongue for a moment, "a love heart?"

"Yeah" Jose rubbed the back of his head, "its signed with a big empty red heart"

Thaddius's brain finally clicked.

Claire. She was sending him a threat. This could be good evidence for the case. He jumped to his feet immediately.

"Show me"

Jose nodded, "of course sir. It's in the back impound lot. River was the one who brought it in" the boy hesitated.

"For god's sake kid, just tell me"

Jose grumbled, "River says we should run it through tests first, try and find out who sent it"

Thaddius waved his hand, "I already know who sent it, so trust me, there is nothing to be concerned about"

"Sir?"

Thaddius stepped toward the door, heading for the elevator as Jose followed behind. He quickly marched through the NCPD bullpen and main hallway, finding the nearest lift to the impound lot.

Thaddius did have a few questions for the still following Junior officer.

"Where were these vehicle remains found?"

"A block from the Station sir"

"Hmmm" Thaddius rubbed his chin as the floor number began to decrease, "just outside of the Stations camera net"

Jose nodded, "River said the same thing. It's part of the reason he's worried about this. He said it could be carrying a bomb for all we know?"

"A bomb? Ha!" Thaddius snorted, "like she'd send me a bomb"

Jose looked confused, but didn't ask anything else. It would be a bit inappropriate to pry into your bosses private life without any permission.

And they had reached the ground floor.

The elevator doors opened up to reveal the large lot behind the station, reserved for all the impounded and towed vehicles. It was an open space, actually outside the building and separated by a double layered fence.

Said fence was heavily electrified.

Didn't want anyone getting in and nabbing a bunch of vehicles for free after all.

Each of them held until bail, or eventual destruction. A lot of them had owners who were dead, and so would be processed by the appropriate sections and individuals.

Either a company or next of kin.

Thaddius stepped out of the lift, looking around the space for the wrecked car and its ominous note.

For Jose, it happened in an instant.

He never saw it coming.

Thaddius's head exploded. The deep crack of the rifle that had delivered the fatal shot boomed out a second later. Another noise of firing followed a heartbeat after.

The corpse remained standing for a moment, before toppling over.

Jose hadn't even left the lift when the Captain died.

And he was left standing there, staring down at the blood that leaked from Thaddius's neck stump.

"H-h-holy shit"

Just as I pulled away from my scope, I could see the younger officer start yelling for help and back up.

From 675 meters out, it wasn't a bad shot at all. Fortunately I'd calculated the distance and wind correctly, and managed to land the shot on target.

The Captain's world would have just gone blank, he'd have no time to ponder or think about dying.

One shot to the head, as efficient as ever.

This also meant no pesky medics that could potentially save him from a 50 caliber slug.

Getting up from my prone position, I began to disassemble my rifle.

The decoy had triggered automatically, meaning any QRF teams would be drawn to that initial site.

Earlier, before sending the car and message supposedly from the Captain's ex-wife, I'd rigged a site with an overview of the impound lot.

The set up was a rifle similar to my own with a blank to fire.

Just a nice little decoy to waste their time. Their analysts would take at least a day or two before they would discover that rifle had fired a blank.

So by the time they'd realised the killing shot had actually been taken from my current location, I'd be long gone and a safe few days ahead of their investigative force.

There wouldn't be even a sliver of evidence for them to examine.

I would probably have to ditch this rifle somewhere though.

An unfortunate sacrifice, but it would avoid any chance of the police ever tracking me down.

First job done.

A quick stop by the harbor to dispose of the rifle, and it was off to blow something up.

….I like demo work.

It's fun.

"Oi! Matty! Heard the news?"

The big fellow, Matty, looked up from his Defender Model light machine gun. David was a complete gonk, and one hell of a gossiper, but Matty liked shooting the shit.

It kept life a bit easier between all the hustling and working people.

He was sat comfortably in what could equate to the break room. If drug labs had designated break rooms that is. It was a large glass cubical with a few tables and chairs, and one vending machine in the corner. Ash trays, card packs, empty wrappers and half drunk beer cans littered both of the long tables that dominated the room.

Matty had cleared a space to polish and fine tune his gun.

Out the glass windows, if he looked up from his weapon he could clearly see the industrial floor.

All around them, Sixer workers slaved away to bring together some god awful product.

Matty couldn't give less of a shit 'bout what it was, only that it was his Job to keep the space safe.

David was working security, just like him, and was here to take his own break.

"Are we getting a raise?"

David laughed loudly, "I fucking wish you dumb gonk"

Matty flipped him off, racking a round into the weapon.

"Somebody offed Dexter Deshawn"

Matty raised an eyebrow, "about fucking time. Fucker cost us a lot during the gang wars"

"No shit" David agreed, but continued speaking, "that's not the thing though, cuz' word has it the same dude who zeroed his black ass also killed some important Valentino Puta"

"New contract killer?"

"That's what Mike's saying" David, "dude seems pretty professional as well. No brazen shoot outs, just a few rounds to the head"

"Then let's hope we don't give him a reason to pay us a visit" Matty stood, hefting his gun and moving past David.

"El Segador"

Matty stopped to look at his co-worker.

"Huh?"

David took a seat and began pulling out his break time snacks, "The Reaper. It's what they're calling this guy"

Matty grunted, "how do you know it's a guy?"

"Oh please, like a bitch could-"

The lights in the room flickered briefly.

"Uh…"

A fairly sizable explosion ripped through the room, vaporizing David instantly, and flinging the remains of Matty through the glass window.

"Overkill" I muttered, as the blast rocked the street from nearly a block away.

Such criticisms were appropriate of course. I didn't necessarily have to kill anyone at all, considering the job was just the removal of the factory, rather than those that worked in it.

But the instructions for the job had clearly asked me to level the place.

There was no way in hell I'd be able to lead everyone outside the building before politely asking them if I could destroy it in peace.

So a few heavy charges at support beams on the outside, followed by smart bombs guided in with the help of camera access had been the immediate solution.

Evenly dispersed throughout two floors was enough to get the entire structure to collapse in on itself.

And from a safe distance I appreciated my work.

Nicely done, but one of the most expensive things I'd done in the last week.

Rogue probably wasn't going to compensate me for this.

But it did quickly remove another job from my list, leaving me with just one left.

The Recovery job.

Goro Takemura, the loyal blade of Saburo Arasaka, was having a rough day.

Tracking his lead and last living piece of evidence against Yorinobu Arasaka, was proving to be harder than he thought. Night City seemed easy to maintain and handle when beside Saburo-sama's side, but now that he walked upon its streets, powerless, he was just another 'suit' to the criminals of this world.

The tenacity of his former colleagues, also seemed far more annoying than he would have imagined.

He'd already had to switch apartments twice due to unwelcome visits.

The only success he'd had in tracking down the Thief, was an elegant spider of the underbelly, Wakako Okada.

She had informed him that this Thief, this 'V', had received his communication details, and would contact him as soon as he was capable.

Having next to nothing to do, and still being hunted for his knowledge of the truth, Goro had found himself trapped in a small and dirty apartment.

Every stench of this wretched place assaulted his nose, the bed was dirty, he couldn't-

'I am better than this' Takemura thought to himself, taking a deep breath and steeled his mind with calm thoughts.

It was uncomfortable and horrible, both location and situation he found himself in, but he'd been through worse.

He would expose the truth and avenge Arasaka-sama, revealing the patricide committed by a deranged son.

Just as he was about to meditate, a caller icon appeared in his vision.

A lone tree, placed upon a hill top.

Goro accepted it.

"Greetings, I am-"

"What do you want?"
A rude thief, it seemed. But Goro dropped the pleasantries as well, realising they were pointless for this conversation.

"To make a deal. You saw what happened in Konpeki Plaza, correct?"

The thief was quiet, considering something for a long moment.

Eventually he spoke, not answering Takamura's question.

"... you're the old man's guard, aren't you"

A shrewd Thief. It was not just luck that allowed him to keep his life.

"Yes" Goro replied, "Saburo-sama was my responsibility. Now his murderer wishes to silence us both"

Takemura wouldn't make a request yet, he wished to see what the Thief would do. How would this criminal approach the situation?

It gave the man some sense of his hopeful allies' personality.

V replied shortly.

"If this is some kind of trick to get me out in the open, I can promise you this won't end well for you" the image changed from the lone tree to the face of the Thief.

Goro was taken aback for a moment, but nodded, "it is no trick. For now, our interests are mutually aligned"

V's eyes narrowed.

"Tom's diner, tomorrow, breakfast" and just before the image blinked off and the call ended, "come alone"

Takemura considered the conversation and any additional meanings the mercenary's word could have.

He would be at the diner earlier, scouting it out for potential exits. He'd also double check his weapons.

Takemura would go to the meet alone, but that doesn't mean he's stupid.

Rogue couldn't believe the balls on this kid. The news channel was displaying the gruesome murder of NCPD Captain Thaddius Carmichael, something that had happened earlier that day.

The media was eating it up.

Apparently, as soon as the man was declared dead, a bucket of investigations and allegations appeared against him, with Internal Investigations pointing the finger at a number of cops.

While probably not the direct actions of V, he had indeed gunned down a cop in broad daylight, and gotten away with it.

They had nothing on him.

The news was only referring to a "shooting", rather than a long ranged execution. Rogue could tell by the fact the poor bastard was missing his head that either V had walked up with a shotgun, or dumped a high calibre round from a few buildings away.

She would put money on the latter.

"Such a messy sight" a weathered voice cut in, "a horrid place, this city has become"

Rogue turned her head only slightly, "it's always been a horrid place..."

She studied the old man which stood before her.

"...Padre"

"Rogue" the man nodded to the seat beside her, "might I sit?"

The queen of the Afterlife nodded in affirmation. Her Heywood competition, Sebastian Ibarra, slowly and carefully placed himself down, respectfully waving away the drink that Rogue offered.

"Suit yourself" she rolled her eyes, dowing the glass she'd pushed his way.

"And this is how you spend your time? Drinking and watching the news?"

The barb was innocent, so instead of cursing at him Rogue grinned widely, "not so bad when you think about it"

Ibarra merely frowned, looking to the news report.

"I take it your not here to criticise how I run things"

Padre shook his head.

"You're here about V"

The older fixer turned to her, his face bordering contemplative yet hostile. Rogue was surprised by the vitriol mixed with thought.

Padre had old eyes. He'd seen many things Rogue's nightmares couldn't even come up with.

"Mind yourself Rogue. V is a… special case" he idly twisted a ring on his finger with his thumb.

"He was a violent spirit, a soul touched with Fury"

"Was?" Rogue snorted, "seems to be the case still"

Padre just shook his head softly, "with the death of Jackie Welles, I would think his hatred has returned"

Rogue said nothing, waiting for the old man to continue. This was the most she'd learnt about her new Merc, and she wasn't going to let an opportunity like this slide by butting in.

Padre considered a thought or two, before speaking again.

"A word of advice Rogue… if it can be avoided, I would recommend not asking him to kill anyone" Padre looked to the screen, then back to Rogue, "it brings out the worst in him"

Rogue couldn't help but glance toward her Job Box. She'd recently gotten four new hit requests and recommendation notices from pleased clients.

They had all requested the specific operator she had used recently.

"I'll keep that in mind"

Padre only nodded, "I hope you have told him to come see me"

"I have"

"Good. Then I shall not bother you any longer" Padre stood, waving to his guard that had accompanied him into the Afterlife.

Rogue couldn't help but speak up, before the old man walked away.

"Padre?"

He partially turned to face her.

"Hmm?"

"Why is he… the way he is?"

Padre smiled softly, a look of fondness in his eyes. "He was an orphan, a drifter from Pacifica… his past was his own, and he shared it with exactly one person"

Jackie Welles.

The ex-Valentino had taken the mystery of V to his grave.

"I see. Thank you Padre"

The old man nodded politely.

"Take care of yourself, Rogue"

He walked away, sharing quiet words with his bodyguard.

Rogue was going to make a few calls.

My GPS was on the damn fritz, so it took me a bit of a longer cruise to find my destination.

Out on the cusp of nowhere in Ranch Coronado, Santo Domingo, in a sketchy half empty car park, I was supposed to find my contact.

Rogue's shard had been specific in mentioning this would be a two person recovery operation.

She'd told this individual to wait for me at this parking lot, whereupon we'd plan to recover what was lost, mainly a bunch of Rogue's supplies.

There was something about a truck as well, but I knew my job priority.

Pulling into the parking lot, I find my contact bent over the open hood of her car, her nose in the guts of the vehicle.

I pull in a few meters from her, coming to a gentle stop before exiting my vehicle.

Her muffled voice echoes from within the car, "You the guy?" she sounds both tired, hurried, and frustrated in one.

The guy? Not sure about that, so I go with the best answer possible.

"Rogue sent me"

"No shit" the woman pulls out from the hood, slamming it closed before facing me with crossed arms, "so?"

Introductions.

I hate working with other people. Except for-

In an instant, that train of thought is crushed.

"V"

She blinks at the name I give her, but doesn't ask any questions.

"Panam"

I nod at her, "are you ready?"

Panam frowns, "ready. What the hell do you mean, ready?"

My answer comes simply and with a bit of frustration.

"To retrieve the merchandise and your vehicle. We're wasting precious time here"

She mockingly rolls her eyes at this, a cocky smirk coming onto her face, "oh of course. My apologies, Mr V-"

"Just V"

"-, if I'm wasting your time, but I don't think it's a very good idea to plow headfirst into a problem without at least coming up with a plan"

I feel my eyebrow twitch.

Are all nomad contractors this annoying?

As calmly as I can manage I explain to her, "I have a plan"

Calling the perceived bluff, Panam is quick to ask, "really? Shoot then, what have you come up with"

The air quotes were childish and unnecessary, but I would tell her anyway.

"I've contacted the buyer and informed him and his party of a revised time and location for pickup. In the meantime we go to Rocky Ridge, wait for your former partner to arrive where we will then retrieve your vehicle and the supplies before delivering them to the SunSet Motel"

Panam just stared at me blankly.

For nearly a minute we remained in silence.

I broke it.

"Would you like to use my vehicle?"

That snapped her out of it.

"No" she moved to the driver's seat of her battered car, which I was beginning to realise was a temporary situation.

I walk to the passenger side and get in.

Panam is staring at me as I put on my seatbelt.

"I don't think I like you very much," she bluntly states, starting the engine.

I nod.

'The feeling is mutual' I think to myself.

Not my most professional thought, but this irksome woman was probably going to make this job far more difficult then it needed to be.