I've done a lot in my life. I served Arasaka for 13 years by butchering anyone that opposed them, I've made and lost friends who gave me memories I wouldn't trade anything for. Not to mention how a rockerboy who makes my emotional baggage look like a simple pocket to him. My body count is in the hundreds, possibly in the thousands, and I've made a fortune being a merc, at least enough to where I could've escaped Night City as soon as I had Johnny out of my head.

None of that taught me how to properly dig through the trash of an alien in a space station. Staying on the run while being constantly vigilant for a week can really push you to your limits. I've gotten by with water through breaking into homes and using their sinks to fill an old flask, though I've been careful with which places. I tried some liquor here and suffered an allergic reaction. Something to do with different biologies maybe? Still, my main sustenance was some old noodles that tasted awful, rationing them lasted me a week.

The rumbling of my stomach brought me back to reality, and I spotted something in the trash. Pulling it out, looked to be some sort of rotting meat. With your stereotypical flies, and oozing liquids. However, I didn't have food in 3 days, so I scarfed it down. It makes kibble somehow taste less like shit, but food's food. Johnny's greening face appeared to show he had different thoughts on the matter.

"V, you're… you're eating that? What the fuck are you thinking?!"

'Hey, I haven't eaten in days.'

"I seriously doubt that could be considered food anymore."

I slightly chuckle, but my mind has always had a bit of it on the gonk, with it surprisingly not being about a way to piss him off. The relic is still in my head, but it hasn't done anything for a whole week. Usually, I wouldn't have been able to go a day without it tearing my brain apart, but the damn thing's been quiet. It's been giving me the creeps.

The trash can's contents appeared mostly useless now, though I spotted loose wires. I snatch them, mostly because I've been interested in the tech here. The stuff most certainly isn't compatible with my shit, but I want to understand how it ticks. Mostly curious about whether Daemons work on those hologram wrist things. Maybe fry them or something like that.

My stomach growling reminds me of just how hungry I am, but it churns more, an… Oh, I really messed up eating the meat, didn't I? Deep breaths, keep it in there. It might be bad for me later on, but my mind is focused on the now. I shakily pull out a cigarette and light up, beginning to smoke. I know it's bad for me, but I've been clean for a day and I got enough in my pack to last me until my hair turns gray.

My nerves begin to calm down, with my hand no longer shaking. This is what the doctor ordered if he was from Saburo's times. God, I'd kill for some food right now. Along with someplace to stay. Maybe even constant fresh water. You know what, I hate this fucking place. I'm now really wishing I wasn't able to plug into Mikoshi in time, because then I wouldn't be in this hellhole.

I see on my right is some sort of kid, I guess. The poor thing looks half-starved, even more than I am. It's one of those blue ladies. This place is filled with kids like her. I couldn't stand it in Night City, and seeing it here just makes my blood boil. I offer her my flask, where she takes a few hearty gulps from it. She hands back to me while saying something in alien before walking away.

I had already made peace with the homeless folks here. I mostly leave them alone and they do the same. I know the look in their eyes, the kind of putting trust in something that never gave two shits for them. Not that my thoughts matter, considering I'm a foreigner in a strange new place. The most I'm able to do is simply silently sit by them for a few minutes. Just making sure they don't give up on life.

God, I needed that smoke. I feel less shit, and my nerves have calmed down. I usually smoke more, but I've limited myself to three cigs a day, and will most likely cut that down to two. I've always had an itch for nicotine, most likely from the womb considering my ma would've put Johnny to shame for smoking. I remember the apartment smelling of nothing but smoke, and when Ellen tossed her out of the window after being berated for the final time.

I wonder how my sisters are doing? I mean, I fought so hard to leave the corpo shitshow of Austin only to end up in Night City. The last bit of news I remember was that Pa kicked it from a stroke, though he was more than likely poisoned by his latest output to take some of his money. While he was a bit of an ass, he did his best raising me and the twins on his own. The old bastard earned my respect, at least.

I begin to finish my smoke when I spot four of those dinosaur people and one of the blue gals enter the alley. I just want to smoke in peace, but it appears that I can't have that. My eyes drift towards the blue and black uniforms that poke out of them. Badges, fucking fantastic. I see even on a separate system, galaxy, universe, or whatever they're still wearing obnoxious outfits that call attention to themselves. Though calling them that while wearing Johnny's shit makes me a hypocrite.

"Uh oh, someone's in trouble!" If Johnny wasn't a fucking construct and friend, I'd snap his fucking neck right now. The cocky smile of his tells exactly why he ended up in my head. Overconfidence and lack of ability to shut that fucking mouth.

They look at the wrist holograms while approaching me, with the lizard people having guns unfold and ready. They're after me. My hand slowly lowers itself to my holster, ready to grab the Malorian spit lead should anything happen. I take one last drag off my cig before stomping it out. They wanna dance? I'm more than willing to.

The blue lady seems to notice the tension, and sticks her hands up, with the dinosaurs lowering their guns. I wasn't buying this, but I suppose my hand could be resting on a flashbang instead of anything lethal. She opens her mouth and begins to speak absolute nonsense. My translator can't even make sense of it, spitting out something to do with a lemon. I'm pretty sure the badges here would try to talk to me about a sour yellow fruit.

"Can't understand a word you're saying, miss." I know she can't understand me either, but this should be enough for someone with a brain to pick up on. Thankfully, she understood, considering she began to speak to one of the dinosaurs instead of me. Is calling them dinosaurs racist? Speciesist? Eh, I really don't care. I'm a merc, not a philosopher.

When she looked at me, her hands began to edge towards me. I slightly begin to back up, out of fear more than anything She could be poisonous for all I know. I back up more, but her arms keep extending. What the hell is she doing? Giving me a hug? No, there's something else going on, and I don't care what they think they're doing. My thumb moves on the flash and activates it.

They all notice the sound of it beginning to work, with me throwing it right underneath the blue lady while jumping over the dinosaurs. The flash goes off, with their screams beginning to echo out of the alley. I use this opportunity to get the hell out of there. I leap over a small block and land near a small spot.

I curl up into a corner while the aliens are still screaming, most likely searching for me. I've spent 11 days in this hellhole, and throughout it all, I haven't made a single bit of progress. The closest thing I've done to that is making somewhat of a truce with the homeless here and pissing off badges.

Johnny sits down next to me with a loud sigh. "Listen, V, I know I've been joking around but this is something else."

'You finally gonna be serious?" I ask, half-jokingly. I mean, come on. Him being serious. That hasn't happened since Mikoshi.

"I'm not just an asshole anymore, V. You've been a good friend, better than I ever should have. It's just that you can't keep on the run forever. Listen to me very carefully."

He glitches over me, staring down at me. I look up at him, though I'm nervous. There isn't a bit of humor left in him right now, and that makes me nervous. The look Johnny gave made shivers go through my spine, and my hairs were beginning to stick up. I swallow and nod for him to continue.

"You need to find a way to get out of this place, no matter what."