Chapter 5: Plan B

David walked out of Lizzie's Bar. He had the datashard with the BD on it. All he had to do now was go and find Hildegarde, take the shard back to Jericho for him to decipher and then tell Dexter DeShawn that he was successful and get sent into Konpeki Tower along with the other mercs. A solo mission perhaps? Jericho probably had other ideas.

"That was fast.", Hildegarde noted from just behind David. She was leaning against the wall near the small carpark. "Seems like you've got some street cred here. I like that. It makes things go a lot smoother."

"Got the shard, but I didn't slot it yet. Wanted to have Lucy take a look at it and make sure it's not bugged."

"You're a lot smarter than I pegged you for. I think this is going to work out. For once, I finally have a partner that's actually competent and not a bleeding cockwomble."

"A what?"

"Nevermind. British slang, you'll get used to it. Now then, let's go back to that little Garage and see what Jericho's been up to."

David climbed back onto the motorcycle and placed his hands in their appropriate positions once again. He held on tightly as Hildegarde took the bike out of the carpark at mach speeds and sent them hurtling down the highway back towards Aldo's Garage. This had been an absolute milk-run of a gig. The actual heist might be a bit harder, but he felt that he'd made a good first impression on what Jericho called 'The Best Solo on the Planet'.

Meanwhile, back in Aldo's Garage... Rebecca was facing off against Jericho in combat. Unfortunately for the much smaller girl, Jericho was way too fast, nuclear-powered and on an entirely different level than her. Her gunshots appeared to phase through his body doing no damage. He dodged around her as she flailed around attempting to hit him. She turned her head, looking in every direction for the cyborg and was violently drawn to his position as he rammed one of his composite blades through her chest. He pulled the blade free as she tried to fight back weakly, but he just raised both of his arms, smashed her into the ground and broke her spine. Her vision went red and then glitched out into nothingness.

"Well, you'll need some improvement, but that was significantly better than your companions.", Jericho noted. Rebecca just ripped the VR headset off her head and tossed it towards Lucy.

"Wasn't fucking fair anyways! I'd have had better luck trying to seduce Adam Smasher than fight you in combat!"

"How'd it go? You lasted a lot longer than Lucy and I in that VR sim.", Falco noted.

"He broke me in half.", Rebecca pouted. "I fuckin' had him though, if he wasn't so fast I'd have made some good hits on him!"

"Meh, went better than me. Got my head ripped off in the first five seconds. Lucy got quickhacked and fried to a crisp after trying to ICE him. Goddamn that VR shit hurts, where'd you find that anyways?"

"A company based in England manufactured it. It is a BD-based gaming console. It is the most realistic experience to actual combat that you'll find on the market.", Jericho mused.

"Wouldn't be called Monarch, would it?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

"Just a lucky guess."

Jericho and Falco's conversation was abruptly ended as Hildegarde and David arrived back at the Garage. The front door sliding open. The one-eyed outlaw stepped into the Garage first and handed a large ice-cream cone to Asher before she turned to address Jericho.

"Well, he's competent, smart, held his own and didn't Holo-Call me to ask ridiculous questions. I'd say you picked a winner, Jericho.", Hildegarde noted regarding David's performance in their little mission.

"I knew I could rely on you, David. You've done well. You deserve an upgrade. I have a very special Chipset for you. It will enhance your existing abilities to their maximum allowed by your hardware itself. It also has a convenient AI companion to protect you from unwanted intrusions and it will also keep Cyber-Psychosis from ever affecting you.", Jericho applauded.

David was listening, but something odd and terrifying pulled his attention. Kiwi's rotting corpse was propped up on the sofa and appeared to be staring at him and also smoking a cigarette. The bullet holes in her head leaking brainmatter. He was likely going crazy again.

"K-Kiwi?", David stuttered. "Wha- She- Hildegarde killed her... Why do you have her corpse in here? Am I seeing this?"

Jericho just shot Asher a dirty look. "Asher, drop the Veil. Don't mess with our newest teammate."

David's vision blurred for a moment before the terrible visage of a zombie Kiwi faded and was replaced with regular Kiwi, albeit with several bruises on her face and head. She just stared at him, the cigarette burning slightly lower.

"What the hell?", David exclaimed. Kiwi was not a zombie, but she was also still alive somehow.

"I had to make an example. However, Kiwi is far too useful to simply dispose of. Asher has a Hack known as Veil, it will override your optical implants and make them see what we want you to see. After you have your new Chipset installed, you will no longer be able to see these illusions.", Jericho noted.

"I shot her with rubber bullets.", Hildegarde added.

"The rubber bullets still left bruises.", Kiwi sighed.

"Okay. I'm not going crazy, then.", David sighed.

"Not yet, kid.", Falco mocked.

"Please take a seat, I will install your new Chipset. You can go over the details of your mission with me while I do so.", Jericho noted motioning to the makeshift Ripperdoc chair.

David just took a seat. "It went well, DeShawn hired other mercs though. I couldn't get more than a few deets from him. Regardless, I got a BD of the inside of Konpeki Plaza's penthouse. I have the shard right here.", Asher just walked over and nabbed the shard from him. "I made a deal with DeShawn to work with him and his other mercs. I'll give him the BD and the info and he'll get me inside Konpeki's penthouse to grab the biochip... About that, the contact, Evelyn Parker wants the chip too. Also made me an offer for it."

"Hm. Many things in motion at the same time. How intriguing. As far as the BD, Asher will take a look at it and plot our entry and exit. As far as the biochip, when I am done with it, it can go to whoever you choose. If Parker wants it, then she will have it. I do not trust Dexter DeShawn to keep up his end of the bargain.", Jericho noted as he pulled David's faceplates off.

"So what's the- AH! plan then? Send me in along with DeShawn's team?", David asked.

"That's a good way to start. You are actually rather well-known around Night City and will be our inside man."

"Sounds like a plan. What else- OW! What else will you be doing?"

"Well, Scotch, the netrunners and myself will be your airborne support. We will be inside the Toward Stars and monitoring your position remotely. Asher will take care of security and cover our tracks. Falco and Rebecca will be our Ground Crew with your escape if everything goes to plan. You will exit through the parking structure and into your modified Ragnar which we will pick up with the Toward Stars' cargo grappler arms. Hildegarde will enter the Plaza separately and be available if things go awry. She will intercept you and assist in your escape if security forces are alerted. She will also subdue the other mercenaries that DeShawn has hired.", Jericho explained going into detail of their heist.

"Killing or no killing?", Hildegarde asked again.

"Do not kill the other mercenaries unless they pose a threat. Keep a low profile. Defensive only."

"Fun."

"Asher do you have the details?"

"I do. Konpeki's got a lot of cyber defenses. I'll be busy most of the day disarming them. If Kiwi and Lucy wanna help me out, I'll share my ice-cream cones with them! Plan looks solid, but we have a timeframe to work with. Yorinobu will be out of the penthouse for a few hours and it looks like there's a 'special guest' also arriving later that night. We should be in and out as quickly as possible."

"Then the plan is set. David, please give the BD to Dexter DeShawn and await our contact. We will contact you via secure Holo-call.", Jericho concluded as he buttoned up David's latest upgrade. David just sat up and got off the chair. He felt rather good, lighter for some reason and his vision was clearer.

"Got it. I'm running solo for a bit."

"You are. Hildegarde has vouched for you. I trust your expertise, David."

"Preem. See you soon."

David began to leave the Garage. He had to call DeShawn and tell him he had the datashard. He also had to find some way of getting over there without drawing too much attention to himself. Lucy stopped him just as he was leaving.

"Be careful, David. Jericho's crew... They're not like Maine's. They're hardcore mercenaries and they've been doing this for longer than we have. They're dangerous and deadly. I pulled some info from the Net on them. Hildegarde's got a nickname in Europe, she's called The Genocider. She's killed thousands. Scotch is a Panzerboy, dishonorably discharged from the Royal Army. Asher is a refugee and might be the only sane member of the group, but she's got hacks I've never seen before. She might be the reincarnation of Rache Bartmoss. Jericho... There's nothing on him. Just a few coincidental records of nuclear-based attacks across China and Asia, a failed heist in Prague... We're in way over our heads."

"I had a feeling, Lucy. But this is our big chance. We can really do anything."

"I know... But Jericho upgraded us, all of us. He didn't do it for free, David. He wants something from us. I just don't know what."

"Well, he trusts me and Hildegarde seems like a decent person despite her nickname. Let's just do this. If it gets bad, then we'll cut and run. Fly to the moon if we have to."

"Just... Just be careful, okay? I don't want to lose you."

"I made it this far. Only way to go is up."

David gave Lucy a kiss and headed off on his way before being intercepted by Hildegarde, who was standing outside the Garage and staring in his direction.

"You'll need some wheels. Feel free to use the bike. It's not mine, so I honestly don't care what you do to it.", the outlaw mused as she tossed the keys to David.

David just stared at her before giving her a thumbs-up and jumping onto the Arch Nazare. He revved the engine a few times before he sped off down the highway, making sure he was away from Aldo's before he called Dexter DeShawn with the good news. His Holo rang a few times before the Fixer answered.

"Hope you have good news, kid.", DeShawn mused, his image taking a drag from an expensive looking cigar.

"Got the BD and got the security deets. If you've got a 'runner half their worth this will be a cakewalk."

"Knew I could count on you, kid. Future Legend of the Afterlife. Speaking of which, meet there as soon as possible. Come alone."

The holo-call ended and a set of GPS coordinates appeared on David's HUD. He really didn't need them though, since he and his old crew had frequented the Afterlife on an almost weekly basis. He just dropped a gear and disappeared into the night.

The Afterlife Bar was crowded tonight. The parking lot was nearly full and David had to park the bike on the sidewalk. He looked around for Dexter DeShawn but didn't see the larger man anywhere outside. The Fixer was probably inside along with the other mercs he'd hired. David just walked inside, the bouncer giving him a nod and letting him pass. As usual, the normal loud music was playing and other Edgerunners were gathered at tables discussing their own latest gigs and plans. He continued to walk through the bar, taking note of Rogue sitting in her usual position discussing daily business with her own trusted mercs. She gave him a wink and then turned back to business. He spied a large hispanic man and a smaller and leaner man sitting together and discussing what their drinks would be named after their 'heist'. The shorter man wore an older Nomad jacket and had short brown hair. The large hispanic man wore gangoon armoring and had black hair tied into a topknot. David assumed that these were the other mercs DeShawn had hired and took a seat at the bar a few chairs down from them, listening into their conversation.

"...And a splash of love!", the hispanic man noted.

"A splash of love? Jackie, you're losing it."

"Eyy, V! After this, we'll be in the Big Leagues! Just kinda wish my bike didn't get stolen... She was a real sweet ride, V. Wish you could've seen it. Had custom pipes and everything.", Jackie noted. David idly thought about Hildegarde's motorcycle and realized that she'd likely stolen it from this gonk.

"Hey. These yours?", David asked Jackie as he held out the keys to the motorcycle that was probably his.

"Madre de Dios! Where did you find those?", Jackie exclaimed.

"Outside. Found the bike hidden behind a dumpster. Think someone might've klepped your ride and then hidden it.", David noted. Jackie just grabbed the keys out of his hand.

"Thanks, kid. Name's Jackie Welles! Soon to be a legendary merc."

"David Martinez. I'm pretty legendary myself, choom."

Jackie just nudged his partner, V in the side. "Eyy, that's the Sandevistan from Santo. He's been making moves around NC."

"Preem. Pleasure to meet you, David. I'm V.", said V.

"Good to meet both of you. You chooms got a gig lined up?"

"Yeah, a fuckin' big one! We're with Dex-"

"Shutup, Jackie!", V cried.

"Dexter DeShawn? I'm meeting him here too. Guess you're the other gonks he hired as well.", David noted. V just stared at him slackjawed.

"Ehh... Speaking of which, we should probably get moving. He's waiting for us anyways.", Jackie mused before getting up from the barstool and heading towards one of the secure rooms at the back of the bar. Dexter DeShawn's bodyguard promptly led the trio towards a soundproof booth. David entered first followed by the other two. DeShawn just looked up and greeted them.

"Ah there's my crew. Well, you got the intel?", David just handed the shard over to Dexter DeShawn. "Well played. Now then... Let's get down to business...

Dexter DeShawn began to go over their plans. Fake names, David would become Emilio Estevez, an actor visiting Night City, Jackie and V would also be supporting actors alongside him. They'd get a room close to the penthouse while their own netrunner, T-Bug, got them past security. Once they were inside, then the real heist would begin. Get in, get the biochip and then get out. David idly thought about his double-cross and hoped that it worked out for these two new Edgerunners.

The next morning, the plan was in action. David and DeShawn's crew left and entered a Delamain Combat Cab, heading towards Konpeki Plaza. High above them, Jericho and his own crew along with David's began to make their own moves towards the Plaza. Falco, Rebecca and Hildegarde made their approach a little ways ahead of David to set up a perimeter. This was going good. For now.

David was zoning out. These two gonks were entirely too hopeful. It never ended this way and they trusted that fat sack of steaming shit, Dexter DeShawn, to hold up on his end of the bargain and not just flatline the two of them when they were done. He suddenly received a Holo.

"Hey, David! It's me Asher. Don't talk, just think. We're on a secure line. Anything we should know?", Asher shouted, blowing David's eardrums out.

"H-Hey, Asher. They've got a netrunner, might be harder to get into the subnet. We're just pulling up now, talk to you later."

David sighed and just got out of the cab. Through security, then check in, then up to their rooms to wait on security to be hacked, and then the biochip was theirs. Simple and straightforwards with a little bit of backstabbing in the process. He glanced around the lobby and spied Hildegarde walking around in a blonde wig, barely trying to hide her appearance. Shit was about to go down. He could feel it.

Back inside the Toward Stars, Asher relayed the information that David had provided.

"Davie says they've got a netrunner. I'll deep-dive here real quick and get in before they do. Kiwi and Lucy, go ahead and join in with me. Davie's going to need our help.", Asher noted.

"Don't call him 'Davie'.", Lucy chided. Asher just shrugged.

Lucy and Kiwi just joined in on the three-way Deep-Dive. Lucy wore a cooling suit that Jericho had provided since he didn't have an ice-bath ready for her. Kiwi didn't care and just jacked in. The subnet of Konpeki Plaza soon spread out in front of them. They were on the prowl from that netrunner DeShawn had hired as well as the Arasaka security that they'd encounter.

"Okay, gals. I'll look for the other runner. You two... Uhhm... Help David. I guess. Disable security?", Asher mused.

Kiwi just sighed, a long trail of binary code emanating from her mouth and signifying her frustration. Lucy was already gone, on David's trail nonetheless. Three netrunners. On the same team. Why the hell not.

The elevator ride to their room was largely uneventful. V and Jackie were hopeful and looking forwards to their first big break in the world of being an Edgerunner. David had done this before and just looked bored. In reality he was preparing to subdue them. The Sandevistan would do the trick. Just get them inside the room and knock them out. Eventually the elevator stopped and deposited them on their floor. Jackie led the way towards their room and flung the door open. V began to get their 'Flathead' bot ready for its task. A few moments passed before T-Bug contacted them. It would be a few hours before she was through security. She was running into problems for some reason and couldn't figure out why. There was more security in the subnet than there had been documented. They would have to find something to do in the meantime. David carefully planned his next few moves when their doorbell chimed. The three of them just stared at each-other in confusion. What? Jackie went to the door first, staring out of the peephole but not seeing anyone outside.

"Hello?", Jackie asked.

"Room service!", a British-accented voice announced. "I've brought your complimentary wet bar supplies."

"Hell yeah! Fuckin' free booze, chooms!", Jackie announced to the group.

Jackie excitedly flung the door open and was suddenly blindsided by a bone-crushing uppercut that sent him sailing through the air and onto the bed. He was knocked out cold. A plum-purple blur shot past David as a fist impacted into V's forehead also knocking the hapless wannabe merc into unconsciousness. David just stood there in shock.

"Well, now that that's taken care of, let's hope that Asher held up her end of the bargain.", Hildegarde noted as she tore off the terrible blonde wig. "Do you wanna have some fun?"

David shuddered slightly. He was already in a committed relationship with Lucy. "What kind of fun?"

"Help me undress these two gonks. You take the smaller one, I'll take the bigger one. Once they're stripped naked, let's pose these two plonkers in an embarrassing way on the bed. Make them spoon.", Hildegarde noted as she pulled a trashbag into the room and began to dump empty alcohol bottles all over the floor. "When they wake up, this will all just be a bad dream."

David shrugged. Why not? They had to wait for Asher's reassurance anyways. This would be funny and they would all laugh about this for hours when it was done.

Back in the subnet, Asher had found Dexter DeShawn's netrunner. It was a netrunner she was familiar with, T-Bug. Asher just floated over to her friend and greeted her in her usual way.

"Hi T-Bug! What're you doing here?"

"What the- Asher? Why are you in here?"

"Oh, just wanted to visit NC, ya'know smell the data..."

"That doesn't make any goddamned sense, Asher. You're up to something."

"Yeah... About that... Sorry, Bug. You know how this works..."

T-Bug's digital eyes just widened in realization on what was about to happen. She tried to prepare herself for it, but Asher's usage of JANUS overpowered her ICE. In an instant, Janus lashed out, a strangely multi-faced tentacled skull flew towards T-Bug and slammed into her like a runaway freight train. T-Bug was hurled backwards out of the subnet, an electrical charge coursing through her body in the real world and sending her directly into the fluffy clouds of unconsciousness.

"Cool beans."

David just stood back and admired his handiwork. V was being lovingly cuddled by Jackie, who was spooning him in the most incriminating pose. They were both naked and multiple bottles of booze were scattered all over the floor along with their clothing. Hildegarde just chuckled quietly in the corner. This brief moment of hilarity was interrupted by Asher again.

"Hey guys. I'm in. Security is down. Time to make your moves."

"You actually sound serious for once, Asher. Color me surprised.", Hildegarde noted.

"I had to fry my friend. She's probably not dead, but... You know."

"Well, here's to hoping for a... not fried friend."

Hildegarde just pulled David along with her towards the main elevator. They would have no problems getting to the penthouse. They would get in, get the biochip, and then leave. Easy peasy. The elevator ride was cramped and long. David sighed a breath of relief and thought about how this would end. Gloriously.

A few long moments later, the doors opened into the magnificent penthouse suite where Yorinobu Arasaka was staying. The place was empty. Hildegarde lifted her eyepatch for a brief second, a violet glow emanating from within her eye socket before she dropped the eyepatch back into place and headed for a concealed panel in the floor. David just stared at her in confusion.

"You have both eyes?"

"Yes, David. I have a very special gift from Jericho that allows me to see what cannot be seen. It's a little unnerving to some, so I keep it covered.", Hildegarde noted, lifting her eyepatch again and showing David an unblinking compound eye where a normal eyeball would be. It was slightly unnerving.

"That's pretty cool. You think I could get something like that someday?"

"Perhaps."

The panel on the floor was still locked and closed. Hildegarde paced around for a few seconds before another voice called over their secure line.

"It's Kiwi. Give me a minute and I'll have that panel open for you. Asher is busy keeping you hidden with her Veil. I'm not sure what Lucy is doing right now. She has security cam footage of two gonks spooning each-other."

"Oh good. You're actually useful. I'll have to talk to Jericho and see if we can't get you properly outfitted when we get back. That is if you don't die."

"Noted."

On cue, after about a minute the floor panel opened up and lifted a metallic case upwards. The biochip. Their prize. Hildegarde just reached down and grabbed it. The thermo-case it was in read 100%. She looked towards the exit to the AV landing pad and pulled David along with her. Time to get the hell out of here. As the two of them rounded the corner and approached the AV pad, the Toward Stars slowly descended towards them. Jericho stepped out of the sliding door and held out a hand.

"Toss me the case. We cannot land. There is another AV incoming and Asher's power core is running low. We will need to leave without you. Use the Ground Team for your exit strategy."

"Fuck me. Fine.", Hildegarde cursed as she hurled the thermo-case towards the cyborg, Jericho caught it deftly and then pulled back inside the aircraft. The Toward Stars slowly lifted back into the air and disappeared from sight.

"I suggest you leave post-haste. The AV that is approaching has Arasaka credentials on it. It may be someone from the corporation.", Jericho noted through their Holo.

Hildegarde just sighed and shoved David back down the stairs into the penthouse. They had gotten their prize, but now they had to escape the Plaza without being detected. Things weren't going quite according to plan, but it could be worse. It then got worse.

"Bad bad news. Yorinobu is back. He's headed up the elevator as we speak. The central pillar has a corridor inside it. I'll open the door. Get inside and hide.", Kiwi announced.

"Shit! We're fucked." David cursed. Hildegarde just pulled him aside and shoved him into the small corridor inside the central pillar.

The two hapless mercs were now shoved shoulder to tits inside the cramped space and it was getting hot inside since the corridor seemed to hold some network servers inside it. David wanted to move his arms out of the way, but Hildegarde's prominent bust was in his way and he really didn't want to do anything to upset The Genocider at the moment.

"I don't like our position any more than you do. Just keep quiet and don't move.", Hildegarde noted. David's right hand was firmly placed in her cleavage at the moment.

Sooner than later, the elevator dinged and Yorinobu Arasaka stepped out alongside his bodyguard, the one and only Adam Smasher. Adam Smasher was, for reasons only known to the David at the moment, in a cybernetic body designed to look exactly like Elvis Presley. The cyborg's oddly inhuman head grafted onto a spangly jump-suited body was strangely hilarious. A few more awkward moments later, Saburo Arasaka himself entered from the same entrance that Hildegarde and he had used just a few minutes ago. The old man of Arasaka himself. Shit had gone south seriously. If Saburo was here, then security was about to be up in arms.

"What the hell is going on here? Saburo Arasaka and an Elvis impersonator?", Hildegarde whined. She really didn't know.

"That's Adam Smasher.", David noted.

"Really? I expected something... more."

"Jericho said the same thing."

"Figures. I've never seen another 'borg quite like Jericho. Nor have I seen one that looks like Elvis Presley of all people."

David and Hildegarde promptly shut up. The outside conversation between Saburo and Yorinobu suddenly went south hard. The younger Arasaka lunging forwards and strangling the older one to death. Saburo Arasaka was dead. This couldn't have gone worse.

"What's going on in there? Security just locked us out. Lucy got kicked but she's alright.", Kiwi asked.

"Yorinobu just offed his father.", David noted in shock.

"Great. Get out of there. Plan B. Get to the parking garage and the Ground Team. Expect a fight. I'm logging off before I get fried.", Kiwi noted before her connection dropped. A few seconds later, she called via regular Holo-Call. "I'm out and safe. You two should do the same."

"We're trying.", David grunted.

As Yorinobu left the suite, Hildegarde pried the door to the central pillar open and exited it. David followed. They had to run and the elevator wasn't their main option at the moment. The stairway back upwards might be, but their netrunners were out of the picture right now. They were going to go out the loud way.

"The penthouse deck overlooks a skylight. Jump and brace yourself, it'll get us a few stories back down into the office complex. Hope you brought your iron.", Hildegarde noted before she jumped over the railing and crashed through the skylight. David swallowed hard and followed. So this was how it was going to end.

Back up in the sky, the Toward Stars flew onwards, still protected by Asher's Veil. The three-way Deep Dive ended and Lucy sat covered in sweat despite her cooling suit. David was alone and had to escape a now security laden Konpeki Plaza. They had the goods, but their teammates' lives were still in danger. She screamed internally at her inability to do nothing at the moment.

"Aye, this has gone sideways!", Scotch shouted from the pilot's seat.

"I am aware.", Jericho noted. "Take the netrunners and keep going according to plan. Look for the Ground Team and retrieve them. I am taking the nuclear option."

"Aye, Jericho. Just don't cause any collateral damage.", Scotch noted.

Jericho just shot the group of netrunners a look before he launched himself out of the AV, a set of glowing wing-like jets firing from his arms and shoulders as he activated his Icarus Landing and descended towards the ground level.

Falling through the skylight, David found himself in the middle of an office complex inside Konpeki Plaza. He caught himself and found himself surrounded by Arasaka and Konpeki guards. Sandevistan. Activating his trademark skill, he shot forwards faster than his opponents could react. Even with small arms, it was enough to take down most of the guards with a single shot to the head. He briefly used the arm-cannon that he'd gotten from Maine. A single large-caliber shot reduced the armored Arasaka soldiers to a pink mist. The sounds of what sounded like a laser-gun pulled his attention for a moment, Hildegarde's own firearms were some kinds of miniature railguns and fired violet bursts of energy-propelled bullets towards the remaining guards and office workers indiscriminately.

"Get over here! Elevator is this way!", Hildegarde roared.

David ran at Sandevistan-enhanced speeds alongside Hildegarde. The elevator was in sight and their escape was nigh. As he deactivated the Sandevistan, he felt no fatigue from using it. A bonus from the Chipset. Hildegarde slammed the down button and sent the elevator hurtling downwards. Although it didn't send them all the way to the parking garage, it got them back down to the ground level. Going through the front door was suicidal, so finding the staircase to the parking structure was key. Several corporate guards ran past them, ignoring them for the moment for some reason.

"Cyber-Psycho! In the lobby! He's killing us all!", a radio transmission alerted.

A Cyber-psycho? Here? Now? David was confused and worried. Max-Tac would be deployed and then he and Hildegarde would die horrible deaths as they were both reduced to Eezybeef in a hail of gunfire.

"Oho... Jericho's here. Time to get the fuck outta here while we have the chance.", Hildegarde noted.

"What? Jericho?"

"Jericho's the nuclear option to any combat situations. Literally. It's... controlled cyber-psychosis. You'll have to see it for yourself and I think you will.", Hildegarde mused with a grin.

David remembered when he first met Jericho. Just blood and dust in the sand. An entire convoy destroyed in seconds. He just followed behind Hildegarde as she ran towards the staircase that would lead them towards their awaiting Ground Team and ultimately the exit. Jericho could handle himself.

As the duo ran towards the staircase, David spied a bluish blur darting around the lobby. Time seemed to slow for him as his Sandevistan activated. It was Jericho and he was ripping and tearing through the corporate guards, bots, and anything that currently stood in their way. A set of nano-ceramic blades extended from Jericho's forearms and sliced cleanly through a pair of scared corpo guards, bisecting them at the waist. Another blur, this time a single closed fist punched through the chest of an armored Arasaka guard, sending entrails splattering against the walls. Jericho was absolutely covered in gore up to his elbows. The cyborg stared at the incoming onslaught of Max-Tac and walked over a pile of mangled corpses.

"Was that my fault? Did I do that?", Jericho asked nobody in particular, almost mimicking Maine's mental breakdown. "Yes. I did."

Another blur and Jericho shot forwards, punching clean through the first Max-Tac officer like he was made of paper. The cyborg jumped into the air and was on top of the Max-Tac officers. His hands reached out towards their spider-like eyewear and gripped their face instead, pulling it free from their skull. Radiation spiked as David's HUD chirped a warning at him. The nuclear option. He watched as Jericho simply twisted one of their necks, a wet squelch signifying the end of another life. He hands reached out again, grasping a rifle and crushing it before taking the twisted metal hulk and ramming it through its wielder's chest like a javelin.

David just looked away. Controlled Cyber-Psychosis. He followed Hildegarde into the parking garage where the familiar Edgerunners Ragnar awaited them. The outlaw reached the vehicle first and tossed the door open, diving inside. David followed, almost landing on top of the plum-purple woman in the process.

"Go! Get us out!", Hildegarde screamed.

Falco didn't hesitate. He slammed the truck in reverse and spun it around, aiming it for the exit gate and smashing clean through it. This went tits up in the worst way possible. As they exited the underground parking garage, a cyborg oddly dressed like Elvis Presley attempted to stop them but was simply run over by Falco and the Ragnar. The pedal was to the metal and they were headed away, far away.

Jericho looked around for a moment. Most of the corporate guards were dead. Max-Tac had retreated for now, presumably to bring in a gunship and the oddly dressed Adam Smasher was now attempting to stop his Ground Team only to be run over by them instead. He chuckled lightly and simply walked out towards the prone 'Legendary Merc'.

"Hello again, Adam. It has been too long.", Jericho mused. Adam Smasher just stared wide-eyed at him and knew what was about to happen.

Jericho just punched his fist straight through Adam's chest, tearing his power core out in the process. "See you in hell for round three, Adam. Don't keep me waiting."

Adam Smasher just collapsed onto the ground face-first. He wasn't dead, not yet. But he was definitely down for the count and would remember yet another terrible defeat from the mysterious cyborg known only as 'Jericho'.

Jericho just looked around again, scanning for his Ground Team before spying their vehicle speeding away from the Plaza. He activated his nuclear-powered Sandevistan equivalent and caught up with them almost immediately, jumping and landing onto the roof of the vehicle much to Falco's surprise as he began to weave in traffic. Rebecca suddenly popped out of a hatch with her shotguns ready.

"Oh, it's you!"

"Hello, Rebecca. It is time for us to leave."

Jericho just crawled into the passenger compartment of the Ragnar, handing out small hypos of Anti-Rad to the lesser chromed-out crewmembers. Ooh, tingly!

"Keep us on the highway. The Toward Stars will pick us up!", Jericho shouted from his position inside the vehicle. Falco just nodded and kept them on course.

Like a scene from an action movie, the older cargo AV appeared overhead and matched their speed. It hovered overhead and descended, six grappler arms reach outwards and grabbing onto the chassis of their Ragnar. Slowly but surely, they were lifted into the sky and held against the hull of the Toward Stars. Wheels off the ground, Falco let go of the steering wheel as they began to fly upwards and away from Night City and into the Badlands. The mission had been a success and undoubtedly, Arasaka would be in shambles following both Saburo Arasaka's death and the absolute chaos that had transpired at Konpeki Plaza. Only time would tell. But for now, everyone had survived and they were all safe. They could all breathe easy for now.

Chapter End.

A/N: Things are going a bit differently this time around. Key differences would be the time period between Jericho meeting V vs. David. Since this takes place earlier, Jericho still has the Toward Stars AV and Hildegarde is friendlier to David since she's more pissed at Jericho for wrecking the AV. V and Jackie would be fresh new mercs in NC, probably around Level 7 in-game vs. David at likely around Level 26. Jericho and his teammates still exceed the in-game level cap and are likely around Level 75 or more. More to come, in this hopefully shorter slight rewrite of The Nuclear Nomad.