I was in a city of dreams, armed with several looted guns, pilfered Tyger Claw apparel, and a knife.

There was a half a burrito and a bottle of tequila in my guts to providing sustenance.

I've killed Tyger Claws like a professional solo.

I have a number of skills under my belt. I knew how to change a tire for fuck's sake!

None of this had any bearings on my current situation, the one that lay past a set of steps and a flimsy metal subway gate.

Social anxiety.

I am utterly, pathetically hopeless when it comes to all things socializing or talking to people face to face.

I am a fucking chatterbox supercomputer if I've got a screen in front of me. I'm capable of holding several text message conversations and a dozen forum chats at the same goddamned time.

Then you put me in front of a person and I can't fucking speak. I'm not traumatized... Or at least I don't think I was. With my fucked memories it's kinda hard to tell.

So, here I am standing outside the clinic of one Dr. Viktor Vektor.

Trying not to feel pathetic as I think of what to say in this situation.

Definitely not my isekai theory. I don't know shit about Night City's idea of mental heath care, and I am terrified to find out.

Not sure about the Relic theory either. From what I remember, V had a nice friendship going for him that stopped Vik from collecting the bounty money. I ain't got shit for connections as far as I know.

At some point I really need to figure out who this body belonged to and why he had a Relic in our neck.

A psychotherapist would have a field day with me, and hopefully a cure for my hang ups. Until then, It looks like I was stuck with the tried and true fix-er-up of most introverts who had been forced to socialize... and were of legal age... Alcohol.

I may or may not have pillaged the prior mentioned Tyger's booze fridge.

One chugged bottle of Vodka down, a few more minutes of waiting for the buzz to build up and I was ready to see the doctor.

I popped the Relic out of my neck and pocketed it. No need to make this more of a shit show than it already was.

Viktor looked like he did in game, down to watching a boxing match from some fight or another. Only difference was he was busy tinkering with an unconnected cyber-leg.

Gotta say, neat.

He looked at me entering, mild amusement and slight amounts of apprehensive confusion apparent.

Yay, I'm good at reading people... I think?

"Can I help you?" he asked, professional as expected.

I bit back the urge to hmm and er "I really need a ripper-doc, a uh, a trustworthy one... And I'm really hoping that's you." I did not sound meek. I sounded manly!

I mean womanly!

I meant confident! Don't you fucking think-shame me!

Vik gave me a look over. "You don't look injured."

"My cyberware is dead. No HUD, no working tech, nada." Thank god for alcohol's miracle ability to loosen one's tongue.

The Doc's attention was now firmly on me. "That is a problem. Any other symptoms or issues?"

I embraced the buzz and let go of all things inhibitions. " Where should I start? I woke up in a pile of trash with a finger sized shard in my neck. My memories are a jumbled mess that I'm pretty sure came from two people. I swear I'm a woman, but I've got some dude's body? I don't know or rather I don't remember what I look like? I don't know what's under my hood, so to speak of course... Oh, and I don't know who this body belongs to."

I admit, I leaned way to heavily into the power of Vodka.

Doc Vik was silent for a moment. Did that perplexed flutter blink people do when they're confused to hell and back.

He did it twice even.

"That..." he said slowly, "Sounds like a problem."

"I know, right?"

"Lets start with the basics, take a seat in the chair and plug in your personal."

I lay back in the chair and felt some levels of dentist induced trauma come up, along with an overwhelming urge to floss out of guilt.

Seriously, who's corpse was I possessing for that to be a physical reaction?

Vik tapped away at his touch screens with the fervor of a diligent college student with their thesis due in a week.

Not gonna lie, between the tapping and the serious look on his face I was certain there was trouble brewing inside me.

"Okay," he finally addressed me, "from what I can tell something fried you. Wiped all the software out of your system. I'm going to have to do some invasive work and give you a fresh install to get you up and running again."

I tried not to suck in air between my teeth. I lacked insurance, medical care, and I have very unhappy memories of what healthcare and American soil mean.

"This isn't gonna cost me an arm and a leg is it?" I did not croak out.

"We can discuss payment afterwards." he held up an injector over my arm. "Ready?"

"Make it quality and painless please." Ah morbid retail worker humor was there, to comfort me as I let a pseudo-stranger tranquilize me.

I was drifting out by the time the needle's pain registered.

I awoke to a uninspiring view of the clinic's poorly illuminated ceiling. Lines of code darted across my sight as I got some Militech or Medtech boot up sequence.

A very familiar HUD was now in view.

Great, more proof of the isekai theory. Fuck.

Of course my mouth woke up before my brain did. "Huh, neat. Wasn't sure I was gonna wake up."

Sitting up gave me a second opinion on that line of thought.

Viktor Vector was sitting in his chair, he'd seem almost relaxed if it wasn't for the very deadly looking shotgun that was in his lap.

Pointed in my direction.

"I take it you found something bad?" I asked. I didn't squeak. That was just the meds wearing off.

"As you can probably tell, your cyberware is active again."

"Thank you?"

"As for your identity, NCPD's records have you as classified. Everything about you. In fact, I had to cut my clinic's connections when a trace was sent back."

"I'm sorry? Is that why you have the- uh, the-"

He snorted. "My shotgun? Figured it'd only be smart. Wasn't sure if you'd still be so meek when you woke up."

"So what now? I mean, I've got some paper cash if you need payment?"

The doc rolled his eyes. "I'd like some assurances that I've not gotten dragged into some corporate mess instead of payment."

Yeah that was kinda hard to come up with. "So, yeah... That's gonna be hard to do. Wrecked memories and all."

"Hmm. I can see where that would be a problem."

The shotgun's barrel had yet to be lowered and it was making me nervous. If I didn't have any subdermals I knew that was gonna splatter me at this range.

Remember before where I said I like to improvise?

"Can we cut a deal?"

"A deal?" he looked and sounded dismissive. Like I was a toddler who was asking for more ice-cream after two scoups.

"So, my brains have been virtually wiped right? New person, old body sort of situation. You like helping people and getting paid for it. I know where there are places with loads of cyberware being stashed. I need a ripper. One who can fix my body to match my mind, and maybe patch me up if a parts retrieval goes down messy. Sound good so far?"

"Sounds like you're making this up, just a little."

"Okay, so hear me out. I give you the cash I have on me now for payment and a tab. A-uh, sign of good faith?"

"And then?"

"I go out, gather the tech from where I think it is and bring it all here. If it's on my wish list you plug it in for me, if it's not it goes to you and your patients that need or want it... That sound fair?"

"That sounds almost altruistic, and in this city that means suspicious."

The shotgun raised a little bit.

"I'm not trying to fool you!" I squeaked. I ain't even gonna lie about it. I almost vomited out the words as I explained, "All cards on the table, I remember where loads of stuff is hidden in the city! I don't know how to explain it to you, but I do. I need someone I can trust not to kill me and help me and you were the first person to come to mind."

When Vik finished putting the shotgun down and I realized he was just moving it, I swear my cheeks were glowing red.

"I was going to say I need to think about it," The Doc informed me, "But if you're this skittish about having a gun in your face I'm starting to wonder how you'll make it in this city at all."

I threw myself back in the chair and covered my face with my palms.

Vik was laughing at me. It was only a casual chuckle, light and well meaning. It didn't stop the embarrassment I felt.

Oy, Random Omnipotent Bastard.

I know you're there. Your kind never pull this insert bullshit without watching the show afterward. I got a question for you: Where is my badass power up? Where's my super-hacking tool, or BFG, or money making magic?

This sucks. You suck. I want a refund on whatever black magic deal brought me here.

I let out a sigh as an all to familiar sensation settled upon me once again.

I'm hungry.

Night City sucks.