Arasaka tower/Night City/ 0315 September 3rd 2078

"I saw the black dog again. It was a spike; it must be a memory or something. Always in the same place."
"A dog? It's possible, are your memories coming back?" My life coach made a note of it, at least his avatar made a note of it, Cyberspace was the safest place for him to scribble, and act like this was real, but he flickered blue whenever I tried to touch him. He had designed this little garden to be as calming as possible with a running stream and permanent rain outside, even though the skies were blue. I couldn't lie. They'd know, it's what happened when you had so many things in your brain.
"No. It's just the mangy little thing, Maelstrom got to it." I launched a rock over the fence, It phased out of reality before I could see how far I'd thrown it. "Missing an eye, metal teeth, and it's paws have got blades in them."
"I see. What's this dog doing."
"Eating."
"Why?"
"Because it can, or it wants to? I don't care what the mutt thinks. It's a mongrel."
"But this isn't a mongrel, it's your mind." The hack paused, I'm not sure whether it was for drama as he looked like he was thinking. A smart thing out his mouth was yet to be said. "I'm upping your medications and sending Arasaka the bill." It still wouldn't be spoken for some time as well.
"I don't need meds. It's just a dog."
"I'll be sending the invoice to accounts, unfortunately our hour is up. I'll see you next week." The figure of the hack vanished before I could wrap my arms around their code and squeeze. The Zen Garden sank into the ground leaving nothing but sand, stretching outwards, meeting the blue horizon. The growl came from behind. The Metal mutt was a botched job. I wasn't sure if the blood on its cyberware was from a shaky surgeon or its prey. It still had the entrails of something in its gnashers. The dog behind it was a pitbull. A fighter with clipped ears and even in death, it eyes were wide open It was bred to fight and fell to something without pedigree. The mutt was a mix of parts that didn't belong on any singular part of a dog, even it's dur, was broken up by shards of metal poking out of it. The collar the only thing keeping it back, attached to a three-pronged fake tree. The Arasaka logo growing bright, even as the mutt tried to chew through its chains. Lightning crackled causing a yelp. I chose to disconnect.

I pulled the plug from the back of my head the synth-skin flap hit the port. I had checked my work email. I had already been paid for my job. The invoice for the medication had gone through, along with the charge for the life coach. I watched a yellow bar fill my vision, with my account. After paying off my corporeal loans and the drugs. I watched a hundred- and fifty-euro dollars enter the company account, making the total holdings I could spend after my nutrient packs and batteries, thirty-euro dollars. The positive was that I had paid off a tenth of my finger, after half a year. I grew bored of the office quickly. I had no pointless decorations, only a computer and walls. I had to find Tanaka, he was aways in his room, even after the non-important had gone home. He was observing the woman on his table. Puffing his cigarette, his eyes turned to me red. He scratched neck red with red lines on his skin. Weak enough to be damaged by enamel. I stepped between him and the surgery table.
"I was hoping, I can get off my meds, life coach thinks I'm losing it."
"I do that right now, Six." He used my name, well the one I was given from the Latin numerals on my palm, combined with him rolling around me to look at the surgery, and brain scans.
"You, ok?"
"No." I was hoping he'd have said yes, it was easier when humans didn't open up.
"Seem focussed on the girl, you know clouds exists right?"
"I do. I don't like dolls. A fake feeling."
"We can take her back, she's just a doll."
"Just a victim." Tanaka took the chip in his hands. "Dolls were easy, at first. They'd never last longer than a few weeks though." I snapped my fingers making a ping against metal.
"Focus. She'll be fine. I was hoping we could talk, my life coach. He sent something, this increase in meds is going to cut into my budget. I'm fine on the one's I am now."
"I can't do that. I can give you a job. Pays well."
"All ears."
"Take the girl to your apartment, be careful with her. She's spent some time out the loop."
"Isn't she your problem? Arasaka can deal with her."
"With a bullet. Six I can make things work for you. Give her a place to rest. I'll provide transportation."
"Can't we just look at her records instead of having her take up my apartment space?" I tried to run a scan, and I couldn't find much aside from she was declared dead in twenty seventy-seven, it didn't give a name, or date of birth. She must have never officially entered the Night City system, that luxury was for the residents of Pacifica. "How much will you owe me?"
"A few hours where I'll remove your shackles every few months."
"Every Month."
"Fine just get her out of here. Please." A few hours of freedom. People killed for that; I didn't have to. I looked back to see Tanaka deleting the recording of me. I'd know it happened; I just wouldn't know what everything looked like. The back entrance led to an alley, couldn't have everyone seeing the girl. The food truck was there, with the ripped jeans leather jacket of a male in his mid-twenties, checking the alley's corners. He looked back to me and nodded while got in the cockpit. He hadn't shaved in days and bathed in as long either. Meat had a tendency to smell when it wasn't cared for.
"Where to pal?"
"Megatower H9."
"Got it." The driver turned the key, the food van spluttered to life. It was forced to roar under the driver's foot. His eye looked over to me every other second when tilting the van through cars. The red and blue flash highlighted police investigating a victim of cyberpsychosis if, the sirens of N.C.P.D whined through the city dealing with one crime, accepting a bribe from another, or dying in the line of duty. The driver's fool's gold-plated hands tightened around the wheel, until the flashing blue rounded a corner, muttering under his breath.
"Pigs."
"Valentino?" The driver pulled his sleeves down.
"No I'm Axle." He grinned finding himself funnier than anyone should. " I Was. Worked on their cars, used to." I wasn't going to ask. He didn't need to open his mouth for information. I could gleam from a scan. None of it was interesting, all gang members did crime.
"You er, hiring? Coud work on your motor."
"Don't have one." We drove in silence It was better than listening to him prattle. The ride was far from silent. The cargo screamed; Axle managed to keep his composure. She backed up against the wall, done with the terrible imitation of a French accent gone.
"Who the fuck are you, where you taking me!"
"My apartment." She rolled out the back of the truck, picking herself up sprinting away. Axle slammed the breaks.
"Might have needed to tell her a white lie." I reached for my weapon and stepped out the truck. Axle ran after me. "Whoa there, don't be a gonk. If I don't deliver the girl, I don't get paid."
"Got it." She was already out of breath, unable to escape the alley she ran into. I raced ahead, I was faster, I was able to act as a barricade. Her body collided with mine; she wasn't looking where she was going or didn't have the reactions.
"I'm not here to kill you."
"What do you want?"
"To keep you alive."
"Why am I dressed like this then?"
"Found you that way, your chip went haywire."
"Why are you here?" She tried to crawl away, looking up with Axe, another shrill shriek.
"Relax." Axle offered her a hand up. "If it helps, I don't even like girls."
"Sexual relations aren't worth my time" I added. My audio receptors picked up footsteps. The human ears couldn't sense it but I could. They turned the corner, a lead pipe in hand, attracted by the girls screams, seeing if there was a corpse to rob. I saw a 6th street tattoo, Old boys from the war that swung around a baseball bat able to continue their profession, bald heads and Caucasian, three of them. One was sporting some impressive chrome. I couldn't help but smile, seeing the work done on him, combat implants that were from the war, N.C residents could keep them. He was the one with the lead pipe. The leader was bald, wearing a white tank top stained with oil, his belly hung out, revealing a vile mass of weak fat. The arms made up for the slaughter's weakness. The gang leader spat at my feet. I held my arms out, open hands.
"I'll give you the first hit." I could have tried to talk them down, out of it. That wouldn't have been as fun. I felt the pain smash focus on the side of my head. That blaring heat, my faux skin even sensitive to the touch, like a real wound. It didn't bruise though; my head wasn't even dented. Disappointing. I expected at least a decent fight. He couldn't even keep the bat in his hand as I stole it from him. The release of pressure as his skull gave way to his own bat. He hit me first. It was self-defence, It was a rush. It faded though when he failed to do any damage. He wasn't David, and I hadn't anything as sickeningly weak as Goliath's marrow skull. The offal on the floor needed more than a God's aid against the machine. I at least expected him to last one swing. The head looked like mince thrown beside the wall and rubbed into the ground. I tapped my cheek. "Alright, next in line." One of them made a break for it, too slow. I used his face like a paint brush, the wall my canvas. I admit My stroked might have been a little too bold quickly running out of paint. I heard a crack, the bullet drilled into my body. That was new. High velocity round, propelled by electromagnets. Expensive, but powerful. I reached to see my wound, a hole in my chest. I couldn't bleed though. A warning sign appeared in my vision. My vision flashed, brain pumped full of Adrenaline and God else knows what. I didn't think, I moved. The third animal held an RT-46 Burya. A revolver with a damn big barrel. I crouched down picking up the pace, another round skimmed my coat, their eyes tried to track me, staring a second behind. I reached for their arm and forced it against the bottom of their chin, and pulled the trigger. I owned the thing now, was his mouth still intact I'm sure he'd had said something if he could. A few extra Eurodollars from their wallet, I put in my pocket. Axle was peaking around the corner.
"What the hell are you?"
"Six."
"There's Six of you?"
"Was." Jade hadn't seen it; she was in the back of her truck. "Where's home then?"
"Megabuilding H-8. Japantown." Axle handed a tissue in the vehicle to wipe the blood off my frame. The doll quiet this whole time, though her green eyes never looked away from the mirror. Tired eyes after waking up scared for her life in an outfit that she didn't know. It made sense. She spoke up on the way to Japantown.
"So, did clouds put out a gig? Who kept me?"
"Arasaka suit."
"Creeps." She sat back and folded her arms. The bags under her eyes did nothing to deter her voice growing steadily louder. "Always had to be careful with a corp. Ganger would have a good time but a Corp, they keep that shit pent up, some of them even get off on the fact it's taboo, despite them all coming to clouds."
"I'm a corp." I watched her body go stiff. She went silent, eyes turning to the windscreen. The sun wouldn't rise for another few hours, but Night City never cared, Japantown was two districts in one A lattice like a honey comb structure connected the skyscrapers to make a second floor for those to pass safely without risk of getting ran over, judging by the red stain on the floor and smoking, Quadra Turbo, with engine smoking, the second level was needed. The lower level was in perpetual shade, illuminated by advertisements and neon signs. The taco truck pulled through, It was saved the eye of booster gangs just from how cheap it looked, driving around the U bend where people were still partying. I opened the back doors; the doll had her back against the wall.
"Time to get out?"
"Like this? People I know live here." Carrying her would only have led to more complications, I threw my coat over her, it draped down to ger knee's. I was 6,3 feet and she was considerably smaller. Axle waited outside the van, placing a cigarette in his mouth. I watched him go from the steps leading into the tower.
"Thanks, so what's the name of the only good suit in Arasaka." She didn't believe me, when I told her. "No, actual name."
"I don't know." A drunkard vomited in my path; my prod toppled them to the floor on the way to the elevator.
"That's rough, Six though. Names Jade."
"Is that your real name?"
"No, but general rule is don't use your real name with anyone who you don't trust." The cage opened, the elevator in the megatower in the centre was large, meant to fit a bulk of people, It looked like it belonged though. This was a construction piece at best, the structure was yellow bars as if to still suggest a warning, and instead of windows, it was black meshing. There was a hole in it though, yet to be repaired. The sounds of arguing could be heard, something like cheating on the floor we left on, and a fight on one below. Jade saw her door, the green light above the door read that she paid her rent. She pressed her hand on the panel, and it flashed red, she did it again, again and again. Expecting a different result, her breaths picked up. She repeated what she knew.
"Is this the right apartment."
"I lived in 0451. It had my name on the door." Jade wouldn't stop, until another voice came from the side.
"I have a gun. I know you're trying to get in." Jade's nails tried to cling to the metal, only scraping it.
"I live here! I paid my rent last week!"
"I've been here months; I'm going to count to five and if you're not gone, I'll flatline you." I leaned into the door and smashed the camera. My focus on the door while Jade walked back. I turned back to see she was leaning against the balcony, I leaned next to her staring down, the drop would be fatal. She spoke quiet enough for my me to hear, barely.
"What month is it?"
"September."
"Almost a year." Jade slammed a fist into the concrete, while water welled in her eyes. This display was new. I'd seen fear, rage, sadness yet this was an amalgamation. It wasn't from a fight or loss. It was another kind of sadness. "Almost a year and I'm back to jackshit. All my stuff was in there, all my savings, my fucking best chance of not getting Zeroed on the street." She kicked the wall and screamed a mix of pain and anger. Her strength outmatched her durability. It was odd.
"Any friends?"
"No?"
"Family?"
"Dead."
"Job?"
"If I go back to clouds even if they haven't replaced me, I'll lose another year on my back. I can't exactly explain the gap in my resume can I. A year as someone's thing. I can't even remember; I don't even want to."
'Six, Your apartment.' Tanaka's personal message, which deleted itself as soon as I saw it. I inhaled and checked my clock.
"You can stay in my apartment."
"I don't want to be in your snuff film." I offered the Burya's handle to her.
"Will this make you feel safer?" Her delicate fingers slipped into the trigger guard; she hadn't flicked the safety off.
"If you don't want to risk it ask for old job back."
"No."

Megatower's were the same, the higher up you went the harder it was for someone to break in, I had to enter a code. A lack of fingerprints meant it was impossible to track my biometrics. The window inside was open, the sky had already turned a deep blue. The sun began to rise. The room had a bathroom to the side, un-used and a locker for personal belongings that currently consisted of one chair, and a duffle bag. The bed lacked a duvet, but it was soft-ish bed. I assumed judging by Jade falling on the mat.
"I thought you'd have more decorations."
"When I can afford them."
"Yet you can afford all new preem limbs." I took my shirt off, throwing it to the side where behind the couch a low humming pillar thrummed with power, a cable attached to it as a panel opened in my back. The out of body experience helped when I plugged myself in. Thirty five percent, forgot to charge myself last month.
"Arasaka's. loaning it to me."
"Having trouble with cash too?"
"I don't, it's just going to take me a century to pay off my body." I'd live that long easily, but my medication was going up, and it would increase next time I went, that was without factoring in inflation.
"Looks like we need speedy scratch."
"What?"
"Paid fast." Jade picked herself up from the floor. "Wealthy people in clouds have to watch their pockets." She had the fingers of a pickpocket, long and slender as the burya was slipped under her pillow.
"Not enough. I need big bucks."
"So do I."
"It's dangerous."
"That's what you're for, you fight. I'll talk. Sound like a plan?"
"The start of one."
"So we'll talk more tomorrow." Her eyes stared at me, as if waiting for me to sleep. I humoured her and entered low power mode.