Chapter 2: Rescue in the Ruins

Roderick "Ratchet" had seen Night City in all its grimy glory, but the old subway tunnels always sent a shiver down his spine. Today was no different as he and the Pulse crew prepared for a rescue mission. The intel was clear: a group of civilians had been captured by a particularly vicious gang of Scavs, operating out of an abandoned section of the metro. Roderick tightened his leather jacket, adjusted his tech-enhanced goggles, and glanced at his team.

"Alright, let's get this show on the road. Trojan, what's the plan?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

Jace "Trojan" Revlas, disguised as usual in his androgynous attire, flicked his sea blue hair back and grinned. "Darling, I thought you'd never ask. We've got three entrances—north, south, and the central shaft. We go in quietly, split into pairs, and converge on the holding area. Simple, right?"

Roderick chuckled. "Simple, sure. Nothing's ever simple in Night City. Deacon, you ready to play the good doctor?"

Gavro "Deacon" Popović adjusted his wool flat cap and gave a solemn nod. "Ready as I'll ever be. Remember, the priority is getting those civilians out alive. Let's try to keep the body count to a minimum, yes?"

Yenifer "Shadow Wind" Montero, leaning against her modded Mizutani Shion, flashed a daring smile. "You worry too much, Deacon. As long as I get to rev my baby and outrun these bastards, I'm happy."

Roderick grinned. "Alright, Shadow Wind, you and I take the central shaft. Trojan and Deacon, take the north and south. Keep it tight, and stay in comms."

The team split, each member moving with practised stealth through the darkened tunnels. The air was thick with the stench of decay and old machinery. As Roderick and Yenifer approached the central shaft, he couldn't help but notice her focused determination.

"So, how's Tezcatlipoca holding up?" Roderick asked, breaking the tense silence.

Yenifer smirked. "Like a dream. Better than you on your best day, rookie."

Roderick laughed softly. "Touché. Let's hope she gets us out of this mess."

They reached the central shaft entrance, a heavy metal door barely hanging on its hinges. Roderick signalled Yenifer to cover him as he hacked the door's ancient security system. His cybernetic eye flickered as he bypassed the decrepit ICE.

"Door's open. Let's move," he whispered.

Inside, the tunnel widened into a cavernous space filled with makeshift cells. The faint cries of the captives echoed eerily. Roderick's heart pounded in his chest as he scanned the room, identifying the Scavs' positions.

"Shadow Wind, take the left. I'll handle the right," he instructed.

As they moved, a Scav noticed them, drawing a rusty blade. Before he could react, Yenifer's mantis blades sliced through the air, taking him down silently. Roderick's pistol found its mark, dispatching another Scav with a single shot.

"Clear," Yenifer whispered.

They reached the cells, where terrified faces peered out from the darkness. Roderick quickly began unlocking the doors, his fingers dancing over the electronic locks.

"You're safe now. Stay quiet and follow our lead," he assured the captives.

Just then, a burst of gunfire erupted from the north tunnel. Roderick's comm crackled to life with Jace's voice. "We've got company! Deacon and I are pinned down. A little help, sweetness?"

Roderick's eyes narrowed. "Shadow Wind, get these people out. I'll go help Trojan and Deacon."

Yenifer nodded. "Be careful, Ratchet."

He sprinted towards the north tunnel, his augmented muscles propelling him forward. As he rounded the corner, he saw Jace and Gavro taking cover behind a pile of rubble, exchanging fire with a group of heavily armed Scavs.

"Need a hand?" Roderick called out, sliding into cover next to Jace.

Jace grinned. "Always a pleasure, darling. Mind taking out that sniper on the left?"

Roderick peeked over the rubble, spotting the sniper. With a swift motion, he hacked into the sniper's scope, causing it to malfunction. The Scav cursed, giving Roderick the opening he needed to fire a clean shot.

"Sniper down. Let's finish this," he said.

With Roderick's support, the tide quickly turned. Deacon's shotgun boomed, taking out two Scavs in one blast, while Jace's monowire sliced through another.

"Clear!" Deacon shouted, reloading his weapon.

Roderick's comm buzzed again. "Shadow Wind here. Civilians are safe and en route to the extraction point. How's it looking on your end?"

Roderick wiped the sweat from his brow. "All clear. Let's get the hell out of here."

The team regrouped, guiding the rescued civilians through the tunnels to the awaiting transport. As they emerged into the dim light of the surface, the tension began to ease.

"Good job, everyone. Drinks on me tonight," Roderick said, clapping Jace on the back.

Jace laughed. "I'll hold you to that, sweetness."

Deacon smiled faintly. "Thank God we made it. Let's get these people to safety."

Yenifer revved her car's engine, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Next time, Ratchet, you owe me a race."

Roderick grinned. "You're on, Shadow Wind."

As the Pulse team drove away, the neon lights of Night City flickered in the distance. They had survived another mission.

Later–

The drive back to the Glen was relatively smooth, with Yenifer expertly navigating the twists and turns of Night City's chaotic streets. Roderick couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment as they dropped the civilians off at a safe house. With the mission complete, it was time to wrap things up officially.

"Alright, folks," Roderick said, hopping out of Yenifer's car. "I need to go close to the gig with Rogue. Meet back at the apartment plex, and I'll bring the good news."

The team nodded, each member heading off in different directions. Roderick made his way to the Afterlife, the legendary bar and hotspot for mercs and fixers. The neon lights of Night City buzzed around him as he walked through the bustling streets. The Afterlife was as lively as ever, filled with the city's most dangerous and notorious.

Roderick pushed through the heavy doors and was greeted by the familiar sight of the bar's dim lighting and industrial decor. He spotted Rogue, the iconic fixer, sitting in her usual spot, a drink in hand. She looked up as he approached, her sharp eyes locking onto him.

"Rachet," she greeted, her voice carrying a mix of amusement and authority. "I heard you had a little run-in with some Scavs."

Roderick slid into the seat across from her, a smirk playing on his lips. "You know me, Rogue. Always looking for trouble."

She chuckled, a rare sound that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I heard the mission went smoothly. The civilians safe?"

Roderick nodded. "Yeah, all accounted for and unharmed. Pulse handled it like pros."

Rogue raised an eyebrow. "And here I thought you were just a pretty face. Nice work, Rachet. You've earned your eddies."

She slid a credchip across the table, and Roderick pocketed it without hesitation. "Thanks, Rogue. Always a pleasure doing business with you."

She leaned back, her gaze unwavering. "Don't get too comfortable, Rachet. Night City has a way of chewing up and spitting out the best of us. Stay sharp."

Roderick met her gaze, his cybernetic eye glowing faintly. "Always do, Rogue. Always do."

As he stood to leave, Rogue called out to him one last time. "Rachet, one more thing."

He turned back, curiosity piqued. "Yeah?"

"There's a big job coming up. High stakes, high rewards. Keep your team ready. I'll be in touch."

Roderick gave her a nod. "We'll be ready."

The Afterlife was buzzing as Roderick left, pocketing the credchip from Rogue. He promised himself and the team he'd behave and bring back the eddies. But the neon lights and the thrill of the night were hard to resist.

"Drinks on me tonight!" Roderick had declared, earning cheers all around.

The Morning After

Roderick woke up with a pounding headache, the sun blinding him as it streamed through the window. He groaned, trying to sit up, only to find himself sandwiched between two Joytoys, both still asleep. Empty beer bottles and shot glasses littered the room.

"Great," he muttered. "Just great."

His comm buzzed with a message from Jace: "Morning, sweetness. Debrief at noon. Deacon's bringing coffee. You owe us a race, remember?"

Roderick sighed, rolling out of bed and stumbling over to the mirror. His reflection was a mess of neon-green hair and smudged makeup. "So much for behaving," he muttered to himself.

As he dressed and ushered the Joytoys out, one of them winked. "Call us anytime, Ratchet."

"Sure thing," he replied, trying to remember their names.

On his way back to the apartment plex, he bumped into Yenifer, who was just getting out of her car. "Rough night?" she asked, smirking.

"You have no idea," he replied, rubbing his temples.

They walked into the apartment to find Deacon setting up a coffee station and Jace scrolling through messages. "Morning, everyone," Roderick greeted.

Deacon handed him a cup of coffee. "Rough night, Rachet?"

"You could say that," Roderick replied, taking a grateful sip.

Jace laughed. "We'll let it slide this time, darling. But next time, try to remember who has to clean up the mess."

Yenifer clapped him on the back. "And don't forget that race. Can't have my navigator slacking off."

Roderick grinned, despite his hangover. "Wouldn't dream of it. Let's get to work, team. We've got a city to conquer."

As they gathered to plan their next move, Roderick felt a surge of gratitude. They had each other's backs, and in Night City, that was worth more than all the eddies in the world.

End-

Hope You enjoyed this introduction, thank you to those who have submitted characters I will credit you below, please feel free to submit a character if you are interested :D I may update this chapter to include any new ones I feel could add

Jace Revlas "Trojan" by Nightwing141

Gavro Popović "Deacon" by AK-Martin

Yenifer Montero "Shadow wind" by zetsunaflames