Chapter 2: Calm before the Storm
Michiko is in an undisclosed location along with her bodyguard Kenichi Zaburoto talking with a familiar face. "So, we agree Alt. You will help disable the tower's defenses and you get the engrams in Mikoshi while purging it," she said.
"Yes, it sounded. I am surprised that V managed to survive," Alt said.
"Well, Geppetto is based on your original idea for Soul Killer to put Engrams into clone bodies. Biotechnia made their own and put it into practice. Cloning humans is off limits in the law but Corps always like to break rules. Geppetto is deeply secret in Biotechnia and I pull some strings to get one in my old secret bunker," Michiko said.
"Interesting indeed, when you are ready. Transfer my data into a shard and put me in the tower's subnet. I will be waiting for you," Alt said to disappear from the comms.
"Alt is mysterious as she is brilliant. What is the plan?" Kenichi asked.
"Our strike team will go this this Mag Train construction site protected by Militech. There is a drill that will be used to go under Arasaka Tower. We will go downward until we find an access port where Alt will be inserted. She will wreak havoc and kill a lot of the personnel. Then she will go into the Mikoshi, purge the network, absorb all the engrams, and leave the tower in chaos. We will slip away into the night and let it all go down," Michiko said.
"That is crazy but brilliant Michiko-Sama," Kenichi said.
"Yes, we got one shot at this. Secure your Soul is in the first phase, we got a short window to make this a disaster that will cripple and then doubt will spread throughout the company. Grandfather will be put on the defensive and will give us breathing room to push forward," Michiko said.
"Who will be leading the assault?" Kenichi asked.
"Ayaka, she is the most experienced with these operations. You and V will go along with our commandos," Michiko said.
"Okay, drop the AI and leave. Simple," Kenichi said dryly.
"I know Ken but it's the best way to catch them off guard. Also, we need to deal with a loose end. The Tyger Claws, are celebrating Arasaka's success. Most of their leadership is going to a warehouse where they are setting up their party. Wiping them out will cause confusion and weaken Arasaka's hold on the streets of Night City," Michiko said.
"I will get on it," Kenichi said as he disappeared out of the Arasaka estate.
Elsewhere V is resting on the couch with them in Ayaka's Night City Penthouse with her taking a shower. "Goodness, V is amazing. His violence, his skills, and his smooth voice. He makes my two hearts racing," she thought happily as both her organic heart and her Second Heart fluttered with excitement.
She uses a washcloth to brush away the dirt and grime feeling refreshed to get out of the shower. She dries her hair which is reaching above her booty to begin brushing it. She puts on a pair of new underwear to see the door slide open to see V at the entrance.
"Oh shit," he said as he looks upon her half-naked body seeing her wearing a white silk bra holding in her big breasts while having silk white panties fitting her curvy bottom.
"Like what you see V?" she asked in a flirty tone as she felt his eyes imprinting on her curves. "He can't take his eyes off me," she thought feeling her face blushing from his watchful gaze.
"Looks preem there, I need to use the bathroom?" he asked.
"Oh, you know there is another bathroom on the second floor, right?" she asked lightly.
"Oh right, didn't think that," he said as Ayaka giggled at this.
"It's okay, I am done. You can take a leak now," she said to put on a bathrobe to tie it up.
"Preem thanks," he said to go take a leak. Ayaka sits on the couch with her tail curled on the soft cushions. She lights up her eyes to turn on the TV to see news about Hanako having a news conference about business deals in Asia.
"That woman," Ayaka said with spite in her voice.
"I feel better, you have nice skin," he said thinking about her flawless snow-white skin.
"Oh yes, very nice and smooth despite my age. You want to feel it?" she flirted.
"Sure," he said lightly brushing his hand on her shoulder to feel how smooth her skin was. "Wow, very soft,"
"Like I said, my anti-aging treatments are quite potent. The average human lifespan went to 100 normally due to advancements in medicine. With cyberware and Bioware, you can go to 200 or even 300 if you are genetically gifted," Ayaka said.
"Damn tech is crazy these days," V said.
"Enough about me, what about you? You come from a Corpo family?" she asked as she headed over to the kitchen to grab some snacks and drinks.
"Well yeah. I was born in Chapter Hill in Night City. Mid-Level Corpo Japanese family based here for a while now," V said.
"So, you are Japanese American like Michiko. Interesting," she said as she grabbed some citrus punch alongside white chocolate potato chips. "These are delightful, try them," Ayaka pulls out a bag of chocolate chips to let him take one.
He bites into it as it tastes delicious. "Nova stuff," he said as he grabbed another one to eat into it.
"I know right, so good," she said as Ayaka handed him a glass of Cirtus punch to see if Hanako was still on.
"That bitch," V said with anger in his voice.
"Yes, still being daddy's little girl. Too old for that. Speaking of family where are your folks now?' Ayaka asked.
"They are dead. It happened after the company let me out. My boss's rival, she leaves no loose ends," V said as he is happy, she is dead.
"That is pretty messed up, I am very sorry," she said.
"It's okay, I am over it. How about your family?" he asked.
"My parents have been dead for years. There are many members of the Sakai clan I am happy to have met," Ayaka said.
"My family does not run that deep. My family moved from Japan a long time ago with my grandparents," V said.
"Second-generation Japanese American," Ayaka said to drink her citrus punch.
"Yeah, been there a few times to see distant relatives," he said.
"Best to reconnect," she said.
"Speaking of, I would like to see Victor and Misty when we get the chance," he said.
"Your friends. After you rest up, I can take you there to see them before we do our mission to raid Arasaka Tower," Ayaka said.
"Thanks, you," V said.
"We are partners now, we will have each other's, and having trust is important," Ayaka said as her metal tail gently strokes his back to make him feel comfortable.
"I appreciate it, Hanako is always hiding something," V said.
"You know she wasn't always like that," Ayaka said.
"Seriously, not a cold bitch and not getting on her knees for Daddy?' V asked.
"She didn't always agree with Saburo's ambition and rebelled against them in the past having her agency," Ayaka said.
"Seriously, what happened?" V asked,
"Time is what happened, it grinded out her personality and turned her into her father's puppet. It's a shame really, she is gentle as silk but her will is as strong as steel. The ideal Japanese woman,"
"Mom always wanted me to marry a proper Japanese woman. You are both gentle and iron-willed," V said as
"I try to be myself as possible unless Hanako sold out her principles to be the heart of Arasaka. Just there to babysit him," Ayaka said as V looked over to see the cleavage showing in her short robe barely covering her thighs.
"Damn so big," he thought as Ayaka noticed this and thought about teasing him.
"Oh, my size is 32F by the way and yes they are real," she said with a slight smile.
"What?" he asked, getting caught off guard by her dropping her cup size to his face.
"You were staring and I give you an answer. Happy with it?" she said in a flirty tone.
"Yeah, very big," he said sounding speechless with Ayaka sporting a sly smile.
"He is interested," she thought as they finished eating and drinking. "Well, you had a long day, I will show you the guest room," she said as she took his hand to let him follow her deeper into the penthouse to show him a nice room, he can sleep in.
"Thanks, I need a few winks from all this craziness," V said.
"Of course, we are grateful you are teaming up with us. The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world," Ayaka said.
"You stole that from somewhere," V joked as Ayaka giggled at this.
"Yeah, an old video game I liked a long time ago. But it's true," Ayaka said.
"That's my life in a nutshell," V said as Ayaka kissed him on the cheek to gently pat him on the back.
"Funny faith is, sleep well V," Ayaka said as she walked away to let V go to sleep which he longed needed.
Elsewhere Kenichi is at the warehouse where the Tyger Claws were partying over their employers' success to reap the rewards of Saburo coming back to play a bigger role in keeping Night City's street secured for them and the company's interests.
"Violent dogs they are, no honor in what they do," Ken said activating optical camo and disappearing into the shadows to wield a suppressed Nue pistol and a Suppressed Kyubi with a hybrid scope and foregrip. He begins to pick off enemies with his wrist-mounted mono blades that pop out of his metal arms to gut his foes without fail.
The camera goes offline as he lines up shots with his pistol to drop the Tyger Claws. He pulls out C5 from his bag to place it on the support beam holding up the warehouse. "In the right place and boom, crush in rubble," he thought as he wielded his pistol to take out more Tyger Claws.
He places more C5 onto the pillars to wipe out anything there. He switches to his Kyubi to see snipers on the roofs nearby. He places well-placed shots to get them in the head and flop lifelessly on the floor.
"Smooth as butter," Ken thought as he used his monoblades to crave and dice open enemies spreading out their guts and blood everywhere. He uses his cloaking device to slice and dice enemies leaving a path of death behind him.
Kenichi placed the last C5 on the pillars to get away to go on top of a roof. "Explosives are set, time for the fireworks," he clicks a button for the pillars get destroyed with the warehouse collapsing and crushing everyone inside. "Lots of head leadership are killed here, causing some mayhem," he said as he contacted Michiko.
"It done?" she asked.
"Yes, it's done. This will cause some confusion. Perfect for our plan to raid the tower," Kenichi said.
"Good, come back here. We need to set up the plan," Michiko said.
"Understood Michiko-Sama," Ken disappears in the shadows to leave the Tyger Claws in a much weaker state than before.
Back with V waking up from his slumber to spread out his limbs. "I needed that," he said to slip out of the sheets. The air conditioning in the penthouse feels very nice. "Way better than my old apartment," he said as he had dirty dreams of this dragon lady. "Man, Ayaka is a dream. Too much of a dream," he said.
"Morning V," Ayaka said as V was only in his underwear. "Oh my, someone has morning wood," she said lightly to see a big bulge in his boxers.
"Sorry, I had a pleasant dream," he said as Ayaka giggled at this.
"Gee, I wonder what that is," she said in a teasing manner. "There is some clothing I got you. Try them on," she said to hand him an outfit to wear.
"You are looking cute and causal too," V said as Ayaka was wearing a simple white frilly dress showing off her curvy legs and thin arms. Her long metal tail is coming under her dress.
"Well, it's nice to feel comfortable and not stick out like a sore thumb. The AV is ready, we can head for Vik's place," she said as he put on an outfit that feels nice to go outside to get into the AV to head for Vik's shop.
"Michiko figure anything out?" V asked.
"Oh yes, turn on the radio," Ayaka said as he activated his interior radio to hear a news report about a lot of Tyger Claw leadership getting blown up and killed in a collapsing building.
"Holy Shit, Michiko's orders?" he asked.
"Yep, her orders, done by her bodyguard Kenichi Zaburo," Ayaka said.
"The Legendary Solo Kenichi. Is it still around?" V asked.
"Yes, he is one of the best Solos in Arasaka. He was the archnemesis to Morgan Blackhand and fought him in a tie a few times in the past," Ayaka said as V was in disbelief.
"Seriously, you are pulling my leg," he said.
"Nope, Kenichi is that good. Adam Smasher isn't the only good Solo Arasaka has. There is Oda, for example, you took him out as well. Very impressive for someone your age," she said as she is a big fan of his due to his exploits in Night City and even in Dogtown. "Killing big targets like Oda, Kurt Hansen, a squad of MaxTac Officers, and even Adam Smasher himself along with killing over 30 Cyberpsycho and destroying a Militech Chimera. Very impressive record V," Ayaka said is happy to be partnered with someone on her level.
"Like I had a choice. Adapt or die in Night City and Dogtown," V said.
"Indeed, I am just lucky to be with a partner who can handle himself. How you deal with violence is a work of art," Ayaka said.
"Thanks," he said feeling embarrassed to be pried for his combat skills.
"You are truly this generation's Morgan Blackhand. A man of skill, guts, and courage. A true honor," she said.
"Gee, making me blush," V feeling humbled.
"All I am doing is speaking the truth. We are here," she lands the AV on the streets to be near Vik's client to go into Misty's shop.
"V, you are here," Misty is surprised to see him and to hug him.
"Good to see you, Misty," V said.
"I thought something bad happened to you. With you going with Arasaka," she said.
"Well, her deal sucked and then I made a better deal with Michiko Arasaka. She cured me and I am back to full health," V said as Misty felt happy about this.
"Goodness, I am so happy for you V. It's over," Misty said.
"Not quite, I need to do Michiko a favor," V said.
"What is that?" she asked, sounding concerned.
"Better you don't know for your safety," V said as Misty looked over to see a short Japanese lady with blue dragon horns on her face and a long slender metal tail coming out of her dress.
"Who is this?" Misty asked.
"Greeting. I am V's partner Ayaka Sakai. Don't worry, I got his back. He will be fine," Ayaka said.
"Right, good to know. You looking for Vik is down in his client," Misty said.
"Cool," V and Ayaka went to the client to see V's Ripperdoc Victor.
"V, good to see you kid. I heard from Misty, she said you were cured," he said.
"Yep Vik, I am better than ever," V said as Victor was quite happy about this.
"That's good news. Let's look over your systems for old times' sake," Victor said as he looked over the mysterious woman. "Who are you little lady?' he asked.
"Oh, I am Ayaka Sakai, I am working with V on a big mission," Ayaka said.
"Is she your main input now?" Victor asked.
"No, we are partners," he said as Ayaka giggled at this.
"Alright, whatever you say," Vik looks at V's body to see if everything is clear. "Amazing, whatever happened. You are better than ever," he said.
"Good. Good. I wanted to say hey, I need to get to work. I will call you when I have the time," V said.
'Good luck kid, just happy you're alive," Vik said.
"I am planning on living for a while now," V said.
"Don't worry I got his back. Nice meeting you," Ayaka said as they went back to the AV. "Michiko has got a plan. She has your friend Alt on it," Ayaka said as V was surprised by this.
"Alt?" he asked.
"Yes, we need to head for the location where we are staging the operation. We need to prepare before the big day we raid Arasaka Tower and destroy the Secure Your Soul Program," Ayaka said to head for one of Michiko's bunkers.
"Alright, back to that blasted tower again," V said as he was preparing for another assault on that dreaded tower.