"Would it kill you to meet up at a place that's not a dump, for once?" So Mi asked as she walked up to Takemura at the top of an abandoned construction site. V appeared next to him, looking out at the city from above, and scoffed to herself.

"Places like this are quiet. No one to overhear us. Not to mention the vantage point of our target," Takemura explained before leaning against the rail, looking out in the same direction as V. "It will serve us well."

"Still haven't told me what we're doing here," So Mi replied as she followed him over. "You haven't even told me what this place is."

"Ever since Hanako-sama's death, Arasaka has been in a… what do you call it? A death spiral. Some fear that it is only a matter of time before the company falls apart entirely," Takemura explained.

"If that was the case, it woulda happened already," So Mi replied. "A beast like Arasaka takes a lot to stay afloat. If it's as bad as you're making it out to be, that place should've gone under ages ago, so what changed?"

Takemura paused, turning to face So Mi. "In a way, you did. After we learned what President Myers had done, Yorinobu used it as a way to gather support. He has spent the last year building Arasaka back up to prepare it for what is to come."

"You mean war?"

He didn't answer for a moment. His eyes stared blankly into the distance before he nodded solemnly. "If it comes to that, yes. But we hope to avoid that."

V scoffed. "Good fuckin' luck with that. War's like a corporat's wet dream- no better way for a profiteer to make heaps upon heaps of eddies."

"In one week, Yorinobu will go to the board, asking for their unwavering support before making an official declaration," Takemura continued, oblivious to V's remark. "Michiko-sama wants us to pick apart his operations- to make him seem incapable of protecting Arasaka's interests. That is why we are here: Arasaka Industrial Park." He nodded to the complex below them, sitting just across the street.

Memories from nine years back came rushing back to So Mi- the war, the operations with Reed and Alex. She may not have seen this place with her own two eyes, but she remembered it perfectly clear. "They're using it as a staging area," she realized.

Takemura nodded. "Indeed. They are gathering weapons and equipment here before moving it someplace else. We must find out where they are taking it, and secure them."

"Secure?" So Mi echoed. "It'd be a whole lot easier to just blow it all sky high."

"And destroy valuable Arasaka equipment?" Takemura asked her. "President Myers is still a threat, and if war comes to our doorstep, we must be prepared to meet it."

"There it is," V said with a wry smirk. "Gotta say, out of all the Arasaka's I've met, Michiko seems to be lacking in the subterfuge department."

So Mi nodded in agreement. "Her plan's clear as day: weaken Yorinobu and absorb the power he loses. That way she ends up the de-facto leader no matter what."

"And the worst part? We've got no choice but to play along," V pointed out. "As long as they're our only shot at the Relic, we're stuck doing their bidding."

"Alright, so what's the plan?" So Mi asked, turning to face Takemura as she leaned on the rail next to him.

Takemura gestured toward the Industrial Park. "Oda is here as well. He is in position at the opposite end of the complex," he explained. "When the time comes, he will create a diversion for you to sneak in and stow away in one of their trucks. Oda and I will follow from a distance, and once you arrive at the place the weapons are being stored, we will secure it for Michiko-sama's people."

So Mi nodded along in understanding. "Solid plan. Let's step to it."

"Not yet. We will wait for darkness to creep in," Takemura told her. "Until then, we will wait and observe."

Silence hung heavy on the air as they waited. So Mi looked up at the sun as it continued its descent behind the horizon. She needed to say something. "So… got a question for you: what exactly do you guys want to do with V's construct?"

Takemura paused for a good long while, staring out at the city. "I cannot speak to Michiko-sama's intentions. I suspect she seeks to use her as proof that Yorinobu killed Saburo. Whereas I…" his voice trailed off, and he turned to face So Mi, his back leaning up against the railing. "I would like to speak with her just once- to ask of her why she abandoned me when I needed her most. Had she not attacked Arasaka Tower, Hanako-sama would still be alive, Yorinobu punished for his crimes, and I would have my life back."

V shook her head solemnly as she sat next to him. "Two years and he still doesn't get it. Poor bastard."

So Mi scoffed. "You wouldn't understand," she told Takemura. "You don't know what it's like, living your life on a timer- worrying every time you fall asleep that you might never wake up. She had a right to do what she did." Especially when she took away the only other option V had.

He gave her an incredulous look, crossing his arms across his chest as he studied her. "Don't I? Because of her, I spent the last two years as one of the most wanted men in the world. Because of her, I am hunted by MiliTech, bounty hunters, and the very corporation I gave my entire life to. Because of her, every moment could be my last."

"What, and you think that after doing all this, they're just gonna welcome you back into the fold, no prob?" So Mi asked him. "Newsflash, Goro: they fuckin' won't. Once you and Oda outlive your usefulness in their eyes, they'll flatline you."

"Michiko-sama is a woman of honor. She would not dare go against her word."

"Like hell she is! All she wants is power, and she ain't interested in sharing. Besides, you really think she's gonna accept a bodyguard that let two of the most powerful people on the planet get murdered?" So Mi sighed. "You should be considering yourself lucky, y'know. Got a golden ticket to leave all this shit behind- start a new life." She looked away, lowering her gaze. "That's more than I ever got."

Takemura returned his gaze to the industrial park, watching trucks and people come and go. "There are times I wish I could be a nomad- to live far away from the cities and leave it all behind. But… it is too late for me. This life, it is all I have ever known."

V didn't move from her spot leaning against the railing. She looked at him as if a light came on in her mind. "Think… I finally get it. The poor guy's fuckin' terrified of taking the next step- just won't admit it."

"Arasaka was all V knew, and yet she managed to move on just fine," So Mi told him.

"And how did that work out for her? She now lives as code because she left Arasaka."

"Look, all I'm sayin' is it's never too late. You've still got a chance to move on."

Takemura opened his mouth to reply, but stopped when both of them got a call from Oda. "The distraction is ready," he reported. "If we are going to do this, we must do it now."

So Mi forced a deep breath in and out of her system as she stood up, moving away from the rail. "Let's do this."

Takemura nodded. "Very well. I will get in position, ready to follow the trucks to our objective. Oda, be ready to begin on her signal."

"I have been waiting. Let us get this over with already," Oda hissed.

As So Mi descended down the elevator, she made one last check over her gear. Her cyberdeck, strapped to her right hip, was as ready as it could be. It was beginning to show its age, and its reliability was questionable, but it was all she had. Besides, the familiarity that came with it was worth more than any modern cyberdeck she could by on the market nowadays. Holstered just below it on her thigh was the Kenshin pistol she'd taken from the hideout- fully loaded with three spare mags in her jacket. She was by no means an expert marksman, but with any luck, her FIA training would be enough to get her out of any potential jams she may find herself in.

Arriving on the sidewalk, So Mi looked across the street toward her objective. By her estimates, the easiest way in would be to use a transformer to step up over the wall. After slinking across the street, she knelt down beside the transformer. Her muscles tensed up as she began to radio Oda. A surge of memories from the war came rushing back- memories that she had hoped would stay locked away.

Feeling the disturbances So Mi felt, V picked up enough to put two and two together. "Banish that shit, So Mi. You're stronger than you were back then."

"No, V, I'm worse- far worse. Don't got the resources, my netrunning capabilities have been cut in half, and on top of it all, no Blackwall to save me if I get in trouble."

"That's exactly why you're stronger," V insisted, her voice softening. "You're not doing this for the NUS or Myers' fucked up goals, you're doing it for you. That's all you'll ever need."

Despite her best efforts, So Mi finally cracked a smile. "How do you come up with these cheesy-ass one-liners?"

"Spend long enough in someone else's head with nothing to pass the time, your mind wanders a bit."

With her spirits sufficiently lifted, So Mi stepped up onto the transformer. "Oda, it's go-time," she said softly.

Seconds later, a flash of orange accompanied by a loud boom lit up the night, followed by another and another in rapid succession. So Mi looked up to see explosions shaking the opposite end of the complex. Alarms began blaring and guards patrolling the area began running toward the destruction. That was her window. With only a little bit of difficulty, she heaved herself up over the wall and into the industrial park. A small security hub was blocking her view of the rest of the complex, and more importantly, the cameras mounted to the outside of the building were moments away from spotting her. She flipped open her cyberdeck in an instant, and sent a quickhack through the camera just as fast, bringing the whole cam network down in a matter of seconds.

"Alright, I'm in," So Mi whispered. "Woulda been nice if you told me what the hell your distraction was gonna be before you did it. Aren't you worried you might've gone overboard?"

"We had to be sure it would distract them long enough," Takemura replied. "Oda can handle himself. Once he loses his pursuers, he will meet up with me. Now, hurry!"

Pressing herself up against the side of the security hub, So Mi wrapped around the building. And with a better angle on her surroundings, she quickly spotted her target. Oda's diversion had drawn most of the guards away, but not all of them. A handful remained in the area, and one in particular was watching over the only path to the truck. She scanned around, dropping a ping or two to see what all was on the subnet. She decided to remotely open a shutter to the warehouse. The sound grabbed the guard's attention and she wasted no time in scurry over to the truck.

Just as she was about to climb into the back, however, her heart dropped as another Arasaka guard came around the corner. She flew back behind the truck, praying silently that they didn't see her. Creeping around the other side of the truck, So Mi poked her head out to see the guard inspecting the inside of the truck- presumably making one last check of its contents before sending it on its way. With limited options at her disposal, she took drastic action, uploading two quickhacks to the guard: rebooted optics and a sonic shock. The moment he was rendered blind and deaf, she seized her very small window and climbed inside of the truck, ducking down behind a tall stack of crates. Once his sight and hearing returned, the guard made one last cursory check of the truck's inventory, and when everything seemed accounted for, the doors heaved shut, encasing So Mi in darkness. Moments later, the engine rumbled to life.

"Truck's on the move," she reported softly to ensure the driver didn't hear her. "I hope you two know what you're doing."

"I could say the same for you," Oda replied. "Try not to get killed."

"We are following from a safe distance," Takemura replied. "Michiko-sama's people are waiting to help us."

V let out a bored sigh from within So Mi's mind. "And now we play the waiting game. Just get ready when we stop. Shit's gonna go from zero to a hundred fast."

"Not inspiring a whole lot of confidence, V," So Mi replied.

"Don't worry, Goro and Oda's skills are nothing to scoff at. They'll keep you safe," V assured her.

Suddenly, the truck's breaks began to squeak, and it began to slow down. So Mi braced herself for what was about to happen. With her pistol in one hand and her cyberdeck in the other, she stared toward the door, waiting for it to open. After one last turn, the truck came to a stop and the engine went silent. Her ears listened intently to the sound of footsteps hitting the pavement, working their way around the truck toward the back.

The moment the doors opened, So Mi sprung to life. Two shots erupted from her pistol, hitting the shoulder of the man who had the misfortune of opening the truck. As he staggered backwards, a short circuit quickhack was enough to finish him off. So Mi leapt out of the truck, surveying the area. They'd arrived at a small depot, but it was well-defended. The Arasaka operatives standing guard quickly took note of her, but before the two closest to her could fire their weapons, Oda and Takemura descended from above. Both their blades pierced through their targets effortlessly, and by the time the two operatives' bodies had hit the floor, they were already speeding off toward the next target.

Diving for cover behind a pallet of crates, So Mi was quick to take over the depot's cameras. She flipped through them with ease until she had a visual on the three guards closest to her position. She uploaded a single contagion quickhack to the one in the center and exited out of the cameras After giving it enough time to spread to the other two, she popped up from behind her hiding spot with her pistol drawn. Two shots knocked the first one down, and another two hit the second. In her haste to hit the last one, however, her first shots missed. Panic set in as she squeezed the trigger again and again and only when the pistol clicked angrily at her did she hit him.

As she turned around to focus on another group of enemies, So Mi's heart dropped as she found herself face-to-face with an Arasaka operative. His sword was already in motion, cleaving down on her like an executioner's axe. Before it could find its target, however, a pair of thermal mantis blades ripped right through his back, and he crumpled to the floor to reveal Oda standing behind him. The two exchanged a brief nod with each other only to see more operatives surrounding them. But before any of them could fire, their attention quickly turned to an AV with the Arasaka emblem on its coming to a hover above the depot- Michiko's people. The doors slid open and an Arasaka enforcement squad leapt out, opening fire on the depot guards. Oda and So Mi wasted no time in taking advantage of the chaos, taking down the guards that had surrounded them and moving the regroup with Takemura.

"We must go," Takemura insisted. "Michiko-sama's people will take care of the rest."

So Mi understood instantly. They couldn't be seen with regular Arasaka forces or else someone might put two and two together. It was more of the spy game that she had hoped to get away from. "Let's get moving then." She turned around and uploaded one last overheat quickhack before slipping away with the two Arasaka exiles.

As they made their way across the street, the three of them sat at a stall that had already closed for the night. There, they watched from a distance as Arasaka fought Arasaka, and before long, only Michiko's people remained. The bodies were shipped out in record time, and the depot sealed off from the outside.

"One step closer to finally ending Yorinobu's reign," Takemura said with a huff. "And yet… it still cannot come soon enough."

"And then what?" So Mi asked. "Everything magically goes back to normal?"

"You would not possibly understand what we seek," Oda barked back.

"Wouldn't I? I served the FIA faithfully for years- followed all Myers' orders, almost at the cost of my own life. And look where I am now: the same place as you. Your loyalty doesn't mean jack to them."

Takemura was silent for a moment, still staring ahead at the depot across the street. "As long as Yorinobu pays for murdering his father, it matters not to me." The expression on his face was unreadable. His brow furrowed and he sat up from the stall. "Stay out of trouble," he warned. "I will be in touch."

Without another word, he and Oda vanished into the darkness, leaving So Mi alone. Her gaze shifted back to the depot as the Arasaka soldiers began setting up a more defensive perimeter, and V appeared standing next to her, following her gaze. "Quite the clusterfuck we've found ourselves in," she remarked.

"With any luck, it'll all be over soon."

"That's what I'm worried about. The way I see it, the first battle of the Fifth Corporate War just went down, and we got drafted by fuckin' Arasaka of all people."

"Don't worry, once we've got the Relic, we'll disappear," So Mi assured the construct. "We'll get through this… together. I promise."

"I just wish you didn't have to keep throwing yourself in harms way when there's nothing I can do about it."

"You did the same for me at NCX. Just think of it as me returning the favor."

V looked at her with an almost pleading expression. "Just… be careful, please."

So Mi smiled, her physical hand intertwining with V's digital one. "I will, I promise."