POV: Yumi
Just… couldn't sleep. I had managed to crawl myself to the couch. With the Cats following me to it. Blitz on my thighs purring deeply. Halo had moved to the armrest. I kept lighting cigarettes. One after another. The ashtray was almost filled. I told myself, "This would be my last one," a while ago, I'd check my pack and see that I only had 3 more left. Fuck I needed to get more.
My ribs pulled whenever I breathed too deeply. Her last message sat there in my feed as i kept staring at it. She was late....
"Everything's fine. I'll be back before midnight.
Can't wait for our date this weekend. You're picking the place this time."
I read it again. And again. Midnight came and went, and I kept telling myself maybe she was stuck in traffic, was getting food, or some corpo elevator glitch. I typed "You okay, need me to send a rescue team?" and didn't send it, deleted it and typed "call me?" and deleted that too. Didn't want to be that girl after one week. Pathetic how fast I got attached.
I'd watch the night sky from my large window, well, not that there was much to watch. I thought about how soft her hands were, how soft her lips were. The Blitz knocked my lighter off the table. I couldn't help but curse, and I bent over to try and fish for it. Thankfully, I found it quickly. I took another slow drag.
My feed pinged once.
Rebecca: You up? I stared at it. Typed "yeah, what's up?" and sent.
Blank bubble. The little "typing…" blinked on, then disappeared. That's odd...
Rebecca: "Me and Pilar will be swinging by in a few minutes." Rebecca, without a joke, meant something was wrong. I told myself it was a drop-off food or just a simple check-up. Something simple.
I slid the ashtray closer so I'd stop ashing the table. Halo meowed like she agreed. Blitz stretched and touched my stump. I hissed through my teeth. I checked the door cam. Static for a second, until a few people on my floor walked past. Another cigarette wouldn't hurt. For a minute, I tried to think about the date. The weekend. I pictured a noodle place, maybe? If not a movie? I pictured her across from me, elbows on the table, hair tucked behind her ear, and I'd pretend not to stare at her. I pictured myself telling her some stupid story about Gotham; she seemed to like those.
I wiped the table with a shirt sleeve. I tried to stand on instinct, and forgot I was missing a leg, ended up dropping back onto the cushion, and laughed. Fine. Couch it is. It's a bit odd not to have a leg, like your body still believes it's still there.
I could see my reflection in the window. I looked like I hadn't slept. Because I hadn't. I ran a hand through my hair. The shoulder was a bit stiff. I reached for the couch blanket Mama wellis had gifted me. I couldn't decide if I wanted to wrap myself up or not. I just needed something to keep my mind busy. I took out one of my shards and was moving it around my fingers before setting it on the table and taking a deep breath.
The cats jumped off me and hit the floor and stared at the door.
Knock.
I didn't move but allowed whoever was knockin in.
The lock slid open, and two people walked in. I turned to look, and it was Rebecca and Pilar. Rebecca's eyes clocked the room in one sweep. Pilar tried to smile, but it was so forced.
"Hey," I said. Voice sounded normal. That was something.
"Hey," Rebecca said. Halo went right to her. Rebecca scratched her head, still watching me. Pilar set a paper bag on the counter. I smelled something fried and sweet. My stomach rolled and settled.
"Nobody died, right?" I said it with a smile I didn't feel. Half joke. Half not. I hate that I said it. I hate that my mouth got there before my brain. They didn't answer for a second. I watched both their faces and felt my chest go cold from the inside out.
"Tell me," I said. Quiet.
Rebecca took a breath like she was about to swim. Pilar looked at the floor. The cats wove between their ankles, purring like idiots. Rebecca moved closer to stand in front of me. Close. Not touching. Pilar hovered by the counter with the bag.
"Yumi," Rebecca said. Voice low. "It's Sasha."
Everything in me went quiet.
"No.. Rebecca nows not the time for jokes like this..."
"She didn't make it," she said. "It was supposed to be easy. In and out. She stayed to finish something, and security hit the room. She fell out of the window."
I didn't breathe, couldn't. My hands started shaking on their own. "Y...no...," I said. Barely a sound.
"Biotechnica tower," Rebecca answered. She was meant to grab some data and leave. That's what we learned from Maine. She stayed for some reason; she even ended up cutting coms. We don't know what distracted her." Her mouth twitched like she wanted to bite something. "He tried to call her....." She stopped. Swallowed. "Then it went bad."
I nodded like I understood.... I felt tears hot and steady down my face. My hands wouldn't stop trembling. Halo hopped back onto the couch and pressed against my hip. Blitz paced, whining, didn't know where to put himself.
Pilar finally moved. He set the food down closer to me and stood closer. "We came as soon as he pinged," he said. Voice soft. "I'm sorry."
Rebecca raked a hand through her hair and blew out a breath that shook on the end. "She should've just gotten the intel and fucking left," she snapped at the room, at me, at herself. "You two—" She pointed at the floor between us. "You're the same brand of stupid. Always solo. Always 'I got it.'" She looked like she wanted to throw the coffee table and then remembered where she was.
I looked at the blank TV, which I had on mute; it appeared to be breaking news and was at the spot Rebecca had said Sasha had been at. I unmuted it.
[NCN24 // Breaking Segment: "Corporate Breach at Biotechnica Facility"]
(Opening jingle blares. The NCN24 logo flashes over shaky drone footage of a Biotechnica high-rise cordoned off by NCPD AVs. Sirens wail faintly in the background.)
ANCHOR – Rina DeLora: "Good evening, Night City. We're following breaking news out of the Charter Hill district. Biotechnica's downtown research facility is under lockdown tonight following what sources describe as a 'major internal security event.'
Details are scarce, but early reports indicate a lone intruder infiltrated the complex late this afternoon. Several internal defense units were deployed before the situation was contained. Biotechnica security has not confirmed casualties, though NCPD traffic control briefly restricted airspace over the district."
(Cut to a holo overlay of the building with glowing red perimeter markers.)
RINA:
"An anonymous data drop sent to our newsroom claims the incident involved classified research under Biotechnica's Securicine division, a subsidiary known for advanced cyber-medical products. We cannot independently verify the authenticity of these files, but portions reference issues that have been happening to people taking this drug.
(Feed cuts to a suited spokesman framed by Biotechnica logos, voice steady and corporate-smooth.)
MARTIN KERSEY, Biotechnica Public Affairs: "This was an isolated act of sabotage by an unidentified hostile element. No sensitive information was compromised. We are cooperating fully with NCPD Cybercrime and remain committed to helping those in medical need and scientific transparency."
(He smiles.)
RINA:
"Transparency… right. When asked about claims of leaked patient-side trials connected to experimental nano-serums, Biotechnica declined further comment. NCPD spokespeople have confirmed no arrests were made, and no body was found.
NetWatch has issued a brief warning advising citizens not to download or distribute any of the leaked material, citing 'active corporate counter-measures.' We'll keep you updated as this story develops."
(Outro music plays. The camera pans to the glowing Biotechnica tower — half lit, half dark, smoke trailing from a blown security window. The anchor's voice fades out over the jingle.)
NCN24 – "Your City, Your Truth."
Rebecca took the remote and killed the sound. The screen kept flashing police tape and smoke. I kept staring at the screen. Pilar moved first. He slid the ashtray away, then hooked an arm under mine. "C'mon," he said, quietly. He picked me up like a kid and carried me to the bed by the big window. Rebecca dragged the blanket along.
They set me so I could see the glass and the bright lie of the city past it.
Pilar disappeared into the kitchen and came back with three beers. He opened mine, set it in my hand, then opened his and Rebecca's. And so we sat in silence, and we just drank.
I lit another cigarette. The lighter shook in my fingers, so Pilar ended up lighting it for me. Smoke went up and hit the ceiling. Pilar's eyes slid to the table. "What's that shard?"
"Don't touch it," I said. Still staring at the window. "It's private." He lifted his hands like he'd been caught stealing. "No problem." Time crawled. The building made its night sounds—distant arguments. Rebecca's foot jiggled against the bed frame, then stopped when she noticed. Pilar sat on the floor with his back to the wall. I checked my balance. Enough for what I'd been eyeing. Scarecrow or Sumbra.
"Legs will hit in the morning," Pilar said. "Courier said early window around 10." He hesitated, then added, "I'm staying. We'll get you to Vik soon as they land."
I nodded. The idea of walking again felt like something I should want to celebrate....
I must've drifted, because the next blink it was darker on one side of the window and lighter on the other. The city swapped from neon to sun-bleached neon. My mouth tasted stale. My eyes burned.
A knock hit the door. Firm. Two beats. Then again. Rebecca was already up with the gun in her hand. She checked the cam, rolled her eyes, and pulled the door.
Delivery guy. Box on a dolly. He started his pitch and found himself staring down a barrel. He threw his hands up fast. "It's parts," he said, voice cracking.
"Yeah," Rebecca answered, flat. "Don't twitch or ill Zero you."
Pilar rolled his shoulders, stood, and took the tablet. He checked the label, peeled the seal, and scanned the serial on the crate. "Matches," he said. Pilar signed with a swipe, shoved the tablet back into the guy's chest, and jerked his chin at the hall. "Now fuck off."
The door slid shut. Quiet again. I pushed hair out of my eyes and sat up slowly. The crate sat in the middle of the rug, and thankfully, it wasn't all that big. Matte black. Mag-locks along the edges. Little status light pulsing sleepy blue. Rebecca toed it once, then crouched and popped the latches.
My new legs looked back at me.
Gradient shells from violet to a cool blue at the ankles. " The outer layer is that synth-dermal stuff that takes dye live, so it can match skin tone comes after install. Subdermal armor muscle is layered under the shell of the legs. Small armor plates rode the calf and Achilles channels. Damn, Yumi, you got some prem stuff here," Pilar said as he checked the file on the crate.
"Wide, soft pads on the toes and bits of the underfoot. Catlike. Toe segmentation is built to help minimize noise." Rebecca said as she brushed a knuckle over one pad. It flexed under the pressure, then settled.
"Vik," I said. My voice was sandpaper. "The faster we can git this done... the faster I can get on my feet..."
Pilar glanced at me and closed the case, moving closer, he hooked an arm under mine. "Alright, up," he murmured. He let me climb onto his back like it was nothing. He was warm and steady. Rebecca slid the crate up onto her shoulder and palmed the door.
Hallway lights buzzed. Far end, a couple argued in whispers over a vending machine jam. Someone shuffled by in socks, booty shorts, and a crop top. The smell of cheap noodles and bleach sat in the air.
People who looked our way gave us a passing glance before returning to whatever they were doing. They minded their own which was good. My cheek rested against Pilar's shoulder. His shirt smelled like beer and cheap soap, while his hands were holding me up by my ass, you know, given that I was missing a leg, I'd let it slide. We reached the elevator. Rebecca hit the button. We waited in that weird pocket of silence where nobody wants to think.
The gate slid sideways. A guy in a stained work jacket nearly walked into Rebecca's muzzle, froze, squeaked out a sorry, and sidestepped like his life depended on it. It probably did. Pilar stepped in with me, and Rebecca followed. She punched Lobby. The panel reflected my face back at me, hollow eyes, flat mouth, hair slightly a mess.
The elevator opened in the lobby. Morning had that annoying glow that bothered your eyes from, well, if you had normal ones, that is. Pilar hitched me higher on his back. Rebecca shifted the crate on her shoulder and kept her other hand low by the gun. We crossed the floor and went down the steps. The air tasted like wet concrete and old noodles. Delivery carts rattled past. A kid zipped by on a board and almost crashed into someone.
Rebecca lifted a hand to flag a cab. Two slid by like we were invisible. The third one slowed down, saw the crate and the iron on her hip, and kept going. "Fuck it," Pilar said, already had his eyes glowing blue, the type that means he was making a call. We waited on the steps. Rebecca set the crate down and rolled her shoulders. I watched the traffic smear. My head felt packed with cotton and static. I didn't want to talk to anyone.
Five minutes stretched. A siren wailed somewhere else. Blitz would've chased it if he were here. I thought about the cats and stopped. A car brakes squealed down the block. Maine pulled to the curb. He killed the engine and climbed out.
He looked at me first. That hit harder than I wanted. "Kid," he said. I stared at the car door and didn't answer. Maine swallowed whatever he was about to say and turned to the crate instead. "Let's move."
Pilar shifted me off his back and into Maine's arms long enough for Rebecca to heave the box into the bed. Maine handled me like weight nothing, but then again, he had more croom than some people I know. He set me into the back passenger seat gently, belt across my ribs without pinching the wrap. Shut the door softly.
Pilar hauled himself into the back. Maine climbed in, set the heater at my feet without asking, and pulled out, with Rebecca riding shotgun. Street noise filled the gaps; well, that was what I was trying to focus on, while the others spoke.
Rebecca talked. "Vik's expecting us. You pinged him?"
"Yeah," Pilar said. "He's ready."
Maine glanced over once. I kept my eyes on the window. He tried anyway. "Listen… it was supposed to be—" I didn't look at him. Didn't want to hear it. Rebecca gave him a look and shook her head, in a way to tell him now wasn't the right time. Pilar leaned forward. "You want water?"
I shook my head. The motion made the world tilt a little. The belt kept me in place. We cut into Watson. We came out near the market, Misty's sign sat two doors down from the clinic entrance, glass fogged from incense. The front shutters were half up, the little bell tied with a frayed ribbon.
Maine eased to the curb. No one moved for a second. Then Rebecca moved first. Pilar popped his door and planted himself to lift me. Maine checked the street to make sure no one tried anything.