"In some ways, you might not even realize just how captivating your body is.
It's not just that beautiful face of yours. Beyond that, your enviable talent is something others would kill to have."
Inside the AV, Abernathy sat with her legs crossed, her eyes roaming over V, who slumped weakly across from her.
"Your abilities are plain for everyone to see. That's a good thing—at least for those on your side.
But if you're not one of us, the company will crush you..."
On the sofa opposite, V lay helpless, the dizziness from the neural lockdown still crashing over her in waves.
Her eyes weren't on Abernathy at all. Instead, she stared blankly at the ceiling of the car.
Whether the rescue succeeded or failed, Arasaka would never have her body.
The Blackwall program in her head could not only tear through the company's netlock, but, if necessary, burn her brain out completely.
Her empty gaze fixed on the car's ornate ceiling.
In the glimmering crystal chandelier, it almost seemed like countless versions of her own face stared back at her.
Maybe Jackie had been right—she didn't belong here. And this damned "misfit" status wasn't something that could ever be reconciled.
The AV's engines thrummed beneath her. After a brief wave of spatial disorientation, it was clear—they had departed.
The vehicle soared out of the dock and into the skies above the Corporate Plaza.
This was a sky fenced in by the megacorp towers, a space ordinary people on the ground could only dream of approaching.
...
Meanwhile, in Vik's underground clinic.
Arthur sat in a chair, looking relaxed enough, though he hadn't even bothered to take off his coat.
The chip in his head stayed silent. Honestly, he'd prefer it just buzzed with some ordinary call.
The fact there was no word from V meant this job still had loose ends.
He tried dialing in, but the line never connected properly... The chance of something having gone wrong wasn't small.
"Still nothing from the girl?"
From deeper inside the clinic, Vik set his tools aside and glanced over at him.
"Let's wait a bit longer. She has her ways of reaching me."
Arthur's hoarse reply came as he frowned, pulling off his hat and holding it in both hands.
"And that kid? How's he doing?"
Still clutching the hat, Arthur rose to his full height and walked toward the operating table at the center of the clinic.
At the question, Vik's gaze followed, settling on the boy lying unconscious before him.
Lucy, standing by the wall near the bed, couldn't help shifting her attention there as well.
The anesthesia still had him under. Or maybe, after the hell he'd been through these last days, his body just needed the rest.
"His condition... hard to sum up. But he's alive, and that's the best news we've got."
Vik rubbed his chin as he continued.
"Those blockers mainly targeted his Cyberware, so they didn't do much direct harm to his body.
The real damage came when he forced his way through—too much current, more than any cell could withstand.
It tore through his spine. The implants' safeguards caught most of it, but his body still took a serious beating."
"Harm... what kind of harm?"
Arthur tilted his hat toward David and asked.
"It shouldn't leave him paralyzed, but... he'll probably have spasms, seizures, maybe lose control at times.
All of that should ease with time, though whether he fully recovers... I can't say.
And the Cyberware may put more strain on him now.
He might never be quite so 'special' again..."
Vik's tone carried unease. He glanced around the room, but seeing Arthur and Lucy's expressions, he eased a little, just as they had.
As a doctor, he couldn't help but worry about lingering complications. But as a friend—this was far from the worst outcome.
Few survived after crossing Arasaka and lived to tell about it.
As long as he was alive, there was still endless possibility.
"Looks like... this clinic's about to have another regular.
Let's just hope he keeps it together and doesn't end up pissing himself."
Arthur tossed out the joke without much energy, then fell quiet again.
Such weak humor did nothing to settle the unease gnawing at him. He was still worried—worried about his friend.
Just as the mood grew heavier, a weak yet relieved voice rose from the bed.
"Good to see you all again..."
David's face twisted with pain as he spoke, but his grin was wide enough to split his face in two.
"I've gotta ask again... That disgusting fatass Tanaka—he's really dead, right? I saw it with my own eyes."
He tried to sit up, gritting his teeth through the pain, and somehow managed it.
"Looks like you've been stuck with that fat bastard these past few days. Must've been rough. He's ugly as hell...
When I lined up the shot at his face, I almost turned my head away."
Seeing him awake, Arthur stepped back a few paces, leaving space for Lucy beside the bed.
Hearing once more that the disgusting fatass was dead, David naturally lit up again.
"Good. He died nice and quick—that's too kind for that son of a bitch."
"Son of a bitch... doubtful any dog could whelp something that size..."
Arthur shrugged at his own offhand jab, then fixed his gaze on David.
"You don't sound all that satisfied with how he went.
That's some taste you've got. I mean... if you still want another round, you could always track him down again.
But if you let Arasaka catch you one more time, I'll leave you to rot."
"Come on, Arthur.
This one's not on me.
Arasaka Academy has my behavioral model—they can trace me crystal clear.
And then that fixer breaking the rules...
There's no guarding against wolves forever. Hell, I didn't even know one was stalking me."
David protested with an innocent look, his voice carrying a hint of grievance.
"Yeah, plenty of reasons.
Maybe you're better off picking a safer line.
Like... lying on the street, begging for change?
Nah, scratch that. I'd bet good money the Scavs would just snatch you up again."