Corpo Plaza. Arasaka Tower, thirty-third floor.
Arasaka Counterintelligence.
In an office cubicle, a department employee examined a report that had arrived on his terminal that morning.
[Arasaka Counterintelligence Investigation Report: NC8754699]
[Subject: Ascension Technology]
[Investigator: Steven]
[Preliminary investigation into Ascension Technology Power Stimulant Type II, recently distributed through underground clinics, is complete.]
[The stimulant increases the user's movement speed for one minute. No effects of greater value have been identified at this stage.]
[Ascension Technology receives orders from underground clinics by email and employs mercenaries to deliver its products. No further company information or personnel have been located.]
[Awaiting instructions on whether to continue the investigation.]
He skimmed the report without interest, then typed his response.
[The report does not establish a specific intelligence value for this company. Suspend further investigation pending new activity. Lower the investigation's priority by one level.]
[Prepare a preliminary analysis and value assessment of the stimulant mentioned in the report. Forward both to Logistics Support.]
With a few quick inputs, he sent the instructions to the employee handling the investigation.
"What a load of crap. Same shit every day."
He stretched in his chair. Investigating this supposed Ascension Technology was one of the smallest matters to cross his desk.
Strange new products appeared in Night City every day. Most were worthless. As far as Arasaka was concerned, this stimulant was little different.
A so-called technology company had produced an ordinary stimulant. That hardly warranted attention. If it had mattered, the report wouldn't have taken so many days to reach him. Its priority had been low from the start.
"I envy you. V. Jenkins takes a shine to you, and suddenly your career's got a rocket strapped to it."
Across the cubicle, V looked up from his work at the sound of his name.
"It's not that dramatic."
His colleague rolled his chair over and leaned out to look at him.
"Come on. Everyone's heard Jenkins wants you in Corporate Espionage. Keep performing, and sooner or later the rest of us will be taking orders from you."
V shook his head.
"All right. You're not wrong."
Since arriving at Night City's counterintelligence division, V's abilities had caught the attention of their boss, Jenkins. He had personally assigned V responsibility for numerous operations.
Everyone knew the kid had a future. V knew it, too. He cooperated enthusiastically with Jenkins and did his best with every assignment.
Everyone in a corporation wanted to climb. V was no exception.
"Seriously, though, is it happening? People have been talking for days. You're still here."
"It's happening. Jenkins said a transfer across grades needs approval from above. Might take a little longer."
Jenkins had told him personally that he would be moving to a higher-level operations team. So far, nothing had happened. Even an approval process shouldn't have taken this long.
But V couldn't exactly march in and ask Jenkins what was taking so much time. He could only wait.
As they talked, a call came through from Jenkins himself.
"V. Come to my office. Now."
"On my way."
His colleague grinned.
"Looks like the golden boy's got another assignment."
"Give it a rest."
"All right, all right. Just don't push yourself too hard. Being at the top isn't always a good thing. You know the head of Intelligence Tracking? Another one of Jenkins's favorites. One of the biggest names in the department."
He lowered his voice.
"Heard someone saw her throwing up in the bathroom today. Really going at it. Stress, probably. Don't end up like that."
"Gossiping about her behind her back? Aren't you worried she'll hear?"
V knew who he meant. She was a powerful figure in the department. He'd only met her a few times, but her distinctive dark-red hair, arranged almost like three petals, had left an impression.
"Hey, I'm looking out for you. Besides, I know you. You're not going to spread it around."
"All right. I'll keep it in mind. Thanks."
He needed to see Jenkins. After a few words to placate his talkative coworker, V left the cubicle.
The office was nearby. A short walk brought him face-to-face with his boss.
Jenkins wore a precisely tailored suit. Combined with his air of authority, it made his status obvious at a glance.
"You're here. Sit."
V pulled out a chair. Before he could ask what this was about, Jenkins continued.
"I have an assignment for you. This one is different. It doesn't come from the corporation. It comes from me. Personally."
His voice was clear and firm. He didn't sound as though he was inviting discussion.
"Understood. Can you tell me what's involved?"
"Look at this first."
Jenkins slid a box containing a data shard across the desk.
"A shard?"
"Yes. The relevant information is on it."
Something felt wrong. Corporate assignments normally came through the internal network. Even a private job for Jenkins shouldn't require a physical shard.
This was how freelance mercs exchanged information. It meant the contents couldn't be allowed to be seen in the open. Presumably, neither could the assignment itself.
V understood that this was unusual. But he'd come this far. He kept his emotions under control, took the shard, and slotted it in.
The information loaded, revealing his target.
"This is...?"