"I have a commission and need a hacker. Interested?"
"Tell me."
Rocky goes straight to the point; Lucy doesn't look surprised. She isn't eager, but she still chooses to hear the job first.
"It's related to Arasaka. Look at the chip."
Rocky takes out the datachip and offers it. Hearing "Arasaka," Lucy's calm ripples—half a beat off—then smooths. She pushes the chip away.
"Sorry. Not interested."
Lucy has been running from Arasaka and trying to live outside its shadow. Her fear is bigger than her hate. Stealing a chip off some Arasaka "company dog?" Fine. A commission that touches Arasaka and its upper tiers? She exits immediately. Whether the job helps Arasaka or targets it, she doesn't want in.
"Why? Because it's Arasaka?" Rocky says. "Relax. The chip isn't Arasaka intel, and no Arasaka agents will be sent to kill you. Just look first. It's a big job—sixty thousand euros. Split by three, you get twenty."
He didn't expect an instant refusal, but he understands it. If a stranger asked him to poke Arasaka, he'd refuse too.
Lucy hesitates, then takes the chip and scans the commission.
"The targets are the company dogs listed here. Remove them and block Arasaka's cooperation project. We move the day after tomorrow. Don't worry about retaliation after. Militech will carry the consequences."
While she reads, Rocky gives the short version. When she finishes, Lucy pulls the chip, returns it, and shakes her head.
"This is what you mean by 'related to Arasaka'? Even if someone covers the blowback, do you know where this takes place? That's Konpeki Plaza—Arasaka's turf. You want me to hack that network? That's suicide. I'm out. Find someone else. Maybe Kiwi wants to wade into this."
Her second refusal lands harder. Asking her to work inside Konpeki is like walking into a wolf den, never mind cracking Arasaka ICE.
"I don't get it. You seem afraid of Arasaka. Why? It's just Konpeki Plaza, not assassinating Saburo Arasaka. What's so great about Arasaka?"
Rocky knows her worry; persuading her won't be easy.
"Whether I'm afraid of Arasaka has nothing to do with you," Lucy snaps. "Easy for you to say. You don't understand Arasaka. You don't know how terrifying they are. I can't do it."
The word "afraid" hits a nerve. Her voice lifts and sharpens. The crowd noise covers it.
Rocky feels his own pulse rise. He drains his drink, sets the cup aside, and answers louder than she spoke.
"I don't understand Arasaka? You don't understand me. I know exactly what Arasaka is—and I don't care.
"In my eyes, Arasaka is the same as any other trash company. I hate them, but I will never fear them.
"They've sat above everyone too long. What we should do isn't silence or fear. We should turn our bodies into fire. Even if we're unworthy and broken, we should make them see the world won't rot forever under their shadow. Someone will resist. Someone will drag them off the altar, pull them into hell, and burn them to ash.
"Watch. One day I'll make them understand. I'll climb over their blood-soaked bones and stand on their heads."
Lucy freezes, startled by the force of it. She doesn't know him—doesn't even know his name yet—but the words hit center.
She remembers Arasaka's devil training since childhood. No family warmth. After training, thrown into the Old Net to mine data. Mission after mission; companions dying one by one; never knowing when it would be her turn. That kind of childhood makes you hate Arasaka more than anyone else—and teaches you that destroying it is impossible. So her dream could only be escape: far from Arasaka, to somewhere they can't find her—to the moon.
Now someone stands in front of her and says he'll destroy Arasaka. Unrealistic? Yes. But the vow still moves something inside.
Silence breathes. Lucy steadies herself. After a moment, she says, quietly:
"Maybe you're right. But even so, I still feel… I can't do it. Arasaka's system ICE is thick and dangerous, and they have their own netrunners. I don't have confidence. Mainly… I really am afraid of Arasaka."
Rocky's words soften her stance; the distance between them shrinks, but hesitation remains.
"Lucy, Rebecca says your skill is excellent—a genius. I don't know what grudge you have with Arasaka or why you fear it, but I believe you can do this and beat that fear.
"And if you join my team, I'll protect you. If Arasaka comes for you, I'll be the first to storm Arasaka Tower."
"Do you really believe I can do it? Can I… actually do it?"
Lucy studies the confident smile and blanks for a second. Does he hear himself? Believe she can handle it off a few vouches—and promise to storm Arasaka Tower for her?
She doesn't take the promise literally, but her mood lifts anyway; a rare smile lands.
After thinking a bit, she nods.
"I really can't do anything about you. Fine. I'll take it. But you'd better make sure things are exactly like you said—no extra trouble."
"Haha. Of course. My name is L."
"Lucy."
She looks at his face and feels a small helplessness. He walked up, said a few things, and she boarded his ship without noticing.
But maybe that isn't bad. She's genuinely curious about him now.
He said she doesn't know him. Getting to know him sounds like a good idea. If what he said is true—if he really aims to stand on Arasaka's head—that will be interesting to watch.