Delicate ring-shaped surgical instruments whirred as they repaired the damage to Ethan's arm cyberware.
Dogtown ripperdocs were rough by nature. The clinics were run-down — some stadium ripperdocs even used converted toilets as operating rooms.
"That's some fresh chrome you've got. Shame to see it shot up. Your last ripperdoc was honest with you."
"The patched areas might not be as strong. Just be careful."
This was Longshore Stacks' ripperdoc — Costin — relatively skilled by local standards.
Ethan figured Viktor's clinic in Night City was too far for regular visits. He'd started coming to this Longshore Stacks doc for minor repairs. Of course, this guy — who liked hanging bloody synth-meat in his clinic — wasn't nearly as meticulous as Viktor.
"Also, you've been lifting heavy things with those cyberarms constantly, right? Some of the nano-muscle fibers are torn. I'd recommend replacing them."
Ethan lay in the chair and suddenly asked: "You got Gorilla Arms?"
Costin looked up at him. "You want that labor-grade stuff? Yeah, I've got options —"
"Some are stripped off Scavs. Previous owner's graffiti still on 'em."
Ethan felt a chill run down his spine.
"Also got some at eighty, ninety percent condition. The nicer ones look smoother, not as rough. The cheaper ones... your hands would be bigger than your head. Depends on your budget."
Ethan nodded. Gorilla Arms seemed to fit his needs. His Body stat was already high, and Gorilla Arms were common cyberware. Plus he needed something to handle the Nekomata's weight.
And if things got up close and personal? Nothing better than putting a fist through someone's face.
"Hsss!"
While Ethan was calculating how much Gorilla Arms would cost, even through the anesthesia, a sharp pain shot through his arm.
Costin started talking to distract him — ripperdoc gossip:
"Lots more psychos in the city lately. MaxTac and Trauma Team flying around everywhere —"
"Heard about one psycho who rushed into a building and flatlined an entire floor in ten seconds... When MaxTac arrived, every victim had at least three shots to the head. All bullets through the same eye."
"NCPD didn't even respond... Apparently officer pay got suspended. They're talking about privatizing the whole force."
Ethan blinked. "Ten seconds?"
"Probably some new corporate product. Whenever there's new tech, they test it on soldiers first. Then it mysteriously 'leaks' to the market. Then all the corps race to make safer civilian versions — calling it 'consumer-grade cyberware promotion.'"
Ethan didn't want to reveal too much to the doctor, so he stayed quiet. But he already had a guess.
If his memories were right, this tech existed back in Johnny Silverhand's era.
"Sandevistan. Hell of a thing." Costin let out a dry laugh.
Dogtown's lawless zone always had the freshest intel on weapons and military cyberware.
Just as Ethan suspected.
According to his memories, the base model Sandevistan had been in production for ages. What hit the market now were mostly decommissioned military-grade versions — corporate surplus with reduced effectiveness for civilian use.
In game terms: orange-tier gear with the insane features and side effects stripped out, downgraded to green or blue quality.
Purple tier at most. And those would have serious side effects.
As for orange-tier... Ethan didn't dare imagine.
He wasn't sure his body could handle it. After all, he had no way to check his Cyberware Capacity.
Actually, Ethan had always been curious about cyberpsychosis. What caused the mental breakdown from cyberware? Did military-grade implants really drive people insane?
Seeing Ethan fall silent, lost in thought, Costin smiled:
"You've got quite a bit installed already. Your previous doc gave you subdermal armor, titanium bones, ballistic coprocessor, pain editor... Then at my shop you added my best synaptic signal optimizer, biomonitor... But those are all verified low-risk implants."
"Thing is, the more you install, the more you want stronger chrome."
The doctor helped Ethan sit up as he spoke.
"When your ambitions grow and you want operating system implants — Sandevistan... add a Kerenzikov on top of that... With all that chrome running through you, I can't guarantee you won't have problems."
Costin stared directly at Ethan.
"So. You still want those Gorilla Arms?"
Ethan felt unsettled under the doctor's gaze.
What the hell? Even Gorilla Arms can trigger cyberpsychosis?
"No way, Gorilla Arms should be..."
The doctor cut him off.
"Install enough of anything, and it's possible. I've got a decent set here — take a look..."
Ethan examined them. They looked similar to the Gorilla Arms V used in the game. The proportions weren't exaggerated. Finger joints and knuckles were black mechanical bearings.
Seeing Ethan staring silently at the Gorilla Arms, Costin offered a deal for the regular customer.
"How about this — if you start forgetting things, getting hand tremors, can't sleep, constantly thinking about putting your fist through someone's skull... I can remove them. Just charge you a few days' rental fee. Sound fair?"
Ethan hesitated, then nodded. His Technical Ability was now unlocked, after all — that stat was directly linked to cyberware.
Even if he hadn't unlocked the perks yet.
"Alright. Install them."
Costin smiled, turned, and ducked through a small door behind him. He returned moments later with additional surgical equipment.
Pay first, surgery second. Dogtown rules.
The whole package cost Ethan sixty thousand eddies.
Hope this chrome doesn't disappoint.
Ethan lay back down. As the anesthesia took hold, everything faded to gray.
Outside the ripperdoc clinic, Maine's crew waited by the van. Rebecca sat inside, chin propped on the window frame, looking bored. Maine buried his face in his upturned collar, silently smoking.
Everyone's wounds were patched with skin-seal strips. All the bandaging had been done before Ethan's surgery.
One crew. Except for Rebecca, all chain-smokers.
"Maine, why's this kid taking so long?" Pilar didn't see the point in waiting.
"Shut up." Maine's reply was blunt.
Dorio's cigarette had nearly burned down to the filter. She knew what Maine was thinking.
"That guy's probably been installing a lot of chrome behind our backs."
Maine nodded. "I can't wrap my head around it. The face has so many nerve endings — takes a few bullets and he's still bouncing around. No wonder he never hits the bars, never buys a nice car, never blows money at city clubs."
"What if this kid goes psycho?"
Pilar's optical implant was a raised red line. His expression was unreadable.
Dorio shook her head. "As long as it's not military-grade stuff. Should be..."
Clearly, even she wasn't confident.
Just as the crew was forming different opinions about their new partner, an unknown contact pinged Maine's comms.
\ Notes:
[Costin]: Ripperdoc at the Longshore Stacks fast travel point in Dogtown. Also works as a butcher selling synth-meat.
[Gorilla Arms]: Limb cyberware. A classic, reliable replacement for natural limbs, suited for heavy physical labor. (Official lore)
[NCPD Privatization]: Before 2076, Night City's crime rate was sky-high. Officer pay was low, municipal funding was cut — all pushing toward privatization of law enforcement.
[Cyberware Capacity]: In Cyberpunk 2077, this quantifies cyberware tolerance. The protagonist here can't see this value, hence his anxiety about installing new chrome.
[Kerenzikov]: Nervous system cyberware. Allows aiming and shooting while dodging. When sliding or dodging while blocking, aiming, or attacking, time slows down. (This is essentially time-dilation chrome — the doctor's warning isn't without merit.)