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In a dimly lit corner of a Kabuki eatery, V had already finished ordering lunch when Kael arrived. The timing was surgical—perfectly synchronized with the arrival of the hot dishes.
"You've got something on your face. Clean it up, it's unprofessional."
V tossed a tissue across the table with a flick of his wrist, his corporate-honed disdain barely masked.
"What?" Kael touched his cheek, confused. He looked at the faint lipstick smear on his fingers and let out a wry, triumphant smile. "What would a single dog like you know? This is a souvenir from Lucy's affection."
"Heh. Indulging in broad daylight? You'll be looking for a kidney replacement by the end of the year at this rate."
"Nonsense. My original hardware is in peak condition. Besides, why are you still single, V? Is it because the overtime at Arasaka has left you too drained to find a woman, or have you just forgotten what 'organic' feels like?"
Kael's eyes glinted with genuine sympathy. It was a tactical strike; the truth was a sharper blade than any lie. V's body had indeed taken a beating from years of corporate ladder-climbing and sleep deprivation. He was already considering high-grade chrome for his internal organs, but he wasn't about to admit that to Kael.
"I didn't come here to talk about my anatomy."
"You started it, choomba."
"Enough," V snapped, before sliding a data-shard across the table. Kael picked it up, slotted it into his neck port, and closed his eyes.
The data flooded his vision. The "Accidental Car Crash" narrative was a cheap fabrication. His father had been a casualty of an internal purge orchestrated by a manager in the Special Operations Department. They had outsourced the hit to a Tyger Claw kill-squad to mask the corporate trail. The goal: to gut Jenkins's faction within Counter-Intelligence.
"Thank you," Kael said, removing the shard and crushing the physical medium between two fingers. The data was already backed up in his personal secure storage.
"Don't thank me. It was a debt," V said, finally picking up his fork. "But listen closely: I found the Tyger Claws who pulled the trigger. You can zero them whenever you like. But the manager? He's untouchable for now. If you hit an Arasaka executive, Abernathy will use the investigation to bury Jenkins, and we'll both end up as scrap metal."
"I understand," Kael nodded. "I'm a patient man."
V leaned in, his tone dropping an octave. "I also found a lead on a high-stakes project Abernathy is spearheading. It's managed by Tanaka—you might remember him from the Arasaka Academy board. It's a specialized cybernetic implants initiative called 'Project King Kong'."
Kael's mind sharpened. He knew exactly what "King Kong" would become. He hadn't expected the timeline to accelerate this quickly.
"It's a prototype designed to counter Militech's heavy-infantry," V continued. "They're struggling to find a test subject who can handle the neural load. Tanaka is the key. If that project succeeds, Abernathy will have enough leverage to take over the entire department."
"Understood," Kael said. "Tanaka is a board member, but he's weak within the corporate hierarchy. I'll handle him. I'm sure Militech would be very interested to know Arasaka is closing the gap on their military tech."
"It's a good thing you dropped out, Kael," V remarked, watching him with a mix of respect and unease. "If we were in the same department, I'd be constantly checking my back for your knives."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Kael shrugged, finishing his steak. "Waiter! Pack the most expensive set on the menu for takeout. My girl hasn't eaten yet."
V didn't blink. It was all going on the corporate expense account anyway. Arasaka could afford to buy Lucy lunch.
Later that afternoon, Kael stood outside Lizzie's Bar.
"We aren't open for business," Rita snapped, blocking his path with her signature metal bat. She was still harboring a grudge after Kael had turned down her low-paying "charity" missions.
"I'm not here for business, Rita. I'm here for you." Kael flashed his most disarming smile.
"My personal hours are even more expensive," she countered, though her grip on the bat loosened.
Kael stepped closer, putting a buddy-buddy hand on her shoulder. "Don't be like that. We're friends, right?"
The charm offensive worked. Rita's posture softened. "What do you want, BT? Speak fast."
"I need to track some Tyger Claws. Specific names."
Rita's feline eyes narrowed. The Moxes had the best street-level intelligence in the city; their girls heard everything behind closed doors. And being stationed in Tyger territory made them experts on their rivals' movements.
"I can help. But why should I? You've been ghosting my contracts."
"Money? Eddies usually smooth things over."
"You think the Moxes are short on cash?" Rita scoffed, though it was a blatant lie. Between protecting sex workers and maintaining Lizzie's, the gang was perpetually broke.
"Then what do you want?"
"I want you," Rita said, her gaze turning predatory.
"I have a girlfriend, Rita. And you're... a bit too much 'silicone' for my taste," Kael said, looking her up and down. She was attractive in a plastic-doll way, but he preferred the real deal.
"Get lost! I wasn't talking about that!" Rita kicked his shin, yelping as she stubbed her own toe against his reinforced boots. "I want you to take a Mox contract. We have a problem that needs a scalpel, not a hammer."
"Prices are high, Rita. You know the rate."
"Just one job. To settle a score," Rita urged. "A Tyger Claw lieutenant killed one of our sisters. He's on our blacklist, but he's chromed-to-the-gills and surrounded by shooters. We can't hit him without losing a dozen girls."
Kael thought about it. The Tyger Claws were already on his list for his father's murder. Cleaning up a Mox problem along the way was just good efficiency.
"Fine. You find my targets, I'll zero your blacklist. A fair trade."
Rita's expression shifted, becoming alluring as she pressed her hand against Kael's chest. "No Eddies? You sure you don't want a 'private' thank you?"
Kael slapped her hand away with a smirk. "I'm doing this for free, and you're still trying to take advantage of me? Save it for a client, Rita."
"Hmph. Your loss." Rita flipped him the bird but was secretly relieved. "Send me the names. I'll ping you when I have a location."
Kael rode his Nazaré to Viktor's clinic. He was surprised to see Jackie already there, sitting on the edge of the operating table and smelling of fresh antiseptic and blood.
"You went under the knife?" Kael asked.
Jackie looked a bit groggy. "Updated the circulatory system... added some high-grade subcutaneous armor. Blew half the Militech payout on it."
"Take it easy with the Chrome, Jackie," Kael warned. "Don't get addicted, or I'll be the one having to hunt you down when you redline into Cyberpsychosis. I'd hate to have to look after Misty for you."
"Aha! I knew it! You've got a thing for her!" Jackie barked, though he looked genuinely worried.
"Good that you noticed," Kael deadpanned, ruffling Jackie's hair.
"Don't listen to him, Jackie," Viktor laughed from the side. "He's just messing with your head."
Viktor handed Kael a crate of the latest military-grade healing agents. "You've been making waves in Pacifica, kid. The Animals are talking about you."
"The Animals? Why?"
"They're impressed. You took down a whole squad without using a gun. Now they want to challenge the 'Famous BT' to an underground pit-fight. They don't want revenge; they just want to see if you're the real deal."
"Not interested," Kael said, transferring the Eddies for the meds. "I don't fight for sport."
"Wait, what about me?!" Jackie interjected, feeling slighted. "I was there too! I took down three of those 'roid-monsters!"
Viktor looked at Jackie with a blank stare. "You were there?"
The question cut deeper than any Mantis Blade. Jackie slumped his shoulders, looking defeated. "I need more training," he whispered.
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