Chapter 8: Chapter 8 – Where Did That Bring You?

It was now the week after, and I was getting some well-deserved rest. Lying on a bed I bought for the warehouse and browsing the net, I thought about my progress. Fulfilling orders and trying to sneak recorders into various locations took most of the week. I worked from sunrise to mid-afternoon scraping parts, and at night I would search for solos willing to plant cameras at the mission spots.

Word travels quickly, and orders began flowing in when Wilson recommended that his buddies buy ammo from me. Business was so good that I actually didn't have the production capability to keep up and started limiting the quantities that could be purchased. Usually, a company with production issues would scale upwards, but I can't find another person with physics-defying abilities so scaling back was my only option.

I can't complain too much. Better to have too much demand than the other way around. I also signed the paperwork giving me the legal ability to sell ammo. Of course, I was making sales before then, so I failed the optional objective of doing things by the book for 'Back on You Feet'. Money was and still is more important—no use crying over spilled milk. I now had E$ 60000 in the bank, and I was pretty happy with myself.

Unsurprisingly, most mercs weren't willing to mess with some of the most respected locations of their inner circle of criminals. And the ones who were dumb enough to do it weren't smart enough to do it quietly. Eventually, I just went the easy route and had a Janitor do the job in the Afterlife, a BD peddler in Lizzie's Bar, and a random gambler for Wakako's.

Sure I couldn't guarantee the quality of the work this way, but it's not like sticking a tiny camera on the wall is rocket science. Speaking of small cameras, there's a whole cottage industry of hard-to-detect spyware, and the websites are very creepy. I would not recommend visiting.

Finishing the 'Eyes and Ears' and 'Back on Your Feet' jobs increased my level to four. Like in the game, every level-up gives you one Attribute and Perk point, so leveling up three times gave me three Attributes and Perk points. I'd immediately maxed out my Workshop perk and increased my Reflexes to six. 

The third level of the Workshop perk gave me a 15% chance to get a free component when dissembling, reducing the amount of time I have to spend at the Land of Garbage. Raising reflexes was chasing the same effect of increasing efficiency but differently. With higher reflexes, my body should have an easier time accepting Sandevistan cyberware.

Sandevistans allowed the user to slow down the perceived time around time while they stayed at the "usual" speed. Think Quicksilver in the X-Men franchise. To him, everyone slowed down, but to everyone else, he was traveling at superhuman speeds. If I have a Sandevistan system, I can do the same work in less time.

After I delivered ammo to the last customer and sneaked in the last camera into the Afterlife, I went to get some new chrome. Vic installed a basic Dynalar Sandevistan Mk. 1 and a Biodyne Mk.2 Cyberdeck. Vic was kind enough to give me a discount on the cyberware he had trouble selling, so I also picked up a Kiroshi Optic Mk.2 and Optical Camo implants.

Optical Camo is at it sounds. Using sensors and subdermal generators, light can be "bent" and give me temporary invisibility. The effect could be better, but if you aren't explicitly looking for it, it's easy to miss. Kiroshi Optics gives me a rudimentary cliche analysis ability. I can focus on people, and my vision will return basic information from public databases. 

It also allows me to scan the surroundings in conjunction with my cyberdeck, highlighting hackable targets, but that's not the primary value of cyberdecks. Cyberdecks are actually in constant use by the civilian market. 

Instead of having aggressive quick hacks, the everyday person can have programs that automatically do daily chores. Things like taxes, inventory, calculating profits, and other mundane tasks. Something that would be very helpful for a small business owner like me.

The operation to replace my old cyberware made my body ache, and Vic told me I couldn't work for at least three days. What hurt more was my wallet after it became 30000 Eddies lighter. The investment was still worth it, but that doesn't make losing that much money any easier to swallow.

I did try my new equipment... and immediately got myself hurt. What no one tells you about Sandevistan is that your body maintains the same momentum while Sandevistan is active once you exit the effect. So while I ran a few circles around the warehouse, I wasn't expecting the increased speed when time went back to normal and collided right into a wall. After that, I was much more careful with using my new chrome, and I'd like to think I got the hang of it now.

And that's where I find myself now, enjoying some off time and disconnected from the world. It was boring, but boring means not dying, and not dying is excellent. While going through this world's version of Scribble Hub and reading some web novels, I got a call from a certain Aldercado Nomad. Things must have gone to shit if she's calling me now. 

After I picked up, there was silence. I knew Panam was on the other side, but I didn't want to be the first to give in, so I also stayed silent. This quiet standoff continued for a dozen or so seconds until Panam finally gave in and spoke up.

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"I know you're there. Say something."

"I vaguely remember someone telling me to stay out of their way 'if I knew what was good for me'. I wouldn't want you to make good on your threats, now do I?"

"Urghh. Fine! I'm sorry, OK? You were right about Nash. I... I'm just having a hard time right now, and I don't know who you are. Trusting strangers is hard. But I need help, and you said you were a friend, so can you please give me a hand?"

"Fuck. I only gave you a tip so you could avoid the situation entirely. Now that things have gone sideways, you're trying to drag me into it?"

I could almost feel Panam's temper rising across the phone after I got my piece in. Thinking about it further, I realize the risk could be worth it. This is the perfect chance for me to combat-test my new chrome. It also allowed me to obtain the jet-black Rayfield Caliburn that I know is in one of the containers. Before she could blow her fuse and hang up on me again, I decided to voice my willingness to help.

"Fine, but you'll have to learn to trust me, Panam. I'll help you out, so let's get a plan started."

+NEW JOB

MAKING THINGS RIGHT

• Help Panam recover her truck and cargo
• Meet with the buyers
• Take revenge on the Shivs (Optional)

We then hashed out the details for a rudimentary plan. Panam will pick me up tomorrow morning and do some basic reconnaissance. Afterward, we'll figure out the best way to lay a trap for the Raffen Shiv convoy with the cargo and Panam's car.

After the call, I got off my bed and got out of the warehouse. Up until this point, I didn't need a gun. But since I'm about to pick a fight with the Shivs, I should probably start packing. A quick call and drive later, I found myself in Wilson's gun shop.

On the counter were the two guns I had requested. A Malorian Arms Overture and Arasaka HJSH-18 assault rifle were laid side by side on the counter. I also picked up a plate carrier, armor, and a bunch of magazines and speed loaders for the guns. After I paid Wilson for the gear, I loaded up the van and drove to this Chinese stall I had recently found.

It really sucked being a foodie in Night City. Most of the things sold were repackaged kibble. If you were lucky, you'd find a stall that sold SCOP they fancied up to look edible. But this little stall I found has an absolute killer locust fried rice. They were among the few places willing to shell out the money for good Syn-Spice. Sure, eating insects was still strange, but I couldn't argue with the flavor.

After stuffing my face, I lazily got back in the van to drive home. Having a full stomach always made me tired, and I barely made it back to my shop. Once inside, I face-planted on my bed and thought about tomorrow. I rubbed my face into my pillow and dragged my cover over me, savoring this moment of peace and falling asleep.

 

Author's Note

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