Undone

*Bzztch!*

"Over nine-hundred billion dollars worth of damage, and still mounting-"

*Bzztch!*

"Over twenty thousand civilians dead-"

*Bzztch!*

"Where this thing came from we at 54 News have no idea!" the news reporter states with a shocked and perturbed expression, which only increases as someone says something off camera, causing her to go ghostly pale, "T-This just in! T-the monster is now makings its way towards our headquarters! We implore everyone to evacuate immediately if you haven't already done so, just as we are now... Thank you for watching." she finally says before standing and rushing out of the room.

"Well, I'll be damned..." Rogue mutters, glancing from the overhead T.V screen and at the numerous, almost solemn-looking mercs observing the situation. It shouldn't have been surprising to her that these thieves, murderers, and thugs actually felt something for the apoplectic amount of damage the giant robot had caused. Still, perhaps they realised that Night City's prominence was finally ending.

While the robot was still on its rampage, the destruction of the Corpo Plaza and much of Downtown had assured the city's dissolution. Despite what many people like to think, it wasn't the poor, or working man that operated this place, but the Corpos. Without them funding projections, buying advertisements, paying taxes, and asserting their prestige, there was no Night City.

Judging by how the robot kept shouting 'Arasaka', she was pretty sure she knew who was responsible for it, even if the Corporation had announced the failure of the 'terrorist attack' hours ago.

Where Ori got the indestructible giant robot, she had no idea... Especially with the reports she was hearing from her contacts, that it was some sort of grey-goo analogue.

With most Media-corps evacuated they turned all their broadcasts to live recordings from their helicopters, allowing the Afterlife to see the sheer destruction that'd been wrought. The robot had scaled up Arasaka tower after mulching an army of soldiers and collapsed Memorial Park, and now seemed to be chasing an AV while ignoring the other that hurriedly flew away.

Her eyes glow as she sends data to her Runners and other contacts, liquidating all that could be sold, selling property, hideouts, etc, and preparing to move shop to another, less destroyed city. Most of the goons here thought they'd be able to carry on as normal once the robot was shut down, but even if they managed to break it, there was no coming back for this place.

"Woah! Is that who I think it is!?" a merc exclaims as the AV crashes and three people clamber out.

"Fuckin' new head o' Arasaka!?"

"It's that bitch, Hanako!"

"Hahahaha! Look at that whore run!"

*Thud!-Clatter!*

An Asian man stands from his table, slightly inebriated as he shoots the loudmouthed men a glare, "Are you dogs truly cheering for this!? This massacre!? Are you animals!?"

"Fuck off, Corpo-cunt, let us watch your 'precious master' get zeroed by the robot in peace."

The man scowls hard and reaches for his hip where his pistol lay, which is matched by the others who go for their own.

"One FUCKING bullet and you're all leaving in bodybags! Don't forget where you are, or I swear to god, that robot will be the last of your worries!!" Rogue exclaims, achieving a reluctant silence among her patrons.

"Oh shit! Look!" someone points at the broadcast, specifically the swarm missiles headed for the Arasaka CEO.

*BOOM!*

"There goes that rich, pansy-ass fucking family! Good riddance, hahaha!"

"THAT'S IT!-"

The brawl starts but Rogue's bouncers drag the men outside, leaving them to their fistfight in peace, along with a year-long ban... Which will probably last longer than the actual club itself.

"Mouth breathers, am I right?" she mutters to herself but pauses as the giant robot opens its mouth and spits out a familiar person.

"T-that's Zombie!? I thought that guy was dead!?"

"He's called Zombie for a reason, though, guess we'll be calling him Professor Roboto or some shit now?"

"Is everyone gonna ignore the fact this guy killed a quarter of the fucking city!?"

"Mostly corpos. Not really 'people'."

"And who's gonna pay for your gigs? Cuz without Corpos Fixers ain't got shit... Unless you think some schizo street trash can fork up enough Eddies?"

"Look, that's his crew climbing outta that AV, see, he had a reason to flatline those punks. Good message too, 'fuck with my chooms and I'll bring down the whole fucking city!'"

"Eat shit! My fucking ma' was downtown!"

"My girl too! Fuck that guy's chooms!"

"Yeah? Why don't you say that to his face? 6th Street tried and look where they are now, under the river with the NCPD and MaxTac."

"Why'd you think I'm here pissing away Eddies on cheap liquor instead of out there? I know shit's fucked! And I know I'm not going anywhere near THAT!"

"Does anyone even know what that thing is!? 'Cuz I might know my tech but that thing ain't anywhere near current development!"

"Nanites. Look at it eating through everything, you chuckle-fucks not noticed the fact that it's growing...?"

...

The bar goes silent at that observation, one Rogue had only just realised.

"N-Nanites...? Oh shit!" one merc exclaims in realisation, getting to his feet and blitzing out of the club, followed by many others.

"That gonk fuck's gonna kill us all! I don't wanna know how long it'll take for him to long control of those things! Good luck Rogue, I'm driving straight across the country and booking a flight to Antarctica... Should give me a couple years before I get eaten!" the man says before also leaving.

...

"Kinda quiet now, huh, Emmerick?" she remarks to her nervously-twitching bouncer before downing the rest of her drink. "Go, I know you've got shit to do before you skip town too."

"T-thanks, boss..."

...

"No point in waiting around I suppose... Last call, then everyone out!"

"Uh... Rogue?" the bartender quietly asks, "We probably shouldn't stay here..." he says, pointing to the live broadcast which showed Zombie's robot moving towards Kabuki.

"Fuck."