NC Reloaded

The crew's reentry back into Night City was as rushed as it was perilous. They had no idea who could be an Arasaka agent, and even the casual pedestrian across the street could be keeping on them.

Thus, they decided to take temporary refuge in Lizzie's Bar... For the time at least.

The crew parked out back and made their way through the hidden rear entrance, the few Mox guarding the place quickly recognised them and sent tentative nods their way, the group either already had permission to be there or the guards were too afraid to do anything bout it... Regardless the crew stepped down until they were inside Judy's lab, the woman herself boredly looking at her screen with a bag of half-eaten potato chips in her lap.

"Knock, Knock." Ori greets, stepping into the room with the others following.

"Ayyai!...?" Judy yelps and sits up, launching chips at her monitors and getting dust everywhere. She gets up and sends an indignant glare at him, "Ori... I thought I was happy you're coming back, but now I'm thinking otherwise."

"You're just saying that to hurt me." he grins, stepping over and giving the woman a brief hug. "Feels good to be back."

She pushes him away and stomps over to Rebecca, pulling the reluctant squirming girl into a tight hug that literally lifts her off of the floor. "H-hey! Get your paws off'a me!"

"Don't struggle. Just accept it." she snickers, giving the girl one last squeeze for good measure.

"I'll have what she's havin'." Falco smirks, holding his arms out.

"Yeah, no thanks, even if I were into dudes that moustache is a big no." Judy walks back over and falls into her chair.

Falco feels under his nose, "Liar, chicks dig the 'stache."

"She isn't lying..." Lucy drawls, walking past and taking a seat for herself.

"So I shouldn't grow one...?" David jokes.

Lucy shrugs, "Do it and I'll dump your ass. Just stay as you are now, my baby-face David."

David sniffs, "Baby-face...?"

"Oh we gotta that your merc name!" Rebecca chortles.

"Try it and I'll let everyone know the 'Albino Loli' is back in town" he quickly retorts.

"You fuckin' bet!?"

Ori gestures at the woman still at the door, "C'mon Christy, Judy don't bite."

"Maybe I will, considering what you did to Ori. Funny considering I'm the one who outed you to him."

Christy sighs, "That's all in the past now..."

"Only because you've lost everything. If you'd stayed a superstar you'd have forgotten about Ori the next day." Judy sneers, "But whatever, it's not my place to say how he runs his crew..." she turns and looks to Ori, "By the way, the others are on their way now."

He nods, "Good, we'll be able to get everything outta the way soon as."

-------------------

Sasha and Kiwi soon arrived and the group spent an hour or two getting reacquainted, also sympathising at the loss of Dorio, Maine, and Pilar. It was a hard subject to broach, Sasha had been good friends with Dorio before that shitshow, and Kiwi was even closer. Time had dulled the wound but it still stung... Unfortunately, there were still to attend, and preparations to make.

First, Ori had Sasha arrange a meeting with Rogue as they were all especially worried about someone piggybacking off of their comms. All it'd take is one lucky guy to catch a message and the whole thing would be fucked.

While she was doing that, Ori had a meeting arranged with Wakako and the 'Mysterious Benefactor' from Arasaka. The Dragon Claws had all but dismantled the Tyger Claws and absorbed the men and territory, allowing them control of almost the entirety of Japantown. NCPD refused to go near it barring occasional 'light' patrols, and any gang that entered without declaring it would be hunted down like dogs.

Additionally, the Mox was doing much better than previously too, with the aid of Wakako Kabuki had steadily been built up again. While some streets were stilled with drug-addled addicts, it was looking far better than that the 'bad-actors' were moving to Northside or Santo Domingo.

It was slightly surprising to hear that Cat's restaurant was now up and running in Kabuki market... She'd apparently gotten a loan from Susie Q, and was doing pretty well for herself. He wouldn't be visiting anytime soon however as he was pretty sure the place was being monitored. His family's ties could only be hidden for so long after all.

Regardless, Quentin also need to be contacted, among other people, but Ori needed to get the basics out of the way first.

The only real problem left for the crew to deal with was getting around the city itself. Their faces were now well known, and while their software blocked most attempts to scan their faces, it did nothing to stop actual people from finding them.

Kiwi suggested getting some bio-sculpting done, but most of the crew was actually against it. Permanently getting their faces altered didn't sit right with them, especially considering the fact that it would only last until they made big waves.

Rebecca's white skin and tattoos were also very recognisable at this point, and while some fans had gotten similar copy-cat mods, it wouldn't stop people from recognising her... The fact that she hadn't grown at all and retained her short stature just made it more obvious.

Judy thankfully had been on this topic before they left Las Vegas, presenting the group with some holomasks that'd temporarily give them someone else's face when worn. Rebecca would actually have to wear clothing though, long sleeves and trousers were in her future, whether she liked it or not.