The truth

The armored communication room of Shadow Moses vibrated with the constant flicker of holographic screens and the low hum of cooling pods embedded in the cold concrete and steel of the walls.

Inside, about twenty Netrunners stood still, connected directly to cyberspace. From there, they protected the base's communications, keeping them hidden and filtering any possible intrusion or threat.

Outside, in front of them in the middle of the room, a dozen operators supported them, analyzing data and monitoring communications in and out of the base. The monotony of the information flow was only interrupted by occasional comments.

"Have you heard it already?" one of them remarked, his bright eyes fixed on his terminal.

After finishing the recording of their leader Cain's speech, his companion let out a dry laugh. "Yeah, I would have liked to see it in person," he said, rubbing the bridge of his nose in a tired gesture. "With all the work that keeping the network hidden involves, we barely have time to sleep."

Without anyone noticing, not even the Netrunners connected to the network, the ventilation vents of the communication room had sealed automatically.

"I overheard... by accident, a call from the R&D department. They mentioned they might use the 'Legion' Project to support us in maintaining the network," his companion responded, causing his tired face to light up at the idea of lightening their load, even if it's with that project.

As they talked, the air started to feel heavier. But the monotony of the routine, the long hours, and the operators' focus made no one notice the stagnant air in the room.

The first symptom was almost imperceptible: one operator's finger, trying to loosen the collar of his uniform, which felt tighter and more uncomfortable than ever. This was followed by a deep breath, compensating for the lack of oxygen without them even being aware of it.

However, the pace of the room did not stop. The operators continued exchanging data, their eyes fixed on the screens, and the Netrunners, frozen in their pressurized pods, maintained their digital vigilance without noticing the change.

Until suddenly, one of the technicians, his face pale and his breathing labored, coughed dryly and abruptly. The room fell into a brief silence, but no one lifted their eyes from their stations, too absorbed in their tasks. Until... his cough worsened, his eyes began to lose focus, and without warning, he collapsed, his head hitting the keyboard with a hollow sound that echoed through the sealed room more than ever.

The other technicians turned, alarmed. Two of them quickly stood to check on him, but as soon as they got up, their legs buckled, and they fell to the ground. Without the strength to stand, they remained on the floor, where the CO2, being denser, had concentrated more strongly.

Instinctively, both brought their hands to their necks in desperation, struggling to take a breath of the practically nonexistent oxygen in the room before losing consciousness.

As their companions fell one after the other, the last technician still conscious, with trembling legs and blurry vision, tried to move as quickly as he could toward the entrance to ventilate the room and call for help.

However, when he was mere meters from the door, the lack of oxygen finally caused his legs to give out. Yet, as he fell, he managed to reach the door panel.

Just before the operator collapsed, the door opened with a mechanical 'thum,' and a firm hand on the other side grabbed him, preventing his weak body from hitting the floor.

"Are you alright?" asked a slightly raspy voice, so relaxed that it seemed out of place to the dazed technician.

He didn't notice the lack of a uniform and, relieved by the assistance, said with effort:

"There's... something wrong." Knowing the base's protocols and that something like this couldn't happen by accident, he added, "I think we've been sabotaged... we need to alert the chiefs."

The man listened silently, nodding, but instead of showing concern or alarm, a mocking smile appeared on his face. The technician, his vision now clearing, was also able to see the two bodies of the guards protecting the room, unconscious on the floor.

"I know," the stranger replied softly, his tone almost playful. "It was me, after all."

Before the technician could react, a sharp sting from a black metallic finger pierced his neck. Everything around him blurred once again. In his final moments of consciousness, the only thing he could see were cold, bright blue eyes watching him from the shadow of a hood

Without missing a beat, the "stranger" kicked the two unconscious guards into the room and tossed the technician's limp body against his terminal before it crumpled to the floor like a lifeless doll.

Then, he calmly closed the door and reopened the ventilation ducts, allowing the heavy air in the room to slowly dissipate. He had been careful to manipulate only one room from the entire ventilation system so that the Netrunners in the pods around him wouldn't notice.

Before any of the operators could wake up, he injected each of them with a mild sedative, ensuring they would remain unconscious for the necessary time.

After finishing, he calmly sat in front of one of the terminals and took the opportunity to smoke. With the cigarette between his lips, he cracked his knuckles before his fingers came to life over the keyboard, manipulating the base's communication system.

Before pressing 'Enter,' he muttered, "I'm in. Where are you? Can you talk?"

Jack's voice took a few seconds to respond, with a faint background noise indicating movement.

["According to the map you downloaded..."] His voice briefly cut off, as if he were in the middle of something. ["I'm on my way to the engineering section of the base."]

A few seconds later, Jack added, ["Connect us,"] while stealthily perched atop a truck traveling the internal road that connected the various areas of Shadow Moses, having jumped onto it from the ventilation system.

"Good," Sora replied as he pressed 'Enter.'

Immediately after, as their link was establishing the connection, ["Base Maverick, do you copy?"] Jack whispered.

A window on his IDN flickered until the signal finally stabilized. He expanded the window, showing the communication HUD of Base Maverick—white with red details.

Just as Jack's serious face, perched atop the moving truck, appeared on one side of the window, Sora's relaxed face, smoking in the communications room, also appeared below him. Following them, Boris's face, with his thick mustache, filled the remaining part of the window: "We read you, Ripper."

Jack then said ["Base, this is important... we need you to connect us with 'Atlantic.'"]

The sudden mention of the codename for Lazarus's base caught Boris's attention. ["Hm?"] However, believing it to be a matter for the council, he responded, ["Understood. Give us a few seconds. We'll encrypt your signal as a precaution."]

["Thanks"] Jack responded with a nod.

When the connection with Lazarus's Atlantic base was established, the HUD turned to a tactical green, filled with analytics of waves and frequencies, reflecting high-level security measures.

A few seconds later, The Boss's cold face appeared on the screen. Her expression was unflinching, but her eyes moved calmly and precisely, assessing her two agents.

Though she was smaller and more petite than Boris, a large and burly man, the icy absence of emotion on her face and gaze made her far more intimidating.

["What's happening?"] she asked, her voice slow and controlled, as she observed Sora and Jack.

An awkward silence settled for a moment. Neither of the two agents spoke immediately. Finally, Sora was the first to break the silence. "We've got a problem, you see-"

But before he could continue, Jack interrupted him. ["Tell me; Boss...."] She noticed the sharp in his tone and the venom in how he said her title, but her expression didn't change.

["When you save me, you told me you knew the group that experimented on me... the ones who created me,"] Jack said, his voice growing sharper with every word. His eyes narrowed as he finally asked the question he'd been holding back: ["Tell me... are you one of them? Are you one of the Elders?"]

The Boss stared at Jack for a few seconds before shifting her attention to Sora. ["How's the mission going?"] she asked, completely ignoring his accusation.

Sora shot a quick glance at Jack's thumbnail on the screen, watching him furiously clench his metallic jaw. Sighing and shaking his head, Sora opened a compartment in his arm and pulled out a small vial containing a grayish blood sample, taken from one of the village's Husks.

"We've found something..." he said, after having analyzed it in the small lab inside his metallic arm. "At first, I thought it was some kind of bile-like mutagenic virus, but... it turned out to be a Daemon. One that, if I had to sum it up, would be a 'materialized Daemon.'"

["An informatic virus?"] The Boss asked, her face expressionless, yet attentive.

"It's more complicated than that," Sora responded, as new windows with images appeared on the HUD. He sent everything they had discovered, including the recording of Cain's course of action.

"The Daemon seems to possess a certain level of intelligence. Although it can't connect to the network, it survives through its hosts, using them as servers. It infects them with pseudonanobots—too large, crude, and unrefined to reach the category. Yet, they have a surprising ability to self-replicate using the minerals in the host's body and blood."

For the first time, The Boss slightly frowned. ["Have you figured out how they intend to use it?"]

"Not yet. But considering that I haven't detected any Geiger reactions, and based on their communications, they don't seem to have a nuclear engineering division... I'd say they plan to use the Daemon as a weapon rather than nuclear warheads," Sora said in a cold, calculated tone... so much so that it almost sounded indifferent.

The Boss nodded, neither startled nor alarmed, and asked slowly, ["What damage estimates are you working with if they were to use it?"]

"It depends on the scale. I need to study the infected more to be sure... but given Sans Frontières' ambitions..." Sora paused, taking a drag from his cigarette. As he exhaled a cloud of smoke slowly, he continued: "It's just a hypothesis, but... if they release enough of 'these'..." He shook the test tube between his fingers, the pseudonanobots inside it dancing like a latent threat. "Over any mega-metropolis, they could self-replicate using their host. As they infect others, the process would become exponential, turning the population into living weapons."

Sora paused longer this time, letting the implications hang in the air before adding in a lower voice: "And if they assign a target to the Daemon... with all the infected connected, they could move like a pack, hunting down the members of a certain shady organization in the shadows..." His eyes locked onto hers, finishing the insinuation with a loaded silence.

The Boss ignored it and replied impassively, ["I understand the situation. I'll contact the other organizations in the area to prepare for the worst-case scenario."]

Just when it seemed like she was about to cut off the communication, Jack suddenly interrupted.

["Boss! Answer me..."] His tone was sharp, full of frustration. ["Are you really one of them?"]

The Boss sighed with visible annoyance. ["I thought I trained you well; the 'mission' always comes first."]

Jack gritted his teeth, regretting it almost instantly, but he couldn't stop himself from responding bitterly, feeling like he was still being used: ["Ha! Not when the truth could make you switch sides."]

His words caused an instant change in The Boss. Her gaze toward Jack was no longer that of an annoyed superior, but something far more concerning. Not as a member of the high council, nor even as an enemy, but something worse: a traitor.

So much so, that Jack wouldn't have been surprised if The Boss's next order was to instruct Okami to hunt him down.

["If you want a simple answer; Yes, Jack, I'm a member,"] she finally replied, her tone sharp. ["Just like my father, who was one of the founders of the Elders, patriots, philosophers, or whatever they call themselves these days. Thanks to that, he was able to create Lazarus."]

Without changing her expressionless demeanor, The Boss didn't spare Sora, who continued smoking, amused by the drama, returning even his metaphorical 'jab': ["Just like your dear 'creator.' Professor Turing, thanks to his 'shady' work for the Elders, was able to resurrect the United Nations Space Agency, securing a blank check in the form of private investments."]

"What?!" Sora exclaimed, surprised. He knew the UNSA had been a joke before Professor Turing took command, but now it made sense how he had managed to turn it around so quickly. 'It wasn't just Eran, but also the Professor?' he thought to himself, uncertain.

["Creator?"] Jack asked, momentarily forgetting his own frustration.

The Boss ignored them and continued speaking firmly. "My father, like Professor Turing, sold his soul, committing morally questionable acts under the orders of the Elders. All in the hope that the fruit of their work in the shadows might one day transform into a light that would protect and help humanity."

'You really are twisted, aren't you?' Sora thought to himself. When, The Boss, without taking her eyes off Jack, excused her own responsibility with an all-too-specific example.

["As for my relationship with the people who experimented on you... it's the same as that of an executive board member of a major corporation. Tell me, does Hanako Arasaka deserve to pay for the sins of her father and brother?"]

Adopting a more... empathetic tone, 'Almost maternal, if she wasn't who she is,' Sora thought, reminded for a moment of his own mother, perhaps by the example she used or her actions. The Boss continued: ["As soon as I found out what they were doing... I destroyed that place myself down to its foundations."]

Recalling the moment she raided that base and saved him, Jack's resentment faltered for an instant. However, it wasn't enough. He still saw her as an ally of those he hated and resented the most. Yet, that changed when The Boss reminded him of her "promise" with a look as sharp as it was determined:

["Although I didn't tell you the whole truth... I didn't lie when I promised that, when the right time came, I would personally point out the responsible ones for you to kill with your own hands."]

After having convinced/manipulated him, left to the interpretation.... Jack took a deep breath before speaking. ['I'm sorry. I hope you can forget my out-of-line words.']"

The Boss maintained her calm tone, but with an almost nonexistent smile, she responded, ["It's normal for our ideals and loyalty to waver, Ripper. The only thing that matters is which side of the line we recover on."]

Reading between the lines, Sora intervened, joking? "So... I don't have to kill him?"

His joke didn't sit well with Jack, who remained silent, feeling a mixture of anger and guilt. Which only worsened when The Boss... followed the joke?

["Don't do it for now. It's better not to reduce the number of agents given the alarming circumstances. After securing the Blackdoor, neutralizing the Daemon is the priority, even above Project Rex."]

"Understood," Sora said, shrugging, seeming disappointed, before adding with a defiant expression and tone, "But unlike Jackie boy here, I'm going to wait for my answers about the professor."

The Boss nodded in approval. ["I might pay a visit to the Night City facilities when you return."] And before cutting the communication, she concluded, ["Keep me informed and proceed with the mission. In the meantime, I'll mobilize all nearby forces to invade the island."]

When The Boss's face disappeared from the screen, only Sora and Jack remained in their respective windows on their HUD IDs. Even though Jack was already reaching the engineering wing, his tone was unusually soft when he asked:

"[Where do you want me to go?]"

"Hm..." Sora scratched his few-days-old beard before answering. "Stick with your objective and secure Helios. The doctor might give us more information and guide us through the base."

"[Understood]," Jack replied. Just as he was about to cut the call, the thumbnail of Sora in his window quickly typed something and threw him a warning:

"By the way, get ready... things at the base are about to..." Sora paused, searching for a euphemism, then added with a crooked smile, "escalate."

"[What?]" Jack was alarmed. "[Are you going to reveal our presence in the base?]"

Sora didn't take his eyes off the screen, his fingers typing continuously as he responded with an unsettling calm. "More or less... at least enough to piss them off."

["Do you think that's a good idea?"] Jack asked, his voice filled with concern.

Sora didn't even glance up from the screen, his expression remaining unchanged. "[Good?]" he repeated, pausing for a moment as if weighing his words. "[I don't think so.]"

Jack snorted. "[Then... why?]" he asked, trying to decipher his partner's intentions.

Sora looked at him while his fingers still moved over the keyboard as if they had a life of their own. "According to the 'interrogation' I did on the mercenaries who infiltrated Iron Beast, they had clear orders: leave no witnesses..."

Even though Jack barely had any "body" left, he swore he felt a shiver run through his metal frame, witnessing the disturbingly dark expression his partner had when thinking about what he'd done to the assassins of the fallen Lazarus scientists.

"I know full well that I'm not a good person," Sora murmured, his voice sharp and as dangerous as his words. "Accepting that... removes many of the moral chains that would have limited my actions." As he finished typing, he looked up, and with a cold expression, concluded: "I plan to avenge every single one of their deaths... starting with those in this room."

No sooner had he finished speaking than his finger fell on the 'Enter' key, this time activating something far more dangerous than just a simple line of communication.

Within seconds, the Netrunners still connected to cyberspace inside the pods embedded in the walls began to tremble violently. Their bodies were trying, in vain, to fight against the freezing temperatures of the liquid nitrogen, which was supposed to cool their cyberware but was now leaking uncontrollably into the pods.

In mere moments, their bodies were frozen, transformed into lifeless statues. The base's system, unable to contain the failure caused by the sudden disappearance of the Netrunners in cyberspace, triggered a general alert.

The yellow warning lights began to flash in all the wings of Shadow Moses, and an automated voice echoed throughout the facility.

["Caution!"]

["The security of the communication system has failed. As an emergency measure, all non-essential communications are suspended."]

["All off-duty personnel, report to squad leaders for new orders."]

The base had entered alarm mode, and chaos was about to erupt.

Sora, knowing that time was against him before the room flooded with soldiers, drew a knife and, spinning it in his hand with careless precision, bid farewell:

"If you'll excuse me, I still have a few things to wrap up before the party starts and this room fills with soldiers. I've shut down most communications, but I've kept ours active. Let me know if you find anything."

Jack let out a heavy sigh as the window on his HUD disappeared, and with a tired gesture, he adjusted his gear and prepared to move through the now-alerted base.

-

About 10 minutes later...

Knock, knock, knock!

"Is anyone there? Respond!" A voice echoed, muffled by the thick armored door. The knocks reverberated through the room, slowly waking one of the unconscious individuals.

"Hm..." the technician groaned, regaining consciousness in the dimly lit communications room, where the emergency lights flickered irregularly. He brought a hand to his aching head as he tried to sit up, leaning on his terminal. The pain was so intense it felt as if someone had used his skull as a football.

"What the hell happened?" he muttered, looking around. His colleagues were scattered across the room, just as unconscious as he had been, including the two soldiers who were supposed to be guarding the place. But then...

He stumbled when trying to stand up and fell back to the ground as his eyes landed on something far more disturbing.

"What the hell!" he yelled, seeing the Netrunners frozen inside their pods. From his position on the floor, heart racing, he could make out a message etched into the window dominating the room—a clear, mocking provocation meant to...

"Cain?" the technician thought, noticing the resemblance to the vulgar animation that accompanied the message on the screens.

Before he could fully process it, another series of loud knocks against the door snapped him out of it again.

"Is anyone alive in there?! The boss is on his way! If you can hear me, hang on!" the muffled voice echoed again from the other side of the door.

"Boss!" the operator stammered, snapping back to his senses as he slowly stood up. His sudden enthusiasm made him completely ignore the room around him. "I can hear you!" he shouted as he reached the sealed door, pounding the metal with his hands.

"There are survivors!" the soldier shouted from the other side, hearing the technician's voice.

The soldier and the technician hurried to try and open the door, but the reinforced lock wouldn't budge, even with their combined efforts. While they struggled with the controls, other technicians slowly began to wake, their heads still clouded with confusion. One by one, they staggered to their feet, looking around in a daze, still unable to fully comprehend what had happened.

A few minutes later, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed down the hallway outside, announcing the arrival of Cain and his entourage of bodyguards. After being brought up on the situation, he didn't seem inclined to waste any time and firmly ordered, "Blow the door!"

The soldiers complied and, after warning the technicians on the other side, placed explosive charges at key points on the armored door. Everyone backed away, and a moment later, the first blast echoed through the hallway. The explosion shook the communications room, tearing the door from its hinges and filling the room and corridor with a dense cloud of smoke and dust.

The technicians tried to move through the haze, but before they could escape, a second explosion rocked the room. The barrel containing hundreds of liters of liquid nitrogen burst, unleashing a freezing wave that spread like an uncontrollable flood, crawling across the floor.

The operators tried to run. Some managed to get out, but they couldn't escape the white tide, which quickly enveloped their ankles. Cries of pain echoed as they felt the nitrogen freeze their legs, burning their skin like icy fire.

The most desperate among them, despite their feet being frozen to the ground, tried to free themselves, pulling at their bodies with force. That's when Cain, watching from the hallway, was stunned by a disturbing sound amidst the screams of his subordinates: a crackling, like ice breaking, but with a more macabre, organic undertone

The bones, muscles, and skin of the technicians who tried to move shattered from their frozen ankles as they attempted to take one last, fatal step. Their stumps, encased in icy shells of blood instead of feet, caused them to collapse to the ground, their screams fading as they were swallowed by the white tide. The liquid nitrogen seeped into their bodies, entering through their mouths and other orifices, freezing them from the inside out.

When the deadly freezing vapor finally dispersed, leaving the room and part of the hallway blanketed in white frost, the atmosphere was almost surreal. Silence reigned, broken only by the crackling of ice as it settled on the walls and floor.

Cain, having witnessed the tragic end of his subordinates helplessly, stepped past their frozen bodies and advanced toward the room. Each step cracked the frost beneath him, his jaw tightening as his breathing grew heavier. As soon as he entered, Cain narrowed his eyes with contained rage as he read the taunting message carved into the wall, making it clear that this was no accident or malfunction.

When his gaze fell on one of the screens that was still functioning, Cain could no longer control himself. A scream of pure rage echoed through the frozen room:

"Who the fuck is Little Jackie?!"

-

6 hours later, 10 AM, Night City.

Lying on one of the cold, metallic aesthetic benches in a clean and well-lit hallway, a young man slept like a vagabond, wrapped in his own jacket.

Even though the bench was clearly not designed for someone to lie down on, the young man was so exhausted after his intense training that, just to close his eyes, he ignored any discomfort.

However, his out-of-place presence caught the attention of the workers passing through the hallway, prompting the second-in-command of the company, after the CEO, the head of cybersecurity, to stand in front of him with a clear expression of annoyance.

"Hm!" Since her presence alone wasn't enough to wake him up, she gave the bench a sharp kick with her expensive, elegant white heels, detailed with silver accents.

Causing David to… "Ah!"… wake up startled, clutching his coat. Once his eyes focused, he quickly recognized the stunning woman who was watching him irritably… as he slept.

"You… you're… one of his fiancées." David say, visibly nervous.

"Lucy," she replied almost curtly, with a look that made him swallow audibly. She then sighed, releasing some of the tension before asking, "What are you doing here?"

David hurried to respond, still a bit groggy from sleep. "I'd be sleeping at my place… but… thanks to your fiancé… I'm avoiding it. He told me I could stay here…"

Lucy raised her eyebrows, as if she'd heard something nonsensical, before responding, "I'm aware. But why haven't you gone to the room Sora had prepared for you?"

David blinked, surprised. "Room?"

Lucy slightly frowned. "Didn't Jarvis tell you?"

To confirm her words, Lucy raised her wrist and, with an elegant gesture of her hand, remotely opened the door right in front of the bench where David had spent the night, just a few meters from the room where he had been training.

The door slid open smoothly, revealing a spotless, small room, perfect for one person, with a comfortable bed.

David, stunned, took a moment to process it. Until the pain in his back from sleeping in a bad position mixed with frustration. Imagining what could have been a night of restful sleep in that bed instead of on the cold, uncomfortable bench in the hallway.

This culminated in a burst of anger, which escaped as he exclaimed, "That damn AI!" with a bitterness he couldn't hide.

After his exhausting virtual training, David had been so tired that he didn't want to hear another word from Jarvis, completely ignoring him as he left the capsule.

And, apparently, Jarvis didn't take that lack of courtesy well. Subtly getting his revenge, the AI simply let David fend for himself, not bothering to help someone who didn't want it.

Lucy, understanding the situation more or less, noticed David's frustration and let out a small smile before saying, "You should be more patient next time. Jarvis can be very... proud."

David frowned, confused. "Proud?" he exclaimed, not understanding what she meant.

"Yes.... Although you were the one who 'sweated,' he's the one who created, supervised, and guided the whole process. So, if you did something he didn't like, such as being rude or not thanking him for his work... it's possible he didn't bother to fulfill 100% of his duties," Lucy explained, with disapproval.

David blinked, incredulous. "Is that how all the AIs in this company work?" he asked, surprised that an AI would be allowed to have such a troublesome personality.

Lucy flashed an amused smile. "Only the special ones."

"Special? What do you mean by that?" David inquired, his eyes narrowing, suspecting there might be more behind that euphemism. After all, not just any fool could graduate at the top of their class at Arasaka Academy.

Lucy, as if finding something entertaining, turned gracefully while smiling. Her long white hair, with silver streaks, shimmered under the hallway lights as she concealed a playful smile. Without answering directly, she posed an enigmatic question:

"What do you think?"

David was mesmerized, his question forgotten as he watched the beautiful and unattainable woman walk away down the hallway, until her voice snapped him back to reality:

"Come on, follow me. He's asked me to take care of you."

Her words brought him back to his senses, and without thinking, he followed her.

-

When they exited the wing and stepped onto the street, a convoy of armored black cars was waiting for Lucy.

Among the line of guards directing them, one imposing metallic figure stood out: a robot clad in black samurai armor.

The heavy plates covering its black metal frame, blended with elegant neon blue lines etched across the surface, giving each movement an ethereal glow.

The metal and design, polished but angular, seemed crafted to withstand more than just swords, evoking a fusion of tradition and technology—efficient and lethal. The Ojii robot was an evolution of the Arasaka MK.2, but its custom design and the personality radiating from each of its movements made it unique.

David stopped, stunned by the sight. Meanwhile, Lucy couldn't help but frown at the exaggerated number of guards awaiting her.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered in complaint.

["Accept it and adapt, it's how things are,"] replied the robot Ojii, in a calm yet authoritative tone. ["Orders are orders. Since last night's attack, the boss wants you protected."]

Hearing this, she asked, puzzled, "Judy ordered this?"

["No. These are orders from the… 13th Seat,"] Ojii said, inclining his head slightly. He had just arrived from the Okinawa base after completing the preparations Sora had instructed… bringing more reinforcements to the city.

This revelation made Lucy take a closer look at the guards' military uniforms. On one sleeve, they bore the symbol of Iron Beast, but on the other, the spear of Lazarus, and on the back of their armored vests… Eco, with its jaws wide open, the emblem of Sora's R.A.B.I.D. unit.

The unit before her was composed of members personally trained by Sora, alongside the AI that shared the memories and personality of the legendary swordsman and bodyguard of Saburo.

The Red Oni of Arasaka—Musashi Hatake.

"With such a large convoy, I'm going to look like Hanako-san moving through Neo-Tokyo," Lucy complained, pointing at the fifty soldiers and twenty armored vehicles.

Meanwhile, David didn't share her opinion, which was clearly expressed on his face. He had an impressed "not bad" look written all over it.

["I don't see the problem,"] Ojii replied firmly, though his tone suggested he understood her point.

Lucy sighed, aware that ordering them not to follow her would be useless; she had no authority over them. She decided to change tactics.

Adopting a softer, almost charming tone, she said, "At least reduce the number of escorts. The place we're going will draw too much attention... please...". She then rested her face in her hands, leaning slightly forward, and concluded in a tone as spoiled as it was affectionate: "Grandpa."

Ojii, with his usual seriousness, crossed his arms over his armored chest. He scratched under the nose of his oni mask, trying to appear as if he were thinking, though in reality, if he had been human, he would have been hiding the pleasure brought by the affection behind those spoiled words.

He let out a robotic sigh. The "grandpa" reached deep into his programming, making it impossible for him to refuse, or at least forcing him to compromise a bit.

["Alright, we'll move with a small part of the team. The rest will stay a few blocks away. That's the most I can concede... for your safety."]

The resemblance between him and Musashi was so striking that when the real Musashi met his "artificial version," he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable... especially with the enthusiasm his wife Aoi showed.

Sora didn't introduce him to the initial version, but rather the final one, complete with the full mapping of his brain and memories—a map Sora had captured during the time Musashi spent raising his children in the virtual world he had created.

However, over time and through various battles, they had both reached a mutual understanding. Now, they even willingly shared memories between them every few months.

Musashi would share his peaceful, pleasantly dull life with Aoi and their children inside Tashin, while Ojii contributed the exciting memories of his military life that Musashi... had missed so much, especially alongside his grandson.

Lucy smiled softly, knowing she had won a small battle, and lovingly kissed the cheek of Ojii's red Oni mask. He brought his hand up to wipe away the mark left by her lipstick, embarrassed. He could feel the gaze of his men on him, surely already drafting the first lines of their future jokes in their minds.

David, silently observing everything, couldn't help but feel impressed by Ojii. Despite being an AI, he seemed so human, so full of nuances and emotions, that for a moment, David forgot about his imposing metallic frame and imagined him as an old samurai of flesh and blood.

He began to realize that, around "him" and perhaps through "his" eyes, AIs and humans... were not so different.

Then, Lucy began to walk, with him following closely behind. As the soldiers moved aside, they revealed the luxurious vehicle that she remotely unlocked without hesitation. Before getting in, seeing him standing still, she asked. "What are you doing?"

"Can I really get into something like this?" David replied, though he had gotten into Sora's car before. him was old and used, while Lucy's Audi R8-Hneo... was the latest model, featuring a NeoHydro engine, that hadn't even hit the market yet and had only been showcased at expos.

A luxurious work of engineering, it retained the classic elegance of the R8 but with an updated and modernized touch. Its body was a pearly silver-white, matching her hair, highlighted by matte black details along the aerodynamic lines. Golden and silver accents traced the edges of the windows, the body, and the wheels.

The sleek, line-shaped headlights glowed softly, and the neon underglow lights changed color depending on the surroundings, giving it a vibe worthy of Night City.

She rolled her eyes and responded, "Don't make me waste any more time, get in!" as she effortlessly slid behind the wheel of her luxurious car, worth hundreds of thousands of Eurodollars.

When he entered, the car emitted a soft hum as a magnet on the underside of the chassis deployed, making contact with the road. A moment later, the magnet activated, repelling its twin in the car's chassis and causing it to levitate slightly. David felt a slight upward push as the vehicle rose smoothly.

As the wheels left the ground, they began to retract, moving with precision until the tires pointed downward. Lucy then, from the controller on her HUD, reversed the polarity of the magnet.

This caused it to reconnect with its twin with a subtle magnetic 'thum.' In the next instant, the micro-thrusters on the tires roared, releasing a powerful burst that propelled the R8 forward completely.

Surprised, David instinctively grabbed onto the roof of the car. Although he had ridden other NFVs (Neo Flying Vehicles), like the aerial bus system of Night City, it was his first time riding in a NeoHydro sports car. With the new models approaching specifications close to the AVs...

And Lucy's R8 was one of them. She smiled with pure pleasure as she started the powerful engine, demonstrating how far she had come from that old, lonely version of herself that used to steal credits on the Subway.

"Hold on tight," she warned him before flooring the accelerator.

This caused the R8 to shoot between the skyscrapers of Night City at an impressive speed, forcing the NFVs and AVs to swerve abruptly to avoid their explosive ascent.

Ojii shook his head at the reckless piloting of his daughter-in-law, while ordering his men to get into the armored vehicles. Massive beasts with the appearance of APCs, also equipped with NeoHydro engines.

Allowing them to catch up and form a convoy around her in the skies of Night City.

-

Only a few minutes later...

The characteristic roar of NeoHydro's engines, loud and static-filled, echoed through a famous alley in Night City. The sight of the luxurious R8 landing caught the attention of the mercenaries entering and leaving the Afterlife.

But what really captured their gazes was the intimidating convoy of armored vehicles accompanying it. Especially when heavily armed teams, dressed in black military uniforms, emerged to secure the alley.

The mercenaries, used to seeing corporate big shots "drop by," frowned in annoyance—until something made them change their expressions.

"Shit, what's that thing doing here?"

"Has it come under Okami's orders?"

"Fuck! Now that he's back in the city… does that mean it's here too?"

Nervous whispers spread through the alley as they saw a towering robot step out of one of the vehicles. It was clad in black samurai armor, marked with cuts and bullet dents, which it wore with pride, as if they were medals or scars from honorable battles.

After these four years, Ojii had already forged his own legend in the city. Since Okami couldn't set foot in the city—if he had any issues to resolve in the City, he sent his robotic representative to take care of it.

Over time, stories about that mechanical swordsman, capable of easily taking down entire teams, spread like a virus through the city. They even reached sensationalist programs and gossip shows, which theorized that it was some new model of Iron Beast.

That reputation not only earned him respect but also set a trend…

Humanoid robots began to grow in popularity, especially among mercenaries. Some were operated by Netrunners, others had fully customized hardware and exquisite programming, making them elite combatants who became valuable and highly sought-after members of various groups.

They surpassed the mass-produced programming of the models sold and used by the corporations. Although some ended up with "peculiar" personalities that made working with them a pain in the ass.

Meanwhile, other mercenaries simply used them as suicide troops or disposable slaves.

Once the armed team secured the alley, the passengers of the white sports car began to disembark. The first to step out was a street kid wearing a yellow jacket, his expression uncomfortable under the mercenaries' penetratingly confused gazes, as he clearly didn't match the level of the escort.

Until they saw and instantly recognized the person getting out from the passenger side—a young and gorgeous woman with long, silvery-white hair, dressed in a tight-fitting black suit with silver details that highlighted her curves. Small strategic cutouts revealed the skin along the sides of her waist and between her ample chest, enhancing her alluring figure.

Adding a small punk contrast, she wore a short leather jacket that perfectly complemented the rest of her luxurious outfit.

With Lucy in the lead, her squad of bodyguards followed her. When they reached the stairs leading into the Afterlife, the imposing Ojii raised his metallic hand and extended four fingers. He pointed forward, then clenched his fist and lowered his arm with authority.

Without the need for words, four of the soldiers followed him into the club, while the rest remained in the alley, their imposing armored figures holding position.

The security man at the entrance opened the door without needing to see Ojii, just upon spotting Lucy... he did it.

The bar's atmosphere was the same as at night... but worse, with a mix of people sleeping off their drunkenness, staff trying to clean while some mercenaries were still celebrating, and others already planning their gigs.

David looked around in all directions as soon as he entered, but one thing stood out above the rest. He was surprised to see a humanoid drone—highly customized with stickers, military harnesses, and various frivolous phrases painted on its frame—dancing "provocatively" on a pool table, making its drunken companions laugh as they threw money at it.

Despite Lucy's striking entrance and her breathtaking beauty, further highlighted by her change in lifestyle, no one dared to look at her with lascivious intentions. They were easily able to restrain themselves by remembering the fate that befell those who laid a hand on Okami's women.

Also helped, the presence of the metal colossus following her, which had to hunch over to fit through the bar's entrance, and yet he still generated sparks against the ceiling as he moved, with the four soldiers trailing behind them.

Provoking, by discard, that many eyes shifted instead to the young street kid in a yellow jacket who seemed out of place among them. Some cast suggestive glances accompanied by wicked smiles, as if they saw him as... something sweet.

While others... ironically the more dangerous ones, noticed the structure peeking from his neck, discreetly pointed him out to their companions, as if they recognized him from... somewhere.

David, after his training, didn't miss any of their glances, making him adjust his jacket to cover his Sandevistan with discomfort, clearly displeased by the unwanted attention.

Lucy ignored everyone present and headed directly to Rogue's booth. Despite it being early in the morning, the legend of Night City was already seated in her usual spot, dressed in casual daywear, relaxed but ever-watchful.

None of Rogue's entourage dared to stop Lucy as she approached and took a seat in the booth. They didn't even make a move to block her bodyguards, who strategically positioned themselves to block off the area, turning around to keep an eye on the mercenaries in the bar.

David, feeling somewhat unsure, sat down on one of the stools around the table.

Lucy reached under her jacket and carefully pulled out a small, sleek cigarette case, entirely gray and crafted by her fiancé from moonstone during their first trip together to the Moon—the real one, not a virtual replica.

She then drew out a slim, long black cigarette, lit it, and took a slow drag.

As she exhaled the smoke, she said, "Rogue…"

That was all she said, but the mere mention of her name made the atmosphere in the booth grow heavier.

Rogue welcomed her with the same calm attitude as always.

"Lucyna…" she said, smiling mischievously as she noticed the slight look of displeasure from Lucy at the use of her full name.

Without wiping the smile off her face, Rogue shifted her gaze toward the young David. Raising an eyebrow slightly upon recognizing him, she asked in a mocking tone:

"New pet?"

David didn't like the comment, but he liked Lucy's response even less.

"Not mine, my fiancé's. You know how he likes to pick up lost animals…"

"True," Rogue affirmed, recalling past moments. "Years ago, he even took in one that snuck into the bar."

Lucy was the one to steer the conversation back.

"Well, what did you want to tell me? You were the one who asked me to come."

David blushed, naively thinking they were sitting before the legendary Queen of the Afterlife because of... him. Embarrassed, he wanted to bury himself under the weight of the imaginary mocking glances in his head.

"I've received some information," Rogue responded, briefly glancing at David before sighing in exhaustion, clearly not including the intel she'd gathered on the new "pet." Then, turning her attention back to Lucy. "Though he's back… it didn't even take him 24 hours to run off again, huh?"

Sensing the reproach in her words, Lucy quickly came to his defense.

"He didn't want to, but he had something important to take care of."

"Sure…" Rogue replied with irony. "It's not like he's the kind of charming man good with the ladies who could have a beauty waiting for him in every port... right?"

Hitting a sensitive spot, Rogue smiled as she saw Lucy visibly tense.

"He's not like that!" she snapped, her hands clenched into fists.

"Says the second fiancée…" Rogue shot back sharply. After taking a bitter sip from her drink, she added with palpable bitterness, "The bastard's father... was."

Lucy looked away, uncomfortable. "I don't know what you're talking about…"

"Heh… of course you don't," Rogue said with a dry laugh. Then, wiping it off her face, she raised her voice to order: "Everyone out!"

Rogue's entourage glanced at her briefly before standing up and leaving the booth. Though interested in the jabs being exchanged, David pointed to himself and quietly asked:

"Should I wait at the bar?"

"No need…" Lucy replied, without taking her eyes off her. "Rogue won't say anything she shouldn't, right?"

Rogue let out a short laugh, amused by the remark.

"Hah! Every time we meet, you surprise me. More tenacious, more confident... I like it!" she exclaimed, admiring Lucy's continued growth.

She regained her composure and, exasperated, asked after taking a much-needed drag from her cigarette, irritated by Rogue's games that precisely attacked her insecurities:

"What information do you have?"

Rogue sighed lazily before replying:

"Your friend… Kiwi, contacted me. According to her, Faraday is back in the city, or at least planning to be."

"Impossible!" Lucy exclaimed, in disbelief. "Why would Kiwi reach out to you? We agreed that if she found out anything, she'd tell me directly."

Rogue opened her mouth to respond, but at that precise moment, a metallic sound echoed through the booth, followed by a cold red light that illuminated her—coming from a single lens behind an intimidating Oni mask.

Ojii, usually unshakable, couldn't contain the rage that distorted his voice synthesizer upon hearing the name of one of those responsible for why he still hadn't been able to have his grandson² in his arms.

His voice turned into a hellish cacophony as he asked, like a true metal Oni:

["Where is that deadman?"]

The echo of his question reverberated throughout the bar, interrupting conversations and, in some cases, waking up mercenaries who had been sleeping off their hangovers.

All of them turned towards the booth, instinctively reaching for their weapons, unsettled by the metallic, discordant sound of Ojii's frame, whose internal servomotors began to whir, as if ready for combat.

Rogue raised an eyebrow, maintaining an impressive calm in front of the intimidating figure of the robot. Although a faint flash of discomfort crossed her face, she hid it well with a sigh before turning to Lucy.

"Control your iron giant," she said, trying to defuse the tension in the air.

Lucy, far from calming the situation, responded indifferently: "He's not mine. Even if I gave him an order, I have no authority over him. It would be best if you answered his question."

Rogue, surprised by the lack of cooperation, noticed the slight smile playing on Lucy's lips, enjoying her awkward situation.

"Tch," Rogue scrunched her face in frustration and let her hand fall wearily. The tense mercenaries let go of their weapons and slowly returned to their business, though they occasionally cast furtive glances at the metal colossus.

Then, Rogue, turning her attention to the solitary red lens impatiently watching her, sighed.

"The answer is that I have no idea. As the information suggests, I don't know if Faraday is already in the city or when he will be."

Ojii kept his lens fixed on her, and disappointed, he replied, ["And you're the queen of the Fixers"]

Before he could finish, the light on the antenna protruding from his helmet suddenly lit up, indicating that he was receiving new data. After receiving and processing it, he abruptly turned to Lucy, with a palpable urgency.

["We have to go."]

"What's going on?" exclaimed Lucy, quickly glancing at David, who was as lost as she was, and added, "The rest of the team hasn't arrived yet."

Ojii said seriously. ["An emergency has occurred. Eco just briefed me and sent me a copy of the controller... We might have to use the Geofront system."]

At the mention of that seemingly harmless name, Lucy's eyes widened, and she shot to her feet, exclaiming in alarm, "What?!"

Although she obviously had no idea what they were talking about, Rogue couldn't help but ask, "What's going on?"

Lucy, almost as clueless as Rogue, replied hastily, "We have to go, Rogue. I'll inform Sora about Faraday."

"I thought you were waiting for Maine and the others," Rogue inquired, her eyes sharp.

"That will have to be another time... if there is one," Lucy responded grimly. Then, turning to David, she said firmly, "Let's go."

David didn't have time to reply. He barely nodded, not daring to interrupt the urgency that filled the air.

As time passed and the ban was lifted, some of the classified information Ojii had received began to spread through the network like a virus.

They had barely stepped out of the booth when one of Rogue's crew members hurried over to her and whispered something in her ear that made her eyes widen in surprise, mirroring the shock Lucy had moments earlier.

As they passed the bar, an abrupt change occurred on all the screens in the bar, and likely across the entire city, stopping Lucy and her group in their tracks.

After a brief intro, the News 54 set appeared on screen, but this time, it wasn't the usual anchor Gillean Jordan. Instead, an unfamiliar man, pale and visibly nervous, was trying to keep his composure while stammering, his eyes fixed on something behind the cameras.

["Due to the urgency of the situation, this news bulletin has been scheduled. Please pay attention. We warn that the images that follow may be alarming... or distressing,"] she said with a trembling voice.

The shot transitioned with the News 54 logo, revealing the familiar Gillean Jordan, with a pale expression, wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest marked "Press" over her winter clothing, aboard an AV in mid-flight.

Despite knowing she was live, Gillean took a few moments to react. Years of experience were the only thing that allowed her to maintain composure. She took a breath and finally began reporting the news.

["We are currently over the North Pacific, 3,500 kilometers from Night City... where, approximately 44 minutes ago, a naval battle broke out between the joint forces of the WCC (Worldwide Corporate Consortium) and a terrorist group known as Libertas Sans Frontières."]

Her voice shook for a second, a barely perceptible gesture, before she added in a much more human tone: ["I have to be honest. I never imagined we'd be covering a situation like this."]

Jordan took a moment to compose herself. When she continued, she did so with professional firmness.

["Despite the impressive forces the WCC was able to gather in just five hours..."] The images on the screen changed to a previous recording, showing an imposing fleet of hundreds of military ships from various corporations: Militech, Arasaka, Kang Tao, Petrokev, SovOil, International Electric Corporation (IEC), and others.

The broadcast returned to Jordan, who struggled to continue. ["The terrorist group deployed a massive experimental weapon, known as Rex."] Taking a breath, she added, ["As they say; a picture is worth a thousand words... So, see for yourselves."]

This time, the shot didn't change immediately. Instead, it widened from the cargo bay where Jordan stood, with the doors of the AV open behind her.

Through the opening, under a clouded sky filled with stormy gray clouds, a desolate ocean full of shipwrecks and lifeless bodies could be seen.

Then, the camera focused on one of the machines that was decimating the fleet. The colossal war machine—Rex—stood atop what remained of one of Arasaka's ships, one of the largest and most advanced vessels among the joint WCC forces, now practically destroyed.

The gigantic machine let out a mechanical roar, which echoed like a cry of pain as it endured the relentless fire from the still-operational frigates.

When the fire ceased, the machine compressed its inverted legs like a powerful spring and leaped with such force that the ship below it split under the pressure.

Diving into the water, it used its forelimbs to swim, part of its angular body emerging from the water, undulating through the waves with terrifying fluidity, resembling a sea predator more than a machine.

In a matter of seconds, it reached the frigates, and, to the surprise of everyone watching, it abruptly submerged, as if dodging them.

But like an orca hunting seals, its maneuver was not to flee. It used the current it generated to create a massive wave that struck one of the ships on the starboard side, causing it to capsize almost immediately.

Seconds later, it emerged from the water with its jaws open between the other frigate with indescribable violence. As it snapped them shut with force, like giant shears, it cut the frigate in half.

Despite the shocking images, Jordan's cold voice warned the viewers, ["That's not all."]

The images blurred as the camera quickly moved to show another side of the battlefield and with it...

["As you're seeing on your screens, the terrorists were not only capable of constructing one of these incredible machines, but... they built... several of them."]

A second Rex appeared on the screen, tearing through the ships blocking its advance. Jordan continued her narration, her voice steady despite the situation.

["At the start of the battle, the WCC fleet managed to neutralize a third Rex unit, although it suffered heavy losses in the process. The two remaining units took advantage of this vulnerability, unleashing the devastation you now see on your screen."]

["According to the information provided to the media by those in charge of the operation, it is possible that the machines are equipped with experimental weapons of mass destruction..."] Jordan paused for a moment, the weight of her own words making it difficult to continue. She swallowed hard, struggling to maintain composure. ["...and from the direction they've taken..."]

Before panic could spread, Jordan seized the moment to add in a more urgent tone:

["The authorities of Night City have requested the cooperation of Network 54 to inform the population... about the possibility of a mass evacuation of the city."] The tension on her face was evident; every word was a struggle. ["If things don't change..."] She hesitated for a moment, as if she didn't want to be the one to deliver the news, but she had to continue. ["...one of the experimental Rex machines... is heading directly for Night City."]

The screen showed a tactical map of the Pacific, with trajectory lines originating from the Fox Islands in Alaska, tracking the two operational Rex units—one heading directly toward Night City, the other toward Neo-Tokyo.

Outside the Afterlife, panic began to erupt. The blaring of horns, the screeching of brakes, and the crash of car accidents filtered into the alleyway. In the distance, shouts of confusion and fear echoed through the streets.

Inside the bar, it seemed like they were lagging behind, staying motionless until the crash of glasses and bottles falling to the floor shattered the stillness. Caused by a dozen mercenaries who jumped to their feet and ran out, probably to evacuate.

["Look at that,"] murmured Ojii to Lucy, pointing at the screen, where the live broadcast was still covering the Rex unit heading toward Night City.

The cameraman seemed to notice the same thing Ojii did. The zoom closed in on the back of the colossal machine as it advanced, sparks jumping erratically from its metallic structure.

But as the cameras focused closer, they captured an unexpected scene: two human figures locked in battle, fighting atop the metal beast. Their movements were so fast that they seemed to vanish, leaving only violent flashes before reappearing after exchanging blows.

Both combatants showed clear signs of exhaustion. One of them, with a silver arm and blonde hair, pressed forward with fury, while the other, with dark hair and a black arm, fought back with equal ferocity. His torn poncho revealed light armor, battered and broken from the intense fight.

Suddenly, a scream tore through the bar.

"Sora!" Lucy cried in anguish, covering her mouth too late for the entire bar, including Rogue, to stare at her. She couldn't help but react upon recognizing her fiancé fighting on top of the colossal machine.

"Don't tell me... Okami is up there?" murmured one of the mercenaries, his eyes glued to the screen, now unable to look away from the fight.

An impressed whistle cut through the tense atmosphere. "For a moment, I thought I'd have to get out of the city."

Another mercenary let out a nervous laugh, pounding the table with his fist. ["Come on, Okami! Do what you do best and blow that thing to pieces! If you do, I swear I'll stop insulting you in my head."]

His comment sparked a ripple of knowing laughter from those around.

"That's a good one! Me too!" shouted another, raising his beer.

"And me!" chimed in a third, amidst laughter.

Rogue, always in tune with the pulse of the Afterlife, stepped forward, seizing the moment to keep morale high. "From now on, until that thing is destroyed..." Rogue paused dramatically, a sly smile on her lips. "Drinks are on the house!"

"HOOOOO!!!" The bar erupted in an enthusiastic roar. "Rogue! Rogue! Rogue! Rogue!" all the mercenaries chanted, crowding the bar without taking their eyes off the fight on the screens.

Rogue, with a satisfied smile, glanced at Lucy, grateful for her little slip, before adding as she watched Sora battling on the screen, "And now... who's up for a bet?"

-