Chapter 3

Arasaka Academy was a beacon of advanced education in Night City, an institution where only the best and brightest could hope to thrive. Lessons of the school were primarily conducted via virtual reality or AI-generated sessions. Students learned whatever was required for the type of career they wanted, from advanced technology and cybernetics to business strategies and corporate warfare.

The pressure had always been intense for the students in the school. This was especially true for those students who's parents willingly incurred a lifetime of debt for a chance to give their child the city's most prestigious education.

This was why David was so notorious among the students—always causing trouble. Take, for example, what had just happened: he managed to shut down the entire class system with a virus.

But unlike the rest of his classmates, Lucas was amused and a little bit delighted by the situation. He didn't find school difficult at all. Just needed to memorise what was taught and retain it. Wasn't that hard at all. So to him, a free day of school was purely a good thing.

Around them, the other students weren't so pleased. They hurled insults at David, their voices a mix of anger and frustration.

"Thanks a lot, jackass!" one shouted.

"My grades are going to tank because of you!" another yelled.

"You're a real piece of work, Martinez!" someone else added.

Lucas stood from his seat and turned to David, ignoring the commotion. "I had a feeling this would happen, but you really outdid yourself this time."

"Fuuuukkkk, I know. I'm in so much trouble. Mom is going to kill me," David groaned.

Lucas walked over and patted his shoulder. "Hey, at least we'll have the rest of the day off. And if it makes you feel any better, I'm going on a date with my cute childhood friend this weekend."

"Geez, thanks. You really know how to comfort someone, Lucas. I feel so much better now."

"You're welcome." 

Just then, a synthesized female voice echoed through the room. "David Martinez, please report to the principal's office immediately. All other students in this class are dismissed for the day."

"Good luck. Try not to get expelled. Be boring here if you were to go."

"Yeah, see you later man."

David got up from his seat before making his way to the principal's office. As he left, Lucas felt a prickling sensation on the back of his neck. He turned and saw Katsuo and his lackeys practically drilling holes into him with their eyes. 

It couldn't have been any more obvious what they wanted from him. Revenge.

Lucas couldn't count how many times Katsuo and his lackeys had tried to mess with him. Almost every month, they got new implants and tried to beat him up.

It was tradition at this point. 

Lucas sighed. "Alright, lead the way." 

Katsuo nodded to his lackeys. Without a word, he turned on his heel and headed toward the school exit. Lucas followed them through the crowded hallways and out the main doors.

They walked in silence as Katsuo led the way, his lackeys flanking Lucas to ensure he didn't back out.

Not that Lucas had any plans of running away; whatever they had in mind, he figured it might entertain him a little. It was still early in the morning after David's screw-up, and there was still a lot of the day left. With nothing else to do, he needed to find a way to pass the time.

They continued walking until they reached a secluded back alleyway, well away from the school grounds and hidden from prying eyes.

As they walked, Lucas had pulled out his phone and replied to Rita's text. "Yeah, I'm down to meet at 5pm tomorrow." He hit send just as they arrived, pocketing his phone and preparing for whatever Katsuo had planned.

"So, what combat implant did you guys get this time?" asked Lucas.

"I have something different planned for today. I don't know how you manage to beat us every single time, but I've grown tired of trying to handle you myself."

"Well, this is quite the bloody surprise…. You're finally using what little brain cells you have left."

"You—"

"So where is this new choom of yours?" interrupted Lucas, his curiosity piqued.

Katsuo's smirked as he snapped his fingers. His lackeys moved to his side, and from around the corner, a hulking figure emerged. With a muscular, imposing build that made him stand out in any crowd, the man had dark skin and wore high-tech sunglasses. His head was topped with a flat top hairstyle, emphasizing his sharp features and rugged look. His body was heavily augmented with cybernetic enhancements, including bulky Gorilla Arms that added to his intimidating presence.

"Woah, this guy must have cost you a fucking fortune for him to act like your bitch," Lucas remarked, genuinely impressed.

Katsuo grinned widely. "It'll be worth every eddie to see you finally put in your place." 

"Watch your mouth kid, I'm nobody's bitch or choom. This is just a side gig. So listen while I'm being nice, don't fight back. It'll make this a lot easier for both of us," the man growled, punching his metal fists together, the sound reverberating through the alley.

Lucas was unfazed, though a bit irritated. He had promised his mother he wouldn't get into trouble, and yet here he was. "Sorry, but that's not really my style," he said, cracking his knuckles. He glanced over at Katsuo and his lackeys. "You guys are gonna need Trauma Team once I'm done with this dude."

Katsuo sneered, "Big talk, Lucas. Let's see if you can back it up."

Lucas turned to the man and gestured with his fingers, beckoning him to come at him. "Alright, let's do this."

"You've got quite a pair on you, kid." The man said, his eyes narrowing. 

Lucas cracked a smile. "Thanks." 

Without wasting any more time, the man lunged at Lucas, his massive frame moving with surprising speed. Lucas dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the powerful swing of the man's Gorilla Arms. The man followed up with another swift swing, but Lucas deftly dodged again and countered with a side kick to the gut.

The impact sent the man stumbling backward, crashing into the alley wall with a resounding thud. He recovered quickly, a look of surprise flashing across his face. "What kind of chrome are you packing? A sandevistan?" he asked, pushing off the wall.

Lucas didn't answer for obvious reasons. Instead, he gestured for the man to come at him again. 

"Fair enough," the man muttered, lunging at Lucas once more.

Lucas stayed light on his feet, weaving and ducking as the man's blows came at him. He could tell the man was a seasoned veteran, his movements precise. This only made it more surprising that the man would take on this kind of job… No, on second thought, it actually kind of made sense.

From the man's perspective, he probably saw this as just a squabble between kids. An easy way to make a quick buck. Of course, the man couldn't have been more unlucky; the person he was hired to deal with was a freak of nature. 

Instead of backing down, Lucas fought. He could have ended it with that side kick earlier, but the look on his face said it all—he was enjoying himself.

It had been a while since he'd had this much action; the last time was during a boxing match with his dad. 

The usual thugs he encountered on the street trying to rob him or the scuffles with Katsuo and his lackeys didn't really count. They were too easy, too predictable. This, however, was a real challenge. 

Lucas couldn't exactly kill the mercenary. He didn't know if the man was working solo or if he had a team backing him up. Using his full strength and exposing himself wasn't an option either. His only choice was to keep fighting without showing too much, not that he had any complaints.

Unfortunately, Katsuo who was watching from the sidelines, had to ruin the fun. Growing increasingly nervous and frustrated with the way the fight was unfolding, he yelled, "Just finish him already! I'll pay you double!"

The man momentarily paused his attacks, and Lucas followed suit. 

The man turned to Katsuo and then back to Lucas, who stood a few meters away. "Final chance, kid. I'm done holding back." His Gorilla Arm cyberware suddenly transformed, revealing a hidden Projectile Launch System. The sleek, metallic barrel was pointed directly at Lucas's head.

"Go ahead, do your worst," Lucas replied casually.

"Alright, kid, you asked for it," the man sighed, his voice heavy with frustration. The hidden weapon on his arm gleamed as the barrel extended, but instead of firing, the man hesitated. Slowly and surprisingly, he lowered the weapon, his arm transforming back to its original form.

"...huh?" Lucas raised an eyebrow. It seemed the man wasn't going to continue fighting. Smart move, but why? Did he think he couldn't handle him?

The man looked back at Katsuo, a mix of irritation and pity in his eyes. "This really ain't worth the trouble. I'm outta here," he said, turning his back on Lucas.

Katsuo's face twisted in anger. "What are you doing you gonk! I hired you to take him down!"

The man shrugged, his massive shoulders moving effortlessly. As he started walking away, Katsuo kept hurling insults at him. The man picked his ears with his pinky, ignoring the tirade, and muttered to himself, "What a fucking waste of time. Should've asked Kiwi to run a background check before accepting this gig."

Whether the man was unaware or simply didn't care that Lucas had implants enhancing his hearing, Lucas was able to catch his muttered words and sighed in relief. "Kiwi... must be a netrunner."

Lucas was relieved he hadn't tried to kill the mercenary. From the sound of it, the man had a team, and killing him could have led to them seeking revenge. Besides, he seemed like a decent guy.

But now, it was time to deal with Katsuo and his lackeys. He smiled and silently walked over to them. 

"L-Lucas, look, h-how about we just forget this ever happened?" stammered Katsuo. "I promise I won't mess with you again... Wait, wait wait!... anything but my face..."