Requesting Reinforcements

"Chessen—damn it, the guy you're tracking is a cyberpsycho! Time to lay it all out, who did you do this job for?"

In the clinic, Leo, covered in blood, growled in frustration.

"What's his name?" Chessen's voice was quick.

"James Norris, from Pacifica."

"Wow... I see. I've got his data here, but you probably don't need that right now—he's got Sandevistan, right? The military-grade kind?"

"Yeah, you're right, and he's planning to install an even stronger one. The 6th Street Gang plans to turn that cyber psycho into a human bomb and drop him into the Vista del Rey!"

"That makes sense, that makes sense," Chessen couldn't contain his excitement. "Listen, Leo, cards on the table—this job is for Kang Tao. They're offering a high reward for anything related to military-grade Sandevistan: rumors, schematics, operational data, even scraps. You want in on something big? The implant James is getting is definitely Sandevistan, and it's an experimental model that Militech hasn't fully deployed yet—

Get that thing, get that thing! We could all be riding the Kang Tao gravy train! Damn it, you said they're about to start the surgery? You need to move fast before the NCPD's SWAT team gets there first."

Chessen sounded almost possessed, babbling about how Leo needed to get to work.

Despite Leo's low, growling voice, his eyes betrayed a cool composure: "Screw that—I'm not kissing up to any corp. We can do the job, but tell Kang Tao they better be ready to bleed big time."

"Got it, got it, just get the goods first, and I'll keep Kang Tao steady. Hurry up, Leo, this is a chance to make a fortune!"

"Don't rush." Leo checked the time. "I gave their implant doctor a heavy dose of anesthetic. They'll need plenty of time to prep, and not just any doc can handle that implant."

On the other end of the line, Chessen suddenly calmed down, realizing that Leo might not be as frantic as he seemed.

This calmness rubbed off on the money-hungry Chessen. "I heard the 6th Street Gang deployed half their crew to block you, but they didn't catch you, though some people died."

"Not our people—listen, we'll do the job, but I want Kang Tao to send me a military-grade ICE terminal. James has one too."

"Military-grade ICE? That might be tough, you know the big corps guard that stuff fiercely."

"Then there's no deal. That guy's a beast, or they can send their own hackers—though I doubt they want to get their hands dirty."

"Uh, I'll talk to them about it. Anything else?"

"Yeah, have them send over their most advanced Sandevistan model. Otherwise, no deal."

Chessen paused, his tone becoming somewhat strange. "Are you sure?"

Kang Tao's most advanced Sandevistan is the QianT Model 4—a product that's hard to describe.

It's a nearly top-of-the-line military-grade spinal implant, but the behavior chip is a letdown, offering only 10% of the time-dilation effect in its standard state.

The only upside is that compared to similar products, it has minimal impact on the user's mental state, and it's relatively cheap.

But QianT recently released the Model 5 chip, with a fancy name—"Reality Warper."

Yet, the time-dilation effect is still only 20% of normal.

Kang Tao loyalists argue that QianT isn't incapable of making a good Sandevistan—the hardware is already solid, it just needs time for driver upgrades.

Something like "QianT is fighting for the future" or whatever.

But besides mercenaries, not many can push Sandevistan to its theoretical limits.

Who would pay to be QianT's guinea pig? A self-funded tester? Why handicap yourself in a fight with underperforming gear?

"I'm sure. I know what you're thinking—tell them the operational data from the implant will cost extra."

"Alright, they won't refuse that—though I guess you want something else too."

"Heavy firepower—a Defender LMG with ammo, and tungsten penetrator rounds for a tech sniper rifle."

"You're a pro, asking for all the sensitive stuff—I don't have any light machine guns, but if you want, I can get one from... uh, our old friend, Rossana. An MK31, though I'm not sure you can handle it.

I can't get you a tech sniper rifle, but I do have some tungsten rounds stashed away.

Considering our relationship, all of that would run you thirty grand."

"MK31 it is, deal."

After hanging up, Leo looked out onto the street.

With the sudden assault by the 6th Street Gang on Valentino territory, the NCPD had issued a warning, and the streets were nearly deserted.

The battle had entered a lull, but everyone knew this was the calm before the storm.

Things had escalated way out of control.

Padre, sitting in his car, thought the same.

A black Chevrolet Ceres stretched sedan idled by the curb. A Valentino enforcer, built like Jackie, opened the car door, walked to the side, and waved to Leo.

Leo popped an immunosuppressant pill, then got into Padre's car.

"Leo, things have gotten way out of hand. The 6th Street Gang has gone completely mad, turning the Bridge to Santo Domingo into a war zone. Even the NCPD is putting pressure on us."

Padre's tone was calm, though in reality, he found the situation quite tricky.

The tension between the 6th Street Gang and the Valentinos had a long history, but their gunfights and clashes had always been relatively restrained.

This restraint largely stemmed from Padre and Sergeant mediating from behind the scenes—though they were also the instigators.

While the underlings might want to tear their enemies apart, and that's what the leaders told them, it didn't mean they wanted an all-out bloodbath.

The scale of this conflict was unprecedented, all because Nolan and James couldn't stop the trio in Arroyo. The 6th Street soldiers following them turned into a convoy.

Then, the Valentinos mowed down half of them in a single sweep—a stunning victory, but it also solidified the animosity.

Politicians can start wars, but sometimes, ending them isn't up to the politicians.

"Now can you tell me what's really going on?"

"The 6th Street Gang brought in a cyberpsycho—and I'm not exaggerating. This guy could snap at any moment. Here's his implant list."

Leo transmitted the data, and Padre's expression grew serious.

"They're planning to give him even more powerful gear.

I'm guessing Sergeant plans to drop this thing in the Vista del Rey, and if it goes off, well, that's someone else's problem.

But it's gonna be hell for the Valentinos—now you know, this does concern you."

"Hiring a psycho to meddle in a gang war? I really need to have a word with Sergeant, but this mess started because of you guys."

Leo rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

He pulled out a prepped vial of neural suppressants—he knew Padre wouldn't easily help clean up this mess, so he'd prepared this.

The so-called "big news" included this as well.

"Santo Domingo is about to experience a major epidemic. In fact, it's already starting—gamma rabies, treatable with alpha neural suppressants.

This vial's on the house, and here's a pack of vaccines, twenty doses in total. Market price is thirteen grand per dose, but I'll let you have the lot for one hundred and fifty grand."

Night City doesn't have a CDC—or rather, the CDC in Night City is just another part of the futures market and stock trading.

Right now, most people think there's an epilepsy outbreak in Santo Domingo, but to confirm what kind of epidemic it really is, that's a bit more challenging.

If Sergeant could get his hands on this stuff, Leo figured Padre could too—or even mess with Sergeant's business. Either way, it's useful intel.

"That's some big news." Padre's expression didn't change as he examined the vaccines. "Alright, kid, I have to admit, I underestimated you a bit.

Since we're already here, I have a job for you.

If Sergeant plans to send that cyberpsycho to Vista del Rey..."

"I can handle it." Leo said confidently. "We've got a personal grudge with him now—but you might want to think bigger. It's time to put an end to this madness."

Padre raised an eyebrow.

"That's... music to my ears, but there's one more thing you need to decide. Gustavo Orta's boys stopped a death-defying 6th Street car.

The guy driving nearly broke through our defenses. The kid's legs are shattered, but he's still mashing the gas pedal, and his hand's half gone, yet he's gripping the wheel like it's a tank.

He says he's here to see me. I'm guessing he's one of yours?"

Leo paused for a moment—was it that kid, Archie?

"Was there a woman with him?"

"Yeah, she took a bullet, but she's still alive—looks like his mom. I like that kid's spirit."

"Hmm, then from now on, he's yours, Padre."

...

The atmosphere in the clinic was tense.

V suddenly said, "That guy was a cyber monster, Doc. I need new implants."

"Sandevistan, right?" Doc Vic wiped his glasses.

Jackie had already been fitted with his new arm.

A Gorilla Arm, an implant that was less of an implant and more of a complete arm replacement, the pinnacle of 21st-century prosthetic technology.

With synthetic muscle fibers, it unleashed tonnage-level force, capable of turning someone's face into a spray of blood with a single punch.

Jackie was awake now, though still not fully conscious, but he wasn't going to die.

"Doc, I think I need some new implants too, but I'm out of cash."

V waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry, I've got money. Doc, get us outfitted."

"Money?" Seeing V's carefree attitude, Doc Vic chuckled. "V, it looks like Leo didn't tell you—see that tank in the corner?

That's a bio-info modeling device, used by the rich for DNA maintenance. 500k a set—and this one's the cheap version for pets."

"Why are you bringing that up now?"

"Leo said to put it on his tab. If he can't pay it back, I should bill you—I took out a loan to get it for you guys."

V's expression shifted slightly. "How much total?"

"500k, plus, there's a user manual and database included. I'm giving you a discount, so all together, 550k."

Creak.

Right on cue, Leo walked through the door.

"How's Jackie? Get ready..."

"Leo—"

As soon as Leo stepped in, he was greeted by V's menacing grin, her knuckles cracking ominously.

"Uh?"