Chapter 52

The sticky liquid and sweat clinging to my body felt disgusting, but after a shower, it was at least a bit more bearable.

As I dried my hair with a bath towel and returned to the room, I saw Panam wrapped in a bedsheet, sleeping stark naked with her huge ass exposed.

...Tch, looking at that ass makes me wanna go for round seven, but I manage to restrain myself.

Opening the window to air out the room, which was heavy with a musky smell, I was met with the sight of the sun rising between the valley ridges.

Ah, I see. So that's why it's called the Sunset Motel.

I rested my arms on the window frame and gazed at the strangely yellow-tinged sun.

Let the sunlight burn away the pink thoughts clouding my half-awake brain and focus on what I need to do about Anders Hellman’s capture.

First off, I’ve got to explain my situation and, through Panam, get connected to the Aldecaldos. Then, make them an offer to attack the Kang Tao convoy AV...

I took the cigarette offered from the side, lit it with a lighter, and took a drag. The smoke filling my lungs brought a sense of calm.

...Wait, who just handed me that?

Looking to the side, I saw Johnny leaning against the same window frame.

【Hey, Vincent. Got good news and bad news. Which do you want first?】

"...Right. Hit me with the good news first."

【You can now smoke a cigarette I pulled from your own memory.】

"Seriously? So basically, infinite supply?"

【Pretty much. As long as I hand it to you, that is. Now, the bad news. The Relic's started running. It's in safe mode. Just like now, it's begun sharing the memories that became part of me.】

"...You're serious?"

【Dead serious. Apparently, the system finished analyzing my corrupted data. It solved the issue by delaying the install. But at this rate, you'll gradually assimilate—becoming me.】

"In other words?"

【...Your body is slowly morphing to match my genetic data. Nanomachines, almost identical to my genes, are replacing your cells and rewriting their function—like evolving from ape to human. Right now, your consciousness is still separate, but there's a growing chance we’ll merge, or I might even take control.】

"...That's bad, isn't it?"

【No shit it's bad, you dumbass. What, you regress into a monkey from too much thrusting or something? …Tch. If that’s the trigger, then it’s no laughing matter. There's no way the body rewrite doesn't come with side effects. …Slack off and it'll be too late.】

"Hey, Johnny. Didn't you ever think of using me as a stepping stone to come back?"

【...Hah, of course not, idiot. I’m a properly dead digital ghost. I couldn't hold my head high if I came back at your expense. The dead should stay dead. Anyone who realizes that would think the same. …Even this half-assed act of pretending to be alive feels wrong. I’ve got memories of dying with a hole blown through my gut, writhing in pain, suffocating because I had no lungs. …There's no erasing that.】

"...That’s how it is, huh."

【Yeah. So Vincent, just focus on surviving. …Ahh, now I remember. That girl—so that’s why she wanted me…】

Johnny clutched his head, groaning in pain like he had a headache, then muttered as he looked at the sun.

He had a lit cigarette in his mouth that wouldn’t burn away—an illusion—and he inhaled nonexistent smoke.

It felt like the phantom pain in his chest was fanning the unrest in his heart.

【...Vincent. “Mikoshi.” Head for Mikoshi. It’s that place under the Arasaka Tower. If you reach it, you’ll find Alt. Alt, the one who made Soulkiller, she can probably do something about this. No one else can—only because I’m inside you, this path even exists.】

"‘Mikoshi’? ‘Soulkiller’? First I’ve heard of either."

【I forgot too, until now. The Relic kicking in must’ve jogged my memory. If it hadn’t, I never would’ve made the connection. Irony, huh? With your death countdown ticking, the hint finally drops. Whoever wrote this scenario has a twisted sense of humor. Setting hope and despair right next to each other.】

Too damn ironic—like getting hit with tinnitus and a migraine at the same time, pain came crashing in.

I barely managed to cling to the window frame and avoid collapsing, but a sickening wave rolled through me like my heart had just stopped.

【...That was the sound of the reaper’s boots. I’m on your side. Don’t go pointing your gun the wrong way, Vincent.】

"...Yeah, I know. I’m counting on you."

By the time the pain finally subsided, Johnny had vanished.

Even the cigarette that should’ve been between my fingers was gone without a trace.

Phew... Damn, that’s rough. But still, it’s better than having no hope at all.

Six days from now, I’ll bring down the Kang Tao convoy and secure Anders Hellman.

What should I do during those six days?

I forgot to ask Vally if she got Evelyn’s memory BD from Judy.

That’s first. The MechaDragon job is with David, but honestly, it’s a tough one...

『Vally, you got a minute?』

『Yeah, I’m good. Got a new job? You need a driver?』

『Nah, just wanted to ask if you picked up that BD from Judy.』

『Ah, that. Remember when I was taking time off for aftercare? I got to see it then. But there’s a bit of a problem—it looks like the Voodoo Boys are involved.』

『Those crazy bastards from Pacifica, huh... What’s the deal?』

『Evelyn was apparently being blackmailed by a Voodoo guy to steal the Relic. They were after the Johnny Silverhand personality construct? Something like that. So maybe we can bait them with what’s inside you, V.』

『But the risk is high. Direct contact with the Voodoo Boys won’t be easy...』

『What if we just take on a gig as a regular cyberpunk? The Voodoo Boys aren’t a huge gang, right? If we can reach someone high enough to talk Relic stuff...』

『That might be the safest bet. Got it, I’ll try getting in touch through Little Boss.』

『Sounds good. Let me know if anything comes up.』

I hung up the holocall, grabbed a real cigarette from the shirt on the side table, and let actual smoke fill my lungs.

Alright, timing shouldn’t be a problem. Let’s get in touch with Little Boss.

『Morning, V. Any updates?』

『Good morning, Little Boss. As for updates, I’m planning an op to hit a Kang Tao AV in six days and secure Anders Hellman. Also, we found out the people behind Evelyn were the Voodoo Boys. I was thinking of contacting them under the pretense of taking a solo job. Is that alright with you?』

『...Hmm, the Voodoo Boys, huh. That might be a bit dicey. They likely know I’m with the Tiger Claws, so if one of my people gets involved, we might spark a gang war. Let’s change our approach—business. Put your Relic on the market and use that to get in contact with the Voodoo guys. Raise the issue that it’s unstable and hard to extract. If they really want your actual Relic, they’ll push back. If it’s something else, they’ll propose a different deal.』

『Something else, huh. Like...Alt, maybe?』

I tried probing Little Boss a bit here—but immediately regretted it.

Even though all she said was “Heh,” the chill that ran down my spine was enough to make my skin crawl.

『I don’t know where you heard that name... But any shortcuts should be taken. You don’t need to contact the Voodoo Boys. We’ll link you directly into the Megacorp network and arrange contact with Alt. ...Hmm, in that case, I guess you’re no longer needed. Time to take care of loose ends.』

What does the Little Boss know?

Could just mentioning the name “Alt,” the person Johnny spoke of, really cause such a dramatic shift?

Now, it was painfully clear—we were running along rails the Little Boss had already laid out for us.

『In the end, it doesn’t matter if it’s there or not. Better to incinerate the pathogen altogether. Ah, and notify the team—tell them to stay away from the Pacifica district for the next few days. —We don’t want them getting caught up in it.』

『R-Roger that... Um, should I head to the clinic, then?』

『Ah, yes, that’s fine. No, wait. We haven’t set up the equipment for a net dive. Give me three days. I’ll have everything prepared. Come after the fourth day—there’ll be no issue. Until then, do as you like. It’s good to rest and recover once in a while.』

『Y-Yes.』

『Hey now, what’s with the stiff response? This isn’t anything new, is it? Yesterday, today, tomorrow—it doesn’t matter. Those who must die are simply destined to die. The clock hands just moved a bit faster, that’s all. Just nudged them with a fingertip. I’ll say it one more time—don’t go near the Pacifica district. That’s an order. I’d really rather not deal with someone dying in such a stupid way.』

And with that, the holocall ended.

...Someone might die because of my thoughtless provocation?

Only now did I realize—I may not have fully understood the terror that is the Little Boss... no, the fixer, Jugra.

My fingers trembled with fear, and I dropped my cigarette.

I watched the cigarette fall past the window frame, disappear below, and burn out on the gravel. Then, with a trembling hand, I turned on the built-in TV.

A breaking news alert from N54 News came on. It reported that a drug-related terrorist attack by Biotechnica remnants had occurred in the Pacifica district, and that an unknown pathogen was spreading.

And it seemed the NCPD had taken the situation seriously—Pacifica had been completely locked down.

There was also an official statement from Delamain Medical Services, identifying the incident as a bioterrorist attack by Biotechnica remnants.

A special scorched-earth operation targeting the panic-stricken, zombie-like Pacifica was being planned, and was to be executed at noon.

All I could do was confess—to myself—that I’d made a fatal mistake.

Johnny had warned me, hadn’t he? That the Little Boss was already a cyberpsycho.

I’d pressed a button that should never have been pressed. The weight of responsibility bore down on both shoulders.

Worse than the gut-wrenching pain I used to feel back when I worked at Arasaka.

“Mm... Vincent? What’s wrong? All curled up like that. Ah—did I hog the sheets?”

“If all it was was a cold stomach, I’d count myself lucky.”

Panam’s carefree voice gave me a small sense of relief—but thinking about what was happening in Pacifica made my stomach convulse.

Even vomiting yesterday’s meal out the window didn’t make me feel any better.

As I felt Panam's hand gently rubbing my back—I ran away.

I rinsed my mouth, then pulled Panam into an embrace, pushed her into the shower room, and devoured her like I was tracing what we started yesterday.

Even though I knew this wouldn’t solve anything, I leaned into this now-habitual way of relieving stress.

Ahh... I... What should I do... What can I even do?

My mind was filled with curses hurled at myself.

【You goddamn dumbass!!】

Johnny’s kick sent me tumbling across the floor, just as I had Panam pinned to the bed.

Scratching his head in frustration, Johnny approached, raised his left arm—and slugged me in the right cheek.

Panam, now stunned, stared at me lying on the floor. Her gaze was sharp—but the blow from Johnny had snapped me back to my senses.

【It doesn’t matter how many people in Pacifica die. It’s got nothing to do with us. Or did you forget? You’re the one dying here! Don’t forget—《Relic》’s corruption rate is your damn countdown to death!! That little stunt of yours just made it skyrocket. You got a death wish or something!?】

“...Still, that doesn’t mean what she’s doing is forgivable...”

【And that’s why I’m calling you a dumbass. Open your eyes, idiot. Look at the damn TV. Those special forces guys? Those are Delamain’s drones. They’re targeting those Voodoo clowns—treating them as the bioterrorists. Otherwise it doesn’t add up. NCPD and the mayor are thrilled they can wipe out a bunch of illegals in Night City. That’s why they’re getting away with it. But if civilians got caught in it, the public would lose their shit. What, you got jizz for brains or something, dumbass?】

Johnny grabbed me by the hair and forced me to look at the screen. The 《Delamains》 in biosuits were spraying flamethrowers, incinerating people—but every single one had the tattoos or accessories of the Voodoo Boys.

So they were really just wiping out the Voodoo Boys—not committing wholesale slaughter of Pacifica residents.

...Still, isn’t this seriously messed up?

Thanks to Johnny’s yelling, I was starting to feel like myself again—but even so, she was using one hell of a roundabout method just to crush a single gang.

It was a moment that engraved the terror of the Little Boss deep into my heart.

“...For now, could you please explain everything?”

Panam’s exasperated voice cut in—and only then did I fully realize I’d well and truly screwed up, with nowhere left to run.