บท 237: 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.
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บท 238: Nobu-ll Intent
"I'm here to speak with Wakako-sama." Ori greets the two large men guarding the alleyway entrance. Wakako had moved shop from her quaint office to a hideout in the center of Japantown, somewhere far defensible if shit should ever the fan again.
"Gesuto... ?" one guard looks at the other who shrugs, "Nakanihairu. Go, she is expecting you."
Ori steps through and eventually into Wakako's office, finding the woman in front of a large screen. "Zombie, it's been a while. I hope matters haven't altered our relations too much?"
"Unless you had something to do with Arasaka hunting me, it shouldn't." he bluntly says before looking around, "I thought our 'contact' was going to be here?"
*Bzztch!*
"That, unfortunately, is not possible." a voice states from the nearby screen, which buzzes to life revealing a surprising face. Dressed in some sort of silk bathrobe, slicked-up hair, and holographic glasses, Yorinobu Arasaka sat calmly before them on the feed. "Greetings."
Ori takes a tentative step back and draws his revolver, pointing it at Wakako's head with a scowl, "The fuck is this? You better have an army on speed dial or I'm gonna zero you and bury everyone in this fuckin' building. Including this rich-boy Arasaka asshole." he growls.
The Fixer just quirks a brow at him, "Come, did you really think I would betray you now? Why, it would be simpler just to forget about you with all the trouble you have, and will cause in future."
"Calm yourself Ori Quadrano, I mean no harm." Yorinobu says, attempting to pacify the situation. His calm facade falls slightly as he leans forwards on the edge of his seat. "There is no need to do something we would all regret."
"I regret coming here, but at least now I got a face to the guy I'm gonna kill."
"Even after I explain I am the one who has been assisting you?" the man presses.
...
"What?" Ori asks, baffled at the twist.
Yorinobu leans back, "I am the one who warned you of the attack. I am the one who delivered the prototype nanite injector. I am the one who aided in the destruction of the Tyger Claws... I am the one who helped you evade your Arasaka pursuers, the attempts to unveil your family and have them killed? Do you think Arasaka lacked the means that Biotechnica used to uncover them?"
...
"You've confused him, dear." Wakako smiles mirthfully and sips at her tea.
"I don't understand... Why? You're an Arasaka, why would you work against your family? Why help me at all?"
Yorinobu sighs, "It's a complicated matter. To put it simply, I have fought my family my entire life. My younger rebellious years in Japan were wrought with violence and conflict, I started a gang called the Steel Dragons to disrupt the company, but as you can imagine young fools with illusions of grandeur can only go so far.
My father is mad, the goals he seeks... I fear for the world should he ever reach them. My siblings, while ignorant to his true plans are still complicit, they would understand me even if I tried to tell them... I saw that my methods were failing, I was but a splinter in the wind against the spire that is Arasaka. Thus, I altered my plans. Lowered my head and joined my family."
"What plans are you talking about? What did Saburo tell you that turned you against him?" Ori questions, the guy was essentially the prince of an empire. It'd take a lot to turn a prince against his own.
Yorinobu wets his lips and drops his glasses to the side, "There are many, but the one I am currently working to disrupt is his attempts at immortality... The technology is complete, all that is left is to test it. Unfortunately for my father, I managed to steal the prototype before any use could be made of it."
A chuckle unconsciously leaves Ori's throat, "You stole from Saburo-fuckin'-Arasaka... Maybe you're not so bad...?" he jokes.
Yorinobu doesn't laugh, merely nodding seriously, "You asked why I chose to help you?... I wish to destroy Arasaka. To bury its sickly carcass before it can spread more disease. I despise the sycophantic fools who discard any moral compunctions for mere comfort, power, authority. If my father gets what he wants we will enter a dark age like no other, one of immortal tyrants and people servile enough to be graced with survival... Ori Quadrano, I helped you in your times of need, now I must ask you do the same."
...
Ori lets out a cool breath, the picture Yorinobu had painted wasn't a nice one. Even if he hadn't had a grudge against Arasaka in the first place he'd have considered helping anyway. It was honestly a boon, they wouldn't have to bring Arasaka down alone, but with Saburo's own son.
"What do you want from me?" he simply asks, wondering what he had that Yorinobu could want. The man had access to soldiers, wealth, power, whatever you could name he had.
"I would utilise your skills as a mercenary. Why you may ask? The men I have access to are not my own, they are all loyal to my father. My personal bodyguard and head of security Adam Smasher secretly received orders from my father to execute me if I made any move that would harm Arasaka's interests. My difficult past has made him wary despite my efforts to ingratiate myself with him. He loved only one son, I doubt he would care if he lost another." he sighs.
"A mercenary... What'd you have me doing?"
"Assassinations... My plans are coming together, but there are obstacles, people inside Arasaka that directly or indirectly impede my efforts. Even talking to you now is dangerous, my guards think I am enjoying time with a prostitute. Acquiring this secure line is thanks only to Miss Wakako here."
...
"I'm still not sure, I want to help but my responsibilities lie with my crew... Can you sweeten the deal at all? They'll move if I ask, but they'll do it gladly with some incentives."
Yorinobu lets out a sigh of relief, "I'm sure we can arrange something... You have no idea how relieving it is to hear that. As of now, I have no immediate wants, but I would have you get stronger, for the death of Adam Smasher is essential for Arasaka's downfall."
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