Chương 12: A humbling experience

With Akulov having now agreed to the deal when his superiors confirmed it, we set the drop-off zone in the sea where they dump the containers and leave. This left me to set up a new job for a bunch of nomads in the area called the Snow Foxes, who usually reside on floating sheets of ice and patrol the area. They have a good reputation for smuggling cargo. Sending over a live feed of all their families helps encourage honesty, and for those who aren't persuaded, I have a remote control drone equipped with a 60mm sniper ready with 300 rounds.

The shipment would arrive on the outskirts of Night City. I had already hacked the shipping manifesto, and as you would expect of Night City, there were drugs traded as well as arms, all in hidden compartments of the ships bought by the underground traders of the city. Mine would arrive on "Tsar Belikov," a massive container ship that will have a bunch of other materials I've ordered from Petrochem. With it being a deal outside of the contract, the leadership was more than happy to sell their products.

I've also had my suit begin to make some smaller mining drones that would be able to quickly mine out the area that is going to be underground. It has a spiral-type build that allows flying vehicles in the center to go up or down, and at the sides, six massive industrial elevators to move materials and equipment. So far, it's at the stage where the drones have just figured out how to fly and are still learning how to use their bodies properly. I made a rather simple learning machine code that will eventually figure out how to do things the best way—in this case, mining. For its learning, it will be funneled data from outside sources, thus accelerating its development.

That being said, in the background, I've secured a hold of a Max Tac security team that has been alerted that Regina Jones has a group of cyberpsychos she has hidden away. With this all being true and corresponding details, this immediately got sent up the chain of command, resulting in four units being sent her way, all with shoot-to-kill orders. Now, I began my part.

POV Regina Jones

I've got a bad feeling, the kind that you can't ignore. I've already scoured my place for bombs and possible snipers, but it still feels like a looming crisis where I can do nothing. Just as I was about to message V, something was off. My cyberdeck began acting up, and any sort of communication was stopped. Then…

…: "Hello, Regina."

Regina: "I don't know who you are, but you're making a very big mistake that might just get you iced."

I said with such fury. Never could I have imagined the once so careful Regina falling to a netrunner hack. I immediately went to call Shandra about a rival netrunner, only to be met with a floating corpse in ice, chilled after with its eyes bleeding, sparking, and spasming. I rushed over to see her whole body shaking as if something was strangling her.

…: "My, my, somebody has gotten a little close to the sun, don't you think, Regina? Though I imagine it comes with being a journalist. You lot have a whole different game. Though I can't say that Kang Tao didn't come to your rescue with helping you set up as a Fixer."

Regina: "State your terms, runner," I gritted out, feeling Shandra shaking in my arms with her quiet sobs. I don't know what demon he could have used to make her like this. It's gotta be at least Militech grade. Even then, Militech doesn't go this far with their demons, only going for efficiency and power. This seems like something that would make its victims regret even going into the net again.

…: "Ah, terms. What a wonderful word. Though I do quite like it when it comes out of your mouth. Well, my employers have recently been made aware of your mission regarding them. Let it be known that my employer doesn't like people being in on their business. So much so, they asked for quite the packed deal when it comes to you. For instance, you have four MaxTac teams en route to your warehouses where you keep cyberpsychos sedated. You have another problem: the White Claws have now been informed of your gang's total vulnerability. So, I think as far as demands go, you should stay in your own lane, Fixer, and not get into Corps affairs, let alone from your lover in Kang Tao. Do I make myself clear, or do I need to inform MaxTac of a possible biological weapon threat from your office?"

I just nod. They have blocked me off from my lieutenants and locked me in a room in a tower full of what I presume are automated defences, as well as the possibly dying Shandra, who has somewhat calmed down. Seemingly satisfied, the netrunner says something that makes me, even in my downtrodden state, angry.

…: "I've also seen fit to take 10 million eddies from your personal accounts, even those from your mercenaries, as I've seen my time with you being repaid. I'll lease this building back in 5 hours, by which time everything outside should have cooled down, at least for you. Though we will see about your lover's delegation."

With that said, before I could respond, they were gone, leaving no trace in the system. I had lost everything over the course of 15 minutes.

POV V

As I'm in my Quadra Type-66 640 TS, I can't shake the feeling that something is off. I've checked my bases 13 times, and everything feels normal—no one is following me, and my contacts are still there. Just as I'm turning at an intersection, I'm caught off guard when a Militech griffin suddenly drops from altitude and launches two missiles at my baby.

The first one tears off the front panel shielding meant for rockets. The second snakes under the car, and I feel the back of the car go off. The remaining part is flipped in the air before coming crashing back down to earth. With my stimulants disabled, my Unity far out of reach, and my mantis blades stuck on the inside from sustaining too much damage, I'm trapped. I see the drone fly up to me before displaying the contract from Regina. Then comes a letter that seems to have appeared out of nowhere, with the drone dropping it onto the floor before resuming its patrol like nothing happened. As I'm in an isolated part of Heywood, no one sees anything.

I'm left gasping as I see an image of Regina in what appears to be her apartment, holding someone. Underneath, I see the writing: "Your contract has now been cancelled. This is your warning that such actions will no longer be necessary, merc, and that Ex-Arasaka intelligence should keep themselves safe, for there are always bounties on them."

I just chuckled. Oh, how it feels to be disregarded.