[TN:Yo forgot to post yesterday's chapter, so here are two chapters to make it up]
The whole battle lasted less than a minute. By the time David had settled his mom and barely exchanged a few words, he rushed out the door — screams were already coming from the AV.
Leo had seen the whole thing and couldn't help clicking his tongue in disbelief — this lunatic had been after the AV from the very beginning.
He'd never seen a cyberpsycho quite like this before: without a doubt, this man was a cyberpsycho, and not just any kind — a very specific kind.
Leo had been trying to hack him using an unlimited modulator, but Kanek's cyberware was switching between multiple firmware versions every second.
Cyberpsychosis usually caused instability in cyberware, but cases like this were rare — because this had to be deliberate.
The usual instability came from an internal system imbalance, like a cyberware demodulator thrown off by emotional stress, with the hardware itself still trying to maintain stability.
Clearly, this senior Trauma Team operative had intentionally hacked his own systems to mimic catastrophic cyberware failure, all to evade corporate monitoring implants.
This not only protected him from outside hacks but also prevented the company from directly pulling his data remotely — a clever choice for someone who knew cyberware tech.
The downside was obvious: an unstable cyberware system would output erratic electrical currents. While they were mostly within safe limits, the frequent voltage changes could cause nausea, dizziness, headaches…
But for a cyberpsycho? Nothing — or rather, something he had already pushed past.
And Kanek's ambush tactics were surprisingly logical — a textbook high-functioning cyberpsycho.
Since normal communication was off the table, Leo decided to see exactly what he was planning.
The AV's indicator lights suddenly turned red — Kanek clearly knew how to operate a Trauma Team AV!
Leo knew he couldn't hack Kanek's implants, but he could hack the AV.
As Kanek moved in to ambush, Leo had already mounted the weapon head onto his third tentacle arm.
The third arm was a multi-purpose weapons platform equipped with an electromagnetic rail. When needed, it could become a gun.
But the rail could also fire other payloads — like the armor-piercing tips from the Scorpion exosuit.
V's mantis blades had built-in data spike capabilities; Leo had prepared something similar for himself.
Beep—beep—beep—
The AV's alarms blared. Its engines shifted from hover mode. Leo vaulted out the window, using his other two tentacle arms to position himself under the vehicle.
The third arm's railgun charged, its tip rising high.
Bang!
The armor-piercing tip fired, punching straight through the underside of the AV, embedding deep inside.
A thin data cable deployed from the tip, transferring signals in an instant. Sparks danced. A second later, the AV shot upward.
The cable snapped, but a preloaded infinite receiver stayed anchored inside, turning into a persistent intrusion terminal powered by its own mini discharge unit.
Now Leo had complete control over the AV's systems — and Trauma Team wouldn't know where it was headed.
"Big bro!"
David leaned over the upper walkway railing, waving to Leo.
"Chase him! Does that cyberpsycho know the person we're after has a car?"
"He does!"
David nodded firmly.
"Then get the car."
Leo climbed to the second floor using his mechanical arm. Before more Trauma Team reinforcements arrived, he wanted to check what Kanek had been doing here the past few days.
Kanek had been careful — he'd cut power to most of the AV, running only off emergency circuits. That reduced engine output but almost eliminated tracking risks — and kept the engine quiet.
That gave Leo time to call in backup and figure out what had driven this man over the edge.
Within thirty minutes, word spread across Night City — anyone with connections knew there was a cyberpsycho loose, including Leo's old fixer partner, Regina.
[From: Regina]
[Regina: Burger King, there's been a shooting at H4 Tower — I heard several Trauma Team members are dead. Can you check it out?]
[Burger King: This isn't a shooting — it's a robbery and an ambush. A former Trauma Team employee with PTSD holed up at home for a whole week.
When his colleagues came by for a wellness check, he ambushed them. First, he used one colleague's work ID to unlock his own gear, then hacked their accounts. Using their employee clearance, he bought himself a Trauma Team Platinum membership.]
[Burger King: Trauma Team's smart weapons won't target members — they had no way to stop this high-grade operative. The Sandevistan on him is the latest Kang Tao model.
[Regina: But why?]
[Burger King: It goes back to his PTSD. A week ago, during a rescue, his client went cyberpsycho and killed his girlfriend, who was also his teammate. By Trauma team's regs, he had to prioritize saving the client. And now… he's alone.]
[Regina: You're there now?]
[Leo: Yeah. And I want you to run a name for me — Wooly Crowley. Merc. Platinum member.]
[Regina: Give me a minute… And about that Trauma Team guy — if you get the chance, try to keep him alive. Please.]
What Diaz had just been through was exactly what Kanek had endured a week ago —
A client is going cyberpsycho. His girlfriend was killed during the rescue. And he personally loading the killer onto the AV.
The apartment was shredded with bullet holes, furniture smashed, components and debris scattered everywhere.
Two broken guns lay on the floor — their chips destroyed, their magazines emptied.
From day three after coming home, Kanek had started disabling monitoring, searching the Net for any help, and building a revenge plan. Trauma Team and Wooly were both on his list.
The first step had already been carried out — with brutal success.
The only untouched spot in the wreckage was a small table. On it lay a shattered digital photo frame — a picture of Kanek and his girlfriend.
Physical damage had pixelated the image right between them, hiding both their expressions — but it was easy to guess they were smiling.
Kanek's arm was wrapped around her; rings gleamed on both their left ring fingers. Beneath the picture, a line of text read:
["You saved my life."]
[Date: October 11, 2076]
The day it all happened.
Leo set the frame down and stepped over Diaz, who was clutching Petro's body in a pool of blood. The man who had mocked Kanek minutes earlier was now speechless, twitching in shock.
As Leo left the room, a second Trauma Team AV arrived. Diaz heard the all-too-familiar professional rescue phrases:
"You are now safe. Please follow our instructions."
"Your cooperation is vital for our rescue efforts."
"You will receive the treatment you need shortly."
"Please… put down the body."
(End of Chapter)