"Fixers gotta have special info channels."
Leo reused his classic dodge — no real explanation given.
V, curious as ever, pressed him, "Come on, tell me — what's wrong with that drug? Was it defective or something?"
"With your unstoppable intuition, isn't the answer obvious?"
Leo closed the hacker list and opened his browser.
"'Securicine' is a problematic drug. Its side effects are extreme. What Sasha thought was a miracle cure actually worsened her mother's condition — and led to her death."
"Damn, that's dark…"
V whipped her head away, her good mood instantly deflated.
But this was Night City. There were no fairy tales — only messed-up horror stories.
After a while, she slumped onto the table, watching Leo research.
"You sure that one piece of intel is enough to get her on board? She sounded young. You sure her skills are any good?"
Leo gave her a glance. "The intel's just the bait. The real answers are inside Biotechnica's HQ. If she wants the truth, she'll have to work with us. As for her skills — she used to work with Danger Girls."
"Danger Girls… oh, right. That anime detective agency with top-tier gear and all-female staff."
"Exactly."
Leo shrugged and pulled up a video.
"Take a look, V. That's where we're going tomorrow."
V looked up—
Towering megacorp buildings, sky traffic swarming like bees, neon-lit plazas bustling with people. Night City's corporate core. A Feng Shui hotspot with unmatched media presence—
City Center.
"We're… going there?" V's voice wavered.
"More precisely, Arasaka Academy."
Leo paused the video on a sleek black tower with the Arasaka logo.
"Arasaka Academy…"
V didn't look excited. Just confused.
"Doesn't feel like a place for someone like me — street trash."
"Hell, I feel out of place too. But I need to learn tech, get a more legit ID. Gotta suck it up."
He added a dramatic sigh for good measure, and it worked — V smirked.
"Drama queen."
She got up and headed for her room.
"Where you going?"
"Picking out something decent to wear. Can't have corpo drones thinking I'm some hobo."
Ah yes — the feminine instinct to dress well had been activated.
A short while later, she emerged.
Leo only glanced her way at first, then did a double take — staring hard.
"What?" she asked. "This is my favorite outfit."
Leo nodded slowly. "Nothing. Just… suits you."
V was clad in a black, form-fitting sleeveless shirt under a tech-styled jacket with glowing inner circuits and shoulder-mounted tech. Black leather pants with knee guards, a dark red utility belt — peak cyberpunk aesthetic.
More importantly — it looked exactly like V's official in-game outfit.
"Where'd you find this? Looks sick."
"DIY. Built-in protection too. I only wear it for serious gigs."
Leo agreed. "It looks pro. Wear that tomorrow. Gotta represent the squad."
"Obviously."
That afternoon passed peacefully — Leo browsed Night City forums, while V watched TV on the couch. Cozy vibes.
Evening.
After dinner, Leo downed half a can of soda, trying not to think about what exactly he'd just eaten.
His personal terminal buzzed.
[Notification]: Your order has arrived at the designated delivery terminal. Please retrieve it promptly.
"Hey V, help me grab some stuff. My online orders just came in."
He grabbed his coat. V followed.
The delivery station was nearby, parked beside an NCPD patrol car — reassuring.
Leo pressed his hand to the scanner.
[Verification complete. Welcome, Mr. L.]
Clunk clunk—
Drawers opened below. A few cardboard boxes slid onto the conveyor.
V scanned the area, no threats in sight.
"Just food and meds," Leo said. "Come on, lend a hand."
Together, they hauled everything back in one trip.
Inside, V shook the box she'd carried — it rattled with small items.
"What'd you buy?"
"Open it and see."
Leo opened all the boxes, confirming everything matched his list.
V crouched by the med supplies. "Securidine, Revive+, full med kit, emergency trauma kits… You stocking up for war?"
Leo ignored the jab and pulled out one trauma kit, fiddling with it.
In-game, it was a pre-battle HP buff. In reality — a high-tech med device, capable of diagnosing and treating patients at the edge of death. Plug in your arm or leg, and the system would inject meds automatically.
"Rich mercs all keep one at home. But three full kits and a box of meds? Bit much, don't you think?"
V looked baffled at the pile.
"Not at all!" Leo handed her a trauma kit and some meds. "Keep these in your room. I'm gonna stash the rest."
V, now holding a small arsenal of healing items, watched him scurry around hiding things under tables, inside drawers, in the cabinets...
Once half the stash was hidden, Leo lugged the rest upstairs.
"Most people hide guns. You're hiding meds…"
V got no reply. She scratched her head and headed to her room with the freebies.
Well — they were free. And as a merc, you could never have too many ways to not die.
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