☀️ 8:00 AM – Chrome, Coffee, and Cloth
V woke up and stretched, yawning deeply.
"Damn… haven't slept this good since my old world."
Still groggy, he sent two quick messages:
📩 [To Jackie]
"Come by around 10 for a checkup."
📩 [To Vik]
"Hey, if you're free, swing by my place at 10. Gonna work on Jackie. If you can, bring his file. And Vik — the new ripperdock parts are all installed. I know you can't resist."
Another ping.
📩 [Kiwi] – "Don't die."
"Ahh, that girl."
He replied:
*"You're sweet, Kirki. Hope our paths cross without anyone losing limbs. Stay frosty, fruit-salad."
He frowned, scratching at his stubble.
"Maybe I should've listened to Fukui and bought some clothes..."
His HUD blinked. Turns out, the apartment's rent included a basic wardrobe — somewhere buried in the contract he didn't read.
"Figures. Probably page two, after the cleaning clause..."
With two hours to kill before Jackie showed up, he went downstairs, inhaled the grime of Night City's morning air, and smiled.
"Ahhh… like mountain dew. But cyberpunk."
He slid into the Warlock.
"Drive to Jinguji."
His black card hummed in his pocket.
📞 [Vik]
"Morning, V. Got your message. I'll swing by around 10:30. Restocking my shop — but I can't wait to see the upgrades. Need anything?"
"Nah, I'm out and about. If I need anything, I'll grab it."
Call ended.
📞 [Sebastián Ibarra]
"Hello, V. Wanted to thank you again for that lizard business. Jackie speaks highly of you. Says you're doing ripper work now too? Good. His mother worries. He trains, sure. But muscle won't stop a meeting with God."
He chuckled, made some spiritual jokes, then got serious.
"If you need help — discreet help — I'm here. Let's catch up after your preparations."
Jinguji loomed.
"Let's do this."
Inside:
"Hello, sir," Zane greeted. "Those clothes... are horrible."
V blinked.
"No disrespect, but — can you even afford this place?"
He pulled out the black card.
Zane blinked. "Ah. Of course. Thank you for coming."
Clapping twice, two assistants arrived — gold-plated uniforms and zero emotion.
"Doll protocol," Zane explained. "Everything will be confidential."
Measurements. Full-body scans. Full strip-down.
"Why do I have to be naked?" V grumbled.
A half-hour later:
"You have a car, sir?" Zane asked.
"Yeah."
"Great. Boxes of clothing and shoes are pre-sized — basic fits. The rest will be delivered. You're… very muscular, sir."
"What's the price?"
"All included on your card."
"Guess all that effort paid off."
"I want something custom. For solo work."
Zane smirked. "I thought so. That hand cannon… and that military chrome? I have just the look."