Chapter 91: A Kitten in Dogtown
Night City. Dogtown.
Publicly denounced by Mayor Rhyne, dragged through the mud on every newsfeed, Dogtown had cemented its reputation years ago: a slum, a haven for fugitives, a smuggler's paradise, a Scavenger rat-hole, and a bastion for illegal militias.
In one word: chaos.
In two words: lawless zone.
But anyone who'd actually lived there knew the truth. Dogtown was, ironically, safer than Night City proper.
Yes, it was dirtier. Yes, it was chaotic. It was home to Barghest, Scavs, Animals, Voodoo Boys, smugglers, corpo deserters, and every flavor of wanted criminal.
But Kurt Hansen's Barghest militia ruled with an iron fist. Hansen was a capable leader, keeping his own troops in line while suppressing every other faction in the district.
Here, if shit went down, Barghest responded instantly. They actually policed the district.
Compare that to the NCPD in Night City. Unless you were in City Center or Charter Hill, the cops usually only showed up to write tickets or tag bodies after the shooting stopped.
Take Gloria's case. Just driving down the street, she almost got flatlined in a gang crossfire. That wouldn't happen in Dogtown. The Animals, the Tyger Claws, Maelstrom... they didn't pull that shit here.
Because Barghest was different.
Their core members were ex-Militech and NUSA special forces. Their gear, their chrome, their training—they outclassed every standard gang in Night City. Professionals were just built different.
Plus, the Unification Treaty kept the NUSA out, but Hansen's betrayal meant Night City couldn't touch him either. Dogtown was a true gray zone, a golden triangle of lawlessness where corps couldn't enter, the city couldn't conquer, and the cops didn't dare patrol.
In a corner of Dogtown, inside a residential block, a girl with a messy black bob was packing a suitcase.
She was cute, with a natural, cat-like smile and heat-sink vents on her cheeks that looked like whiskers. She picked up a large Dangerous Girls figure—basketball-sized—and hesitated.
"Can't fit it... no room," she mumbled regretfully, placing the figure on the bed.
It had cost her six thousand eddies. Now... it was trash. If she had time, she could sell it; Dangerous Girls merch held its value well in Europe. But she didn't have time.
"Sasha, are you really leaving?"
A voice came from behind her. Sasha turned to see a woman in a gray hoodie.
Same black hair, same bob cut, but the woman's hair was shorter, plastered to her face. And interestingly, she had only one heat-sink vent on her cheek, while Sasha had two.
"Yeah, I'm going," Sasha said, smiling. "Don't worry, sis. I've already checked."
"Everyone's alive. After the Arasaka raid, they were picked up by another black-ops team. They're in the Badlands now. I put a tracker on Rebecca. Once I get close, I'll find them."
"..." Stella's mouth twitched. "Why did you bug your own teammate? Were you stalking them?"
"Mm..." Sasha tapped her chin, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Secret."
She wasn't about to tell Stella it was to keep Rhys away from Rebecca. Just a kitten guarding her food. Nothing sinister about that.
"I know you're independent. You've always been better than me. But Sasha... staying here is the right move. Dogtown is safe. As long as you don't cross Barghest, you're fine. It's just a place for business. Barghest doesn't prey on the locals because their families live here too. And honestly... I don't get why the NCPD dropped the manhunt so suddenly, but going out there is dangerous. Arasaka won't just let you go, right? Stay with me. I believe your friends are good people, but... you don't need to risk your life for them..."
"Okay, sis, stop," Sasha interrupted.
She sighed. "He saved my life. He's in trouble, so I'm going to help him. I know I probably can't do much, and he probably doesn't expect me to come, but... it's not about whether he needs me. It's about what I want to do."
"Him, him, him! What did this Rhys guy do to you?" Stella groaned. "Since you came back, all you talk about is him. You used to nag me about Dangerous Girls, try to make me a fan. Now it's all about him. What gives?"
Sasha didn't answer, just smiled at her sister.
Could she tell Stella she'd already ridden Rhys like a carousel?
In this era of fast-food relationships and high-pressure living, virginity was a joke. Hooking up was just stress relief.
But Stella and Sasha were... surprisingly traditional. Maybe it was their mother's influence? Stella was a romantic. Before meeting her husband, Bill, she'd taken every relationship seriously. And Sasha?
This was the first time she'd ever fallen for someone. Whether it was the heroics, his gentle nature, or just raw attraction to his strength... she was hooked.
Their mother's teachings, her sister's influence... Sasha was fiercely loyal.
A geeky kitten can't be a bad person, right?
She zipped up the suitcase, packed her deck and rig, and set it on the floor. "Packed. I'm heading out. But first, I need to call Jackie. Sis, give me some space?"
Stella: "..."
"You're going to regret this one day! Dammit, dammit!" Stella stomped her foot. "Three days. No, two. You have to message me every two days."
"I know I can't stop you, but... I need to know you're okay."
Sasha grinned and hugged her sister. "Okay, sis. I promise."
"I'll do it. Happy?"
"I still have to come to your wedding, remember? You and Bill have been saving for that house and ceremony forever. Don't worry, I'll be back."
Stella buried her face in Sasha's shoulder, hugging her tight, her voice thick with tears. "You better be, you little brat..."
"Who's the older sister here, anyway?"
"Hehe." Sasha just giggled.
...
"Morning, Jackie."
"Morning, Sasha. How's Dogtown? Treating you well? I've never been. Mama won't let me go."
"It's good. Living with my sister. Lots to do, safer than Night City. But Jackie... you look like shit. Rough few days?" Sasha smiled at the video feed.
"Don't get me started, hermana," Jackie groaned, his voice loud. "Honestly? Staying behind was the right call. Gloria didn't leave either, you know?"
"What happened to her?"
"Big trouble! Arasaka and the cops didn't clock her, didn't know she was with us. But 6th Street... those bastards started harassing her and David. If David hadn't tipped me off... they were trying to 'recruit' them by force."
Jackie sounded pissed. "Seriously! I got there, and there were a dozen of them, cornering her. Is that how you recruit people? That's kidnapping! I got into a brawl. If Gloria hadn't told me not to kill anyone, that leader would have eaten lead, not just a few punches!"
"Wait... you didn't zero them?"
"Nah. It's not an invitation if you have a gun to their head, right? Anyway, don't worry about me. I'm used to it. And I want to do this. I have to help the Mox. The cops and corps aren't touching them, but the Tyger Claws are trying to wipe them out. I'm doing what I can, but honestly... it's Rogue. Rogue's helping from the shadows. Without her, the Mox would be history."
"And the Valentinos? How are you with them?"
"Cut off completely. Had a few friends left, but after the Japantown incident... they're keeping their distance. I get it. So, in Heywood... besides Mama, not many people want to talk to me right now."
Jackie shrugged it off. "What about you, hermana? You really decided?"
"Yeah. I'm going to the Badlands to find them. They're alive. I have a tracker on Rebecca. I'll... I'll try to bring them back."
"Alright, enough talk. Take care of yourself."
"You too, Jackie."
"I gotta go. Helping the Mox with security, then heading to Gloria's to crash with David tonight."
"Okay. Bye, Jackie."
Sasha hung up, patting her cheeks.
Jackie was a good guy. He had his own mountain of problems—the Valentinos, El Coyote Cojo—but he was still cleaning up everyone else's mess. Protecting the Mox for Rhys, protecting Gloria... he was loyal to a fault. Even Maine wasn't this selfless.
"See? There are people in Night City who still need you..." Sasha whispered to herself. "You can't stay away too long, Rhys..."
She sat in front of the mirror, applying makeup, disguising herself.
Minutes later, a woman with long hair, garish makeup, and flashy clothes walked out of the building, dragging a suitcase onto the streets of Dogtown.
Squinting, the disguised Sasha got into the car Stella had prepared. Not expensive, just a standard, nondescript sedan. A black market ride. Perfect for leaving the city unnoticed.
Leaving the city was dangerous. The Badlands were dangerous.
But she was going anyway.
She took a deep breath, started the engine, and drove out of the district, heading for the border.