"Karl, I need you to come over for something." Just as Karl was looking up at the departing MaxTac AV, about to say something to Andy as the
"Karl, I need you to come over for something."
Just as Karl was looking up at the departing MaxTac AV, about to say something to Andy as they wrapped up, a comm request popped up on his trusted contacts list—someone already asking for help.
"I was planning to take the day off."
Karl glanced at the incoming call info and saw it wasn't one of the usual fixers—it was Blanca.
"Oh, it's you. Fine, what's up? Is it something for the crew or just me?"
He hadn't even been out long after breakfast when he got tailed by a cyberpsycho, grilled by MaxTac, and now, just when he was hoping to chill and chat for a bit, a friend hits him up with work.
Karl was feeling kinda exhausted.
"You're taking a break today, Karl?"
On the other end, Blanca picked up on the mood in Karl's voice—the way he reflexively declined, then agreed once he saw it was her.
"Yeah, I was just aimlessly wandering around. You know how it is—we just got back from that job at Azure Tower yesterday, and I figured if I push myself too hard I'll burn out. I wanted a lazy day... but I've got nothing else to do either. Is this urgent?"
"It's personal."
Personal business.
In other words, something best handled quickly—not something to be put off.
"This channel's not secure. Let's meet face to face. You alone?"
"Just me. For the location… remember that restaurant?"
"Got it."
Karl ended the call and turned to Andy.
"You free to give me a lift?"
"You picked up a job, Karl?"
They'd been mercs together. Andy could tell just from the look on Karl's face that he'd taken a gig.
"Damn. Can't even get one full day off. No wonder so many people dream of leaving this city."
"Well, this is Night City."
"Yeah... Night City. Whatever."
Karl decided not to dwell on his vanishing day off. He hadn't had much to do anyway. "The human heart starts forming at 21 days, begins beating at 30, and doesn't stop until death. Since mine's still ticking, I might as well keep moving."
"That's exactly the kind of thing I'd expect you to say, Karl," Andy said with a smile. "Mr. Johnson and the others at HQ say you're like a sun—burning brightly, even if it means burning yourself out. Hearing you say that just now… yeah, they're right. You shine."
"Then I just hope I burn a bit longer. I'm not afraid of dying, but I'd prefer not to drop dead anytime soon."
Karl's dry, half-joking tone didn't faze Andy, who opened the passenger door of his Sky Hera 'Enforcer' patrol car and gestured for Karl to get in.
"Hop in. Tell me where, I'll get you there fast."
"City center. I'll upload the exact address to the nav."
Karl got in and closed the door.
Click.
Vroom.
The car pulled up to a Spanish restaurant in the city center. Karl opened the door and stepped out.
"Appreciate the ride, Andy. Say hi to Mr. Johnson for me when you get back to HQ."
Standing outside the restaurant, Karl waved at Andy. "Drive safe."
"You really telling an NCPD officer to drive carefully? Especially one from Santo Domingo?"
Andy laughed and hit the button to close the door. With a rev of the engine, the Enforcer roared into traffic and was gone.
"Freakin' Santo Domingo drivers…"
Karl watched the car disappear and muttered the same complaint he'd made before. Johnson, Oliver, Andy—they were all from Santo Domingo, and not one of them drove normally. Their speed, their reflexes… it was like they were born with wheels for legs.
Every one of them seemed to be a natural-born street racer.
Karl glanced at the road one last time, made sure Andy was really gone, then turned toward the Spanish restaurant.
He'd been here with Blanca before. Back then, they'd been ambushed by ex-ACPA trainees during dinner. The place had taken a lot of damage, but a few months later it had been fully rebuilt—and the layout was even more comfortable now, with more space between tables.
Whenever Karl and the crew had gigs near the city center, they'd often eat here. He'd even bring back food for T-Bug at home. He was familiar with the owners, so he naturally pushed the door open and walked inside.
Probably because most wage slaves were still working overtime at this hour, the restaurant was nearly empty—just Karl, Blanca seated in a corner, and the husband-and-wife owners.
"Karl, you're here."
Blanca looked like she'd only just arrived herself. There was no food in front of her—not even water, which had just been brought out.
"Yeah, I'm here."
Karl gave a nod and called over to the owner. "The usual, please."
"Potato and egg omelet, cream of mushroom soup, and the complimentary white bread, right?"
"Yup. Just something to fill me up. I'll order more if I'm still hungry later."
That was the beauty of being a regular—you didn't even have to explain.
Karl sat across from Blanca. "So, what's the deal today?"
"It's about yesterday's incident."
"The aftermath, huh…"
Karl thought back. "Did that dead guy leave anything behind? Don't tell me he had loyal subordinates—that'd be ridiculous."
"No, it's not about him. It's the complications that came because of him."
Blanca sipped her water. "People in the company are getting more and more interested in you."
"In me? Don't tell me it's the R&D freaks who sent those ex-trainees to collect data. Are they planning something?"
If they were, Karl was ready to pay them a visit tonight and deal with it himself. He was sure Blanca already had a dossier on them prepared.
Blanca caught the look in Karl's eyes and instantly guessed what he was thinking.
They were friends, after all. She'd watched Karl in action many times—she knew how he thought. But this wasn't what he was assuming. To spare the R&D department (which she was just getting under control) from unnecessary wrath, she quickly explained:
"No, no, not them. It's the higher-ups. They were impressed with how you handled things in that last incident. They're considering reaching out, maybe assigning you something. I caught wind of it, so I wanted to give you a heads-up."
"A heads-up, huh…"
Karl thought back to when Blanca had said it was a "personal matter."
Oh, so that kind of personal—a private matter, something not meant to be discussed over the phone. He had assumed it was something related to Blanca herself.
Even when people speak the same language, nuances in meaning can be hard to interpret.
But still, she went out of her way to tell him because it involved him…
"You're not exactly swamped, huh?"
The comment made Blanca blink in surprise. Karl just smiled.
"Thanks. Really. It's good to have you around."
To have a friend in the company who'd keep him informed the moment something might affect him—that felt pretty damn good.
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