Walking up to a restricted area obese Security Officer sitting in a chair nearby stopped me with a gesture.
"Slow down mister. Where are you going?"
"Maintenance. I'll be in and out. You must have received a notice."
I got myself a hat, and made sure to hide the upper half of my face as well as stuffing pieces of cloth inside my mouth to change my face shape. The overall outfit was just a guy in overalls. I made sure to dirty them up a little.
The Security Officer scratched his balls and lazily walked over to a computer nearby.
Backlogging a message is not hard at all, and I doubt he will double check the security details. And if he refreshes it will be gone.
The man sniffed his fingers as he slowly navigated to the messages tab.
"Willie Johnson?"
"That's me, choom."
"My bad. Can you also check for-"
"Not my job."
The man sneered in frustration and walked back to his chair slowly.
"Of course it's not, apparently it's nobody's. Go ahead… Wait."
I stopped in my step. Did he figure something out? My costume must be a halloween or stripper thing, fuck. A maintenance guy is a maintenance guy, isn't he?
"Did the management at least say anything about the broken AC?"
"Not my specialty. No idea."
"Shit, go ahead then."
The door slid open as the man pressed the button on the computer. And I was greeted by a server and routing room of the whole megabuilding H4, which in theory also should contain data on every person living.
I plopped down my duffle bag nearby.
Unsurprisingly the place was rancid and gross, with the clear signs that someone took a piss here. Navigating through wires and machinery I saw a dusty computer installed near the wall. The only camera they had was pointing at the entrance, as it could not catch a single damn thing.
Booting it immediately jumped for a password prompt.
Jacking in my personal port I initiated the Breach Protocol. Getting past took only a few seconds as the computer accepted the password and began automatically running the diagnostics and crap I didn't care about.
Electricity usage, water usage, NET access… not what I needed.
The rest of the data was locked behind a security which had an alarm that is sure to work if I'm not 100% sure what to do.
It was nearing 4 pm, meaning that it sure would take some time before Gloria drives back here.
Installing Yoko's backdoor tool meant I could access the BBS from here. And it just so happens that this is one of the points that recently got added by Yoko. After a few minutes I received a transaction of 330 eddies, plenty of people were at war for a backdoor to such a treasure trove of data.
Then I logged on quickly, looking to talk with Yoko about this particular building and its data.
I teleported next to the bar area where her avatar resided and it jolted to being controlled by her once again.
"What do you need? Should not be any fucking problem with the payment."
"About that. Can I get access for a second for the megabuilding H4?"
"No."
"You can change the security keys later."
"Across the whole fucking network, just for you to take a peek?"
"How much do you need?"
Her avatar turned static for a second as the oil traces of her hair stopped moving.
"Tell me what you need. It will be 250 for distraction."
She is one greedy bitch.
"Just give me the residents list and the associated data."
"Just so you know if I forge a new key now, they will write logs into a secure chanell and assign a netrunner to look over it."
"Suggestions?"
"You are in the vicinity? Just power down the security line for a few seconds and it will be done."
Looking around there were server racks, wires and all kinds of shit. Interacting with the computer I ran a diagnostics and logged a said security line going outside the building. Powering it down was still logged behind administrator access, but I could just yank the wire and it will likely be written off as a momentary bug.
Looking around I scanned each server in hopes that it gives information, but still needed to run Extract Data until I found it. A dusty box with an empty bottle over it was lying in the far corner of the packed room.
Reconnecting back to the BBS I appeared near Yoko again.
"I'm ready."
"Just power it down."
Squatting down I found a connector at the back and pulled it slightly.
"Yep, got it. Deleted the queued outgoing signal entirely. Payment."
I transferred 250 eddies to her. A data package was delivered my way. Sorting by the last name I found Martinez, Gloria and David. Behind on rent. Apartment 0403.
But the notes did not include the data on the personal vehicle. Just the parking space reserved, which seemed to also require rent and also was not paid in the last 12 days.
"Appreciate it. Gotta delta."
I disconnected, and reconnected the outgoing line. Going back I powered down the computer and walked out with my bag. Overall a net gain of 80 eddies is not awful.
The security guard got a BD set on and was convulsing as he sat on his chair holding on his dick in his pants. He was completely unaware that somebody was next to him.
Fucking hell. I bought a costume for this. I adjusted the hat to ensure nobody nearby remembered my face.
Walking out I headed for the remote space to change back clothes on the preplanned route to the outside. It's job is done for now.
A nearby alleyway will do. All I have to do is strip the outer layer, take out my jacket and the cloth balls from my mouth.
Now to head to a parking space associated with the megabuilding. Checking for cameras, disabling them, planning the escape route if something happens. So much left to do, but I will not be caught by my own negligence at least.
The megabuilding had two tiers of parking, one underground and one aboveground. The underground was a space for the homeless to gather and throw out regularly. It was the space Gloria rented for the parking space of her car.
Running a ping revealed a network of cameras all around, but all of them were cheap models without motors, which meant they had a set field of view. Connecting to them was easy and now I had a backup of Yoko, who begrudgingly could do almost anything with the building, if paid.
I'm really itching for her backdoor program to take for myself. So far the versatility of it has shown that it worked on almost every system I have encountered so far. Tools of that capability are not sold publicly and I'm almost sure it's tied to Wakako herself.
Checking every camera took some work since their numbering made zero sense and made me check one by one until I found the one that had the parking space in its field of view. Level -3.
The only problem is that there were a bunch of BD junkies gooning their minds off near it. It was 5 of them, most had employed devices that jacked them off automatically as they were lying on the piles of trashbags.
I can't know when the BD's end and how much a person can sense outside it. And trying it just to find out is repulsive. So it might be better to scare them off preemptively. I doubt reasoning is what will get them straight now of all times.
Going down the elevator I considered calling NCPD, but anonymity is nonexistent and the timing is unpredictable, so it's out. Calling that security guy? He might join them in the gooning session. Doing it myself seems to be the way.
Still, waving a gun in a public place is bound to end badly, so it might be better to use some more unorthodox methods.
When I arrived at the floor -3 I began scanning every car that I saw. Most did not have the features that would allow me to remote control one, but there is bound to be one somewhere…
Ah, there it is. A tricked out Archer, with a sound system. It will work. Connecting to it took 20 seconds because I wanted to make sure it did not have any additional security but I wasn't in a rush.
Getting it to move from a far away was confusing. No such thing as a 3rd person camera. Getting near enough I activated the fog lights and the sound system, blasting bass boosted… lets see. Oh, they have Samurai. Neat.
Hear yee oh worthless souls. Johnny Silverhand haunts thou mode of transport. Forsooth you gooning on his land. Flee, oh pitiable motheruckers.
"We lost everything
We had to pay the price
Yeah, we lost everything
We had to pay the price"
Looking with the camera one by one BD addicts snatched off their headsets in confusion. They yelled and spoke and I could not make out a single detail as all I heard was Johnny Silverhand singing about capitalism across the parking lot floor.
The signal was somewhat unstable, but my cyberdeck allowed for extended ranges.
Two of them immediately rushed and crawled away in front of the bright light and into the stairway on the other side of the parking lot, while the others were stunned and put their hands up. Those surrendering made sure not to hold on tight to their Braindance headsets though.
I revved the engine of the Archer, which just made the car shake a little and was more of a vibration since the sound was:
"I saw in you what life was missing
You lit a flame that consumed my hate
I'm not one for reminiscing but
I'd trade it all for your sweet embrace"
To be fair it sounded fucking nova, but I'd rather not put listening to music as a hobby for now. Far too dangerous.
A couple seconds passed and the rest of the men figured out that the course of action is to run, and all 3 decided to run behind the parked cars toward my direction.
I leisurely walked to a nearby corner to avoid them even seeing me and squatted down. Placing my bag near me.
As they ran past in a panic I scanned the faces of two of them and looked over to see that they had no guns.
I disabled the lights and the music and parked the car back, exactly how it was. Logs of the remote control were erased.
Standing up I walked to the freed up space.
They left their masturbators as well, huh. Do they resell well?
What the fuck am I thinking? They are used. I may have had too much time.
Braindance headsets on the other hand…
Turning back to the camera pointing at the space I walked around its field of view to walk just to be below it at all times monitoring it real time.
Then I took a jump and slapped the camera, so it would point to the wall. Small screws were broken but the camera held.
Scanning the headsets I found that were sold brand new at 128 eddies. Though cum stained ones… not worth the trouble.
Now it was a waiting game until Gloria Martinez parks.
I walked to a column nearby and leaned against it. Making sure to have my bag ready to grab at any time.
David Martinez must be controlled. Getting into a role of a fatherly figure would be optimal, seeing how he was clinging to Maine for that role. My main option is to become his step dad through a relationship with his mother. I do know now exactly where Gloria Martinez works now, REO Meatwagon.
That poses a yet another issue of somehow making his mother be okay with him becoming a merc.
His potential to handle chrome could not be handed over to a shitty ripperdock he went to in the anime. And it has to be planned step by step over a period of a few years at least. Maybe introduce therapy? Fucking hypnosis?
I'm still not sure. It seems more like a side project. There are so many variables at play.
If Lucy does not show up with Kiwi in a few months I will count her as dead and irrelevant, despite her impressive netrunning skills honed from childhood in a Arasaka facility. Pinpointing her identity in the NET is far-fetched with my current skills or resources. I'm better off riding the metro until I see her snatching chips from people.
I do not believe that there is such thing as fate, even with the circumstances or should I say despite the circumstances of me being inside a fucking video game. But there are reasons yet to hope that some things will go as expected.
And if that fateful glance between David and Lucy is happening I'm probably most likely forced to get involved into helping them hop off at the right time.
Four eye bastard fixer offering a big big job that is surely not a trap? Yeah fucking goodbye. I'm snitching to Arasaka about you through any means necessary and you are done. But the timeframe is grim to say the least, as the entire plot ends in 2076. I don't know if this body will hold that long.
New wrinkles, my joints cracking randomly and my memory is getting hazy at times. But knowing this shitty world, hoping for a big break and fast will only lead to miserable death, so I'm forced to proceed carefully.
Cars passed by as it was getting late to the point of most people returning back home from work and parking their cars here.
…
How do I flirt with a single mother? I don't think my wife would…
Wife? What wife?
I'm really thinking about useless memories.
Huh? What? I feel as if my vision is getting dark and the blood drains from my brain.
No strength in my legs as I crumble on the ground.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
Strength leaves me as I'm forced on the ground.
What wife? I was not married.
But my children…
"WHAT?!" I screech.
WHAT CHILDREN???
I am mistaken, I was single my whole life.
No? WHAT!?
My entire body refuses to listen as it becomes limp, face planting into the ground.
It's okay. Relax. I am having a panic attack.
Those don't do that?
It will be fine.
How can I be confused about this?
I'm just tired.
I'm just tired.
I'm just tired.
I'm just tired.
I sit up slowly as strength returns to me.
I'm overthinking.
A yellow Thorton Galena G240 CPEDGE passes as I sit there and parks in the spot of Gloria Martinez. Shit, I have to move.
A woman with bright red hair wearing a bright yellow EMT jacket strolls out straight towards me carrying a metal box in her hands.
I jolt up to my feet. I still have time to look okay. She hasn't seen me yet.
Dusting off my pants from the dirt from the ground I mentally prepare.
Nonchalantly stepping from behind the pillar I greet her.
"Hello miss. How are you doing?"
Gloria looks at me lowering the box she is carrying and raises her eyebrow.
"Screw off."
What.
In my confusion she continues, before continuing to move forward.
"Find some other person to bother. I don't have money or drugs."
I felt a warm trickle on my face, and put my fingers to check. I was bleeding from my nose.
"Oh shit. I fell."
Gloria turned her head slightly as she walked to the elevator, periodically adjusting her grip on the metal box.
"Go away before I call security."
As she said that that fat security officer came out the elevator, behind him stood guys I chased off. They talked about incoherent stuff from a distance and were rapidly approaching, as fast as obese men could go.
Gloria in confusion turned to me.
"Not me."
"I figured. You need help carrying that?"
"No. Fuck off."
I wiped the blood from my nose that started to drip on the ground and my clothes.
What to do? She is clearly not having it. Pushing further with security nearby is stupid.
Buying the car from her is an option. But I don't have the money or a need for a car. And she can just buy a new car with that money and die in it as well…
Unless…
"Sorry about that. Just thought you looked stunning and wanted to chat."
"I don't."
Well. Sabotage it is. It was worth a try but I doubt a dedicated mother like her would be swayed by a random guy anyway.
Waiting until she is gone was one thing, but the security officer and his cabal of BD addicts were going around looking for any car that matched their description. And it took a while. A long while.
Two fucking hours. They prodded the Archer in the distance making sure it was stationary until giving up and saying that they will report this to NCPD as AI taking control of a car.
When they got out I had a small time frame when I was sure nobody was nearby, but the general idea is very simple in execution.
Approaching Thorton Galena I quickly popped the hood using a nearby soda can that I tore a piece of thin metal from. Actual lock was made by the spiritual brothers of Masterlock no less.
Internal components were in a bad shape, but it was due to age. All I had to do at this point was to remove the Engine control unit. Tools were usually needed, but with enough brute force it snapped off.
Replacing one was costly and on a car long out of production it would be easier to get a new car altogether, and I know she could not afford that.
But just to be sure I made sure to hack the car, but with its limited electronics I had the two options: burn it down by exploiting the ignition system OR burn the remaining circuitry and cause unrepairable damage.
I chose the latter. Running a hack I saw the small smoke rise as the wires were burned with the characteristic smell rising. I stared at it for half a minute just to be sure it didn't completely set on fire.
I get extra money, she probably won't die in a horrible car accident any time soon. Win win.
By that point there was car parking in the spot right next to this one. I closed the hood as fast as I could without slamming it. I adjusted my cap to conceal my face more and left, grabbing my duffle bag on the way.
Step by step my tiredness was more apparent. I felt myself falling asleep every time I stayed still. It was hard to breathe because of the coagulated blood in my nostrils and I after each blink light felt like a flashbang.
No matter. My place is nearby.
Just a few steps until-
…
I find myself on my couch in my hideout. Mine is armed. Door is closed. Clothes are put in a dirty clothes pile, gun at the ready.
Time was 8 am?
I sit up slowly. I did not ingest anything unusual, yet there is a clear gap in my memory.
My body probably went into autopilot and got me home.
Still doesn't explain it. I still feel sleepy and tired, that could only mean that I rested for less than 5 to 6 hours, meaning that there is a clear gap of just about 6 hours between me getting out from the megabuilding H4 and getting here.
Maybe it will return as I start my day, everything seems in order-
"All right, what the fuck? Internal monologue is something I did all my life from the age I gained conscience and this is not it. Am I gaslighting myself?" I said out loud.
I stand up to address nobody in the dark room.
"Johny fucking Silverhand, if your dirty virtual ass does not come out…"
There was no answer. Maybe its just me-
"AGAIN! WHAT THE FUCK? HAVE I GONE INSANE?"
I sat back down to think it over again.
Vik would know. I will need to visit him in a few days anyway to add some toes back to my foot. I did not wake up in a No Tell Motel next to a few guys and that's already good news.
For today's agenda I should finish prototyping my ICE… where are the files? How are they not saved?
Last date modified 23rd of February, two days ago. Did my system revert to a backup?
Checking the system data found no issues, no crashes or signs of intrusion.
Shit, okay.
I tuned to the news while I prepared for the day.
"GOOOOD MORNING NIGHT CITY. DATE IS 24th OF FEBRUARY. BODY COUNT IS A GRIM 23, 12 OUT THE LITTLE JAPAN. GANG WARS ARE SURE HEATING UP!"
I turned it off immediately.
Disarming the mine and opening the door I stared at a building opposite to mine. No ad, clear wall. Internal clock also showed the date was indeed 24th of february.
Looking over recent messages I found that I confirmed the sparring session for today.
I closed the door behind me.
This can't be. A whole day was a dream? Impossible. But it did end not so different to others…
My hands begin to shake, no scuffles, no signs of a training I just did with Jackie and Vik. And every detail is so vivid…
"He. He. HAHAHA."
I hold my mouth, but all I can do is laugh in a panic.
"AHAHAHA! I WENT MAD HAVEN'T I? HA, HAHAHA."
I bite my lip and blood gushes, but I cannot stop laughing.
"SHIT. SHIT! AHAHAHA!"
Let's try this again. Let me see how close my imagination has gotten to reality.
…
Its the same. Small differences in timing of events and finer details. But… its the same. Deja vu after deja vu.
"Cherry Blast Climax, right?" I said and grabbed a bottle of soda for Sasha.
"Wow. You know me so well."
I stared at it in a daze.
"Will you get something for yourself?"
"...I'm good."
"I'm willing to share. Half and half, how does that sound?"
"Simply perfect."
…
It's the same. We had nothing new technically to discuss, so it just turned into a hangout.
I just knew all the stuff I spoke with her about last today. I already knew what to do with ICE.
Is this going to repeat? Is this hell?
"-and then I cut the power to the building, cutting them off from the NET, making Maine and Dorio go around clearing each room."
"And they didn't even have backup generators?"
"Their need is one in a thousand, and we were that one in a thousand situation."
I heard that one. Same, to the last minute detail.
"Hey choom, what's wrong?"
I looked up from the floor.
"I got really beat up today, that's all."
Sasha did not look satisfied with the answer.
"Where is the attitude? Is something wrong? If this is about Biotechnica-"
"No. I'm just tired. I will be good as new tomorrow." I said smiling.
"If you say so."
"You know what, cat lady?"
"Oh my, a lady?"
"I know a spot where a Sphinx cat lives near Jig Jig street, once you get discharged why don't I take you there?"
"Absolutely. I thought cats were extinct in Night City!"
"Yeah, I know. I found a way."
"It's a date?"
"On Jig Jig street to see a single cat?"
"Does the cat have an owner?"
I tried to remember, but the cat had no collar.
"Hmmm, no?"
"We'll steal it."
"Sure."
Sasha began to move in place strangely. Oh god this again.
"An itch?"
"Yes, can you help me get it?"
Her eyes flashed red as she gave me a sudden glance.
Then my optics began rebooting again.
Over_there_indicator.exe is a canon event that I cannot avoid, huh.
…
Fuck. Gloria does not care.
I tried bringing her flowers, but same as last time Davids Mom told me to fuck off.
As somewhat of a scientist myself I tried replicating almost all events that led to this point, repeating everything I did the last today. But the results remained relatively the same, only saving me time in guessing and waiting.
Strangely, the feeling of tiredness did not return, and my day continued even when I left the elevator, and eventually the megabuilding.
I got home, gathered dirty clothes, did laundry in a nearby laundromat and began building ICE. All this time I awaited to awake at 8 am 24th of February, but time moved on as normal, and as midnight struck it left me… strangely empty.
Where is my groundhog day? Why?
I slowly did my usual routine and went to sleep at my usual time of 2 am.
Nothing.
That night I did not dream.