"Don't worry... we're not falling behind. Pulling people back from the Grim Reaper's grip—that's always been our job. This time might have a few twists, but the outcome won't change." Leaning back on the sofa, Arthur watched the flickering screens circling above him.
"If you put it that way, our line of work sounds downright noble..." V muttered dryly.
"Ha... yeah. I ought to head to City Center and start collecting a paycheck." Arthur stroked his chin, then added, "Think about how many Scavs we've dropped. The NCPD should be handing us Citizen Hero medals by now."
While waiting on Mr. Hans's reply, the crew started digging for intel on Relic's chief engineer, Anders Hellman.
Unexpectedly, the lead came from Jackie. It was something the Padre had mentioned in passing, but even that was better than nothing.
The Wild Wolf Bar, Mama Welles's place... Whatever the story behind it, no one in Heywood dared stir up trouble there.
At a table upstairs, Arthur, Jackie, and V sat listening to the big man's report.
"That's all there is to it..." Jackie held a massive glass, now completely drained.
"So the real intel on that guy's with the woman at Afterlife... and she's put a price on it... fifteen thousand eddies?" V nodded to himself. The price wasn't cheap, but, as always, for those who needed it, it was worth every cent.
"Exactly. Old-school fixers keep tabs on everything. They always know who's selling what." Jackie set his empty glass aside, no longer interested in another drink. Soon, he'd be running with V on a job. It didn't seem too dangerous, but having someone to watch your back was always better.
That's just how he was. Scrapes and bruises on himself never mattered—but if something happened to his friends, that was different.
And the job that left V injured? Jackie had brought her into it. The guilt gnawed at him.
So when it came to saving V's life, he was ready to give it everything he had.
As the group talked, Johnny's smug face popped into view again.
"Looks like... after I kicked it, the old crew's still getting by pretty well." He wore a self-satisfied grin, though V didn't even want to acknowledge him.
Jackie, oblivious, let go of his glass and slammed a hand on the table. "Then it's settled. V and I will check out Afterlife, just the two of us. No need to make it look like we're showing up heavy-handed.
Arthur... I know you like to wander sometimes."
Johnny didn't vanish from V's sight. Instead, he leaned in with mock seriousness: "Oh no... guess I'll need a new partner again... Truth is, I kinda liked your old flame..."
"Jackie doesn't smoke." V shot Johnny a sharp glare, cutting him off.
She hadn't spoken aloud, but Johnny's expression darkened all the same...
V and Jackie left the bar first. Arthur stayed behind, nursing half a glass.
He drank in silence, considering his next move...
Then, suddenly, Mama Welles sat across from him. She was stern yet warm, an older woman with soft eyes.
Arthur couldn't read much, but something about her felt genuine.
"I need to thank you both for bringing Jackie home safe." Her wrinkles weren't deep, but her hair had gone noticeably gray. "To be honest, that night my heart was pounding... I just felt something bad was about to happen."
"Uh..." Arthur wasn't sure what to say. He set his glass on the table and finally managed, "Well... that's something, then."
Mama Welles chuckled softly, shaking her head, as if sensing his unease. "I just wanted to meet you, to know you... Jackie told me you've been looking out for him. For that, I owe you thanks."
"Ma'am." Arthur spread his hands. "We're just looking out for each other..."
"Ma'am... It's been a long time since anyone's called me that." She smiled kindly, then pointed to his half-full glass. "I don't have much to give as thanks...
So how about this? From now on, drinks here are on me.
Consider this place your home."
When the brief encounter ended, Arthur watched her walk away, gave a small nod, and let his gaze drift back.
A drink was usually followed by a nap... He stared into the still liquid in his glass, shook his head, and got up.
The sun was high—no time for sleep yet.
Night City was always alive. Even a casual walk brought its share of excitement.
Three streets over, and already he'd seen two gang shootouts. Passersby only screamed once or twice before darting a few steps away.
Heywood was lively but crawling with gangs. The locals, though, barely reacted.
It wasn't exaggeration to call Heywood closed-off. Everyone here was local. Which meant Arthur, a stranger on these streets, drew suspicious eyes wherever he went.
Bored, Arthur climbed into his car and drove north.
At City Center, he finally broke free of the clogged streets and found a quiet place to park.
He wasn't just aimlessly wandering. He already had a comms open.
"You've been making quite the mess," came a woman's cold, firm voice.
"What... wasn't it you who wanted to meet?" Arthur leaned back in the seat. "Don't expect me to agree to anything just because you ask."
"This isn't simple... Better said in person." Meredith sounded unfazed, her tone icy.
Arthur picked up his hat but didn't end the call. "One of my friends got hurt... Forget it. We'll talk when we meet."
He pushed open the door and stepped out. The apartment wasn't far. He joined the flow of the crowd, heading that way.
It was still early. For corpo dogs, it was work hours... Whether the execs had it better, he couldn't say. But thinking of V... it probably wasn't much different.
Arthur didn't hurry.
...