Standing in front of the special scenery braindance shelf, Lucy bent over, her buttocks perked up.
Today, she wasn't wearing her work uniform; gone were the white jacket and the hacker suit underneath.
Instead, she wore black slim-fit trousers and a black hooded jumpsuit, and her shoes were white sneakers instead of the specially made, somewhat bulky heeled boots.
This outfit made Lucy look less capable, but more youthful and charming.
Reaching out, she picked up a braindance of a lunar exploration. Lucy looked at it quietly, and after reading the description, she tilted her head to look at Jax.
Jax was also looking at braindances. He, too, picked up a lunar exploration braindance, glanced at it twice, put it down, and then looked at another braindance.
Landing on the moon was no longer a rare feat in this era. If one had money, they could even directly buy a ticket to the moon, put on a spacesuit, and enjoy a three-day tour.
But clearly, that required a hefty sum, and... Jax had never even thought about leaving Earth.
Running to the moon would be the same; oppression was everywhere. Instead, Night City... was the most suitable place for someone like Jax to survive.
In a place where savagery grew, sometimes strange hope could indeed be nurtured.
Jax was just wondering whether to buy the moon braindance or the Mars one when he heard Lucy's voice.
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"Why aren't you all together today?"
"Are you talking about Maine's crew?" Jax said casually, looking at the Mars braindance he was holding. "It's a holiday; Maine's crew all have their own things to do. Jackie went to buy a car, Kiwi went to a hacker shop for a plugin, Rebecca and Pilar went to upgrade their cybernetics, and I heard they're also visiting Wakako in Japantown."
"What about... Sasha?"
Jax looked at Lucy, who was staring intently at the braindance in her hands.
"She went to Dogtown to handle some things," Jax replied. He then put down the braindance, having made his choice.
Yes, he'd choose this Mars one. He heard Mars was suitable for human habitation, and there were even buildings there now.
Compared to the barren, tomb-like scenery of the moon, Mars seemed more to Jax's aesthetic.
But just as Jax put the braindance back, Lucy straightened up beside him, looked at him, and asked, "You're not buying this one?"
"What's wrong?" Jax was momentarily stunned.
Lucy silently met Jax's gaze, then said, "Mars might be more suitable for human habitation, but it belongs to various corporations; they've already staked their claims. The moon is different. The moon belongs to the Federal Government. There, humans must abide by international law, and corporations'..."
Jax looked at Lucy, momentarily stunned, as she continued to speak.
"They can't control the moon. Also, on the moon, there are all sorts of facilities. You can ride a rover and enjoy a different feeling than here, and step onto a hoverboard. Under gravity, you can feel..."
Lucy's words suddenly became much, much more.
The puzzled expression on Jax's face gradually changed, turning into an amused one. He quietly watched Lucy, listening to her speak.
Then, Jax reached out and picked up the lunar experience braindance card he had put back.
That's right... just as Sasha was a die-hard fan of Danger Girl, the moon also held a special meaning for Lucy.
Lucy's behavior now was like how Sasha used to excitedly recommend her Danger Girl spoils to him. It was a feeling of... sharing, a desire for something she liked to be acknowledged?
At this moment, a wild Moon-evangelist appeared in the braindance store!
This store should give Lucy an employee award!
"Alright, I'll buy it then." Jax picked up the moon braindance and put it into the small shopping box.
"..." Lucy paused, then said in a cool voice, "You won't regret it, I promise. The scenery on the moon is truly beautiful."
Jax took the purchased braindances and walked towards the cashier. He saw the sentry gun above pointing at him, and the attendant waved.
Jax placed all the selected braindances from the small box onto the counter.
"Seven thousand three hundred fifty-two."
After paying, Jax intended to leave and watch the braindances alone at home, but Lucy's voice rang out behind him.
"Have you eaten yet?"
Jax turned around and saw Lucy quietly looking at him.
Seeing this, Jax said, "Not yet. Why, are you planning to treat me to a meal?"
".." Lucy paused, then said, "I'm not planning to treat you; it's splitting the bill."
Treating someone? That word wasn't in her dictionary.
She desperately needed money, and she was working hard to save it. To... truly live on the moon, Lucy needed a lot, a lot of money.
A ticket to the moon alone cost 250,000 to 300,000 eurodollars, and living expenses on the moon would be even more exorbitant.
So, she needed a million, or at least 500,000 in savings.
The reason she indulged herself today was that the payment for the Maine's crew job from two days ago had come through. With some money in hand, Lucy came to the braindance store to buy braindances.
She liked everything related to the moon, not because she liked the moon so, so much,
but simply because—
—there were no corporations on the moon.
Jax smiled and was about to answer when Lucy continued, "I was planning to talk to you about your crew's business."
"That matter? We always welcome you to join, no need to talk," Jax immediately said.
Lucy raised an eyebrow, then said, "Let's talk anyway; you're alone right now, aren't you?"
Walking beside Jax, she started leading the way without further discussion.
Jax thought about it and agreed. He had nothing to do, felt aimless alone, and being with Lucy was quite nice.
So, looking at Lucy, he asked, "Where are we eating?"
"I know a place with good food," Lucy said, walking ahead. At the collar of her hoodie, two small balls on black strings bounced.
She walked on her tiptoes, with her hands clasped behind her back.
Jax was alone... and she was also alone.
Night City was indeed a good place. After more than three months here, Lucy found that Arasaka agents were no longer hunting her.
This chaotic city provided a refuge for all displaced people.
Night City didn't reject anyone's entry, even though it was still a fucked-up city.
Therefore, her guard relaxed, and Lucy suddenly realized she had always been missing something.
As for what it was... she didn't want to admit it, because she didn't need that kind of thing at all.
But if she truly didn't need it... why was she inviting Jax now?
Was it because she bought the moon braindance, or was it... because of business?
But he said that matter didn't need to be discussed; she could join if she wanted to.
For a moment, she too felt a little troubled.
"I say, are you really not planning to treat me?" Jax caught up, walking beside Lucy, asking her seriously.
"If anyone's treating, it should be you treating me. You have more money than I do." Lucy rolled her eyes at Jax.
"My money still has a purpose," Jax said after thinking.
"?" Lucy's look, as if he were an idiot, was her reply to Jax.
Whose money was useless?
To be precise, how could money ever be useless?
"My money also has a purpose."