After meeting in the underground parking garage, Vash and Jackie bumped shoulders.
"Not riding the heavy bike today?" Vash asked.
"In Night City?" Jackie snorted, "Speed cams everywhere. Get tagged by the corpo dogs and it's more trouble than it's worth, choom." He glanced over, "You bring the money?"
Vash lifted the money shard between two fingers.
In Night City, banks were on every corner. Deposit cash into a shard, pull it back out — pay the fee, and they'd smile while doing it. The city loved two things: convenience and taking a cut.
Jackie drove. Vash took the passenger seat.
If it were a landmark, they could've just punched it into a nav system and let the car do the rest. But the people Jackie considered "talented" never set up shop in places that wanted to be found.
They were headed to a ripperdoc — Viktor — and a storefront run by Misty.
Viktor Vektor: the kind of doctor who could swap in fresh cyberware like it was routine maintenance, patch up neural damage from bad implants, and still look bored while doing it.
Misty: Viktor's landlord, esoterica shop owner… and the girlfriend of the meathead behind the wheel.
In the game's storyline, after Jackie's death, Misty sank into a depression that clung to her for a long time.
Vash forced the thought away.
"V." Jackie asked, eyes flicking over, "What're you lookin' at?"
"Nothing." Vash snapped back to the present, then asked, more seriously, "The upgrade you mentioned… cyberware surgery, right?"
"Now you're talkin'." Jackie's grin widened, "I know the best ripperdoc in Night City. New chrome, replacement parts, neural issues from bad implants — whatever. Vik can handle it."
Vash smiled but didn't comment.
Jackie talked about his people the same way he talked about cars and guns: like every friend was the best in their lane, and you were crazy if you doubted it.
A few seconds passed.
"By the way." Jackie said, like the thought had just drifted back in, "You called me earlier. Something up?"
"Yeah. I want to move." Vash replied.
Jackie's head snapped a fraction toward him, "Why? Place not comfortable? Landlord giving you shit?" His hand tightened on the wheel, "Damn. I told that idiot — you're my brother. Ain't gonna stiff him. I'll go shove the eddies in his face myself."
"Relax." Vash couldn't tell if he wanted to laugh or groan, "It's not like that. I just want a different place. I figured you might have connections."
"If you're asking, then of course I do." Jackie's mood flipped instantly, pride sliding in where anger had been, "You wanted to live on top of Arasaka Tower, I'd figure something out, mano."
"Let's talk like normal people." Vash said, "I want something primitive. No smart-home nonsense. Just water and electricity."
Jackie stared at him like he'd spoken a foreign language, "What? No way, V. I thought you wanted a better area. Why would you want that kind of place?"
Vash didn't answer.
Jackie blinked once, then nodded like a puzzle piece clicked into place, "Ahem. A secret. I get it." He pointed a finger at Vash, "Don't worry. I'll find you a spot. Fast."
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They kept talking as the streets slid by, and before long they reached their destination — Misty's Esoterica on Urmland Street, Little China.
Like Lizzie's, Viktor's place wasn't somewhere you stumbled into. It was tucked inside a knot of alleys and side streets, the kind of maze you only navigated cleanly if you'd done it before.
After Jackie parked, he practically bounced to the front desk.
"Oh, Misty." He said, voice going smooth, "You're even more beautiful than yesterday."
"Cut the crap, Jackie." Misty didn't even look impressed, "You weren't here yesterday."
Then her eyes lifted — and caught Vash as he stepped inside.
Jackie hooked an arm around Vash's shoulder and pulled him close, "Misty — this is my choom. V. Calls 'emself Vash."
Misty's mouth curved like she was trying not to smile, "You collect 'chooms' like charms, Jackie. Funny how you rarely bring 'em here." Her gaze settled on Vash, "Welcome, V."
"Hello, Misty." Vash said.
Jackie leaned in, "V, I gotta talk to Misty for a minute." He jerked his chin toward the back, then started winking and gesturing like his optics were glitching, "You go on in. First room on the left."
Vash didn't expose him. He just walked straight inside.
The first door on the left was already open. From the hallway, Vash could see Viktor at his workbench.
He sat back in his chair, eyes locked on a boxing match playing on a screen. Without turning his head, he said, "Come in."
Vash stepped inside.
"Three minutes." Viktor said, still watching, "Wait."
"Sure." Vash stood behind him and watched the last stretch of the match in silence.
When the final bell rang, Viktor finally turned. His gaze ran over Vash with clinical calm.
"You're V." Viktor said, "Jackie said you'd drop by."
"He's up front." Vash replied.
Viktor smiled faintly and extended a hand, "Viktor Vektor. Call me Vik."
He gave Vash a firm shake, then nodded once — like the small talk was already finished.
"Since Jackie brought you here." Viktor said, "We'll keep it simple. You here for new chrome… or you got a problem — neural, implant-related?"
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T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)