Chapter 10: Virtual Reaction

Helen was petting her new cat which according to Nyx was some sort of super cat cloned by Bio technica and likely to live for 30+ years.

Although the set administrator command… she did that as a fucking joke to let the cat know she knew it was an AI. It shouldn't have worked whatsoever especially if it was a more recent AI.

"Is it weird to like this?" Nyx asks purring

"Absolutely not, you're supposed to like this." Helen states classic rock music playing.

"So, how did you get these songs anyways? All known copies of them are behind the black wall." Nyx asks

"I have got my ways," Helen states

Suddenly her head starts ringing.

"Rouge?" Helen asks hearing the house of the rising sun play in the background on Rouge's end.

"Helen, I have a possible job for you, how good are you at netrunning?" Rouge asks

"As long as it's not a deep dive I'm up. I always hated the restructuring of the net." Helen states.

"You don't need to keep telling me how old you are, I know we were both born last century." Rouge says

"Right, sorry, I just find it funny to talk to most adults today and say "Back in my day" while looking to be in the mid-30s range." Helen states.

Rouge laughs a little.

"Alright, sending you the details. Thank you for the music, although I've got people asking questions now." Rouge says

"Honestly you could just send them my way," Helen states

"No, I'll keep them wondering for now. After all in this business Information is golden." Rouge says hanging up the call.

"It seems I am a private independent contractor today," Helen states still petting Nyx

"What's the job?" The cat asks with a confident purr.

Helen's eyes glow as she goes over the files.

"I'm robbing from Arasaka… inside of their tower? Wow this is ballsy I mean it seems like a vengeful thing in her end." Helen says with a laugh.

"What does she want you to do?" Nyx asks

"Break into Arasaka tower and fill Adam Smasher's system with adult movies," Helen states giggling.

"The pay?" Nyx asks

"It's an Adam Smasher job… although there is the caveat that she wants me to trip the alarm after it's done but not get caught," Helen says

"Why?" Nyx asks

"In all honesty, she probably has another group hitting Arasaka tonight and doesn't want them catching too much heat. Tripping the security system from Saburo's office would really make them pull back in a panic." Helen states.

"You should upload a copy of Johnny Silverhand's anti-corpo colonialism manifesto," Nyx states with a Cheshire grin.

"That would be hilarious, although we got to make a stop first." Helen says

"Where?" Nyx asks climbing onto Helen's shoulder.

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In his small bedroom, David sat on the edge of his bed, holding the outdated and ancient BD wreath in his hands. The flickering light from the holo-posters outside cast a dim glow, giving the room an otherworldly ambiance. He regarded the cartridge with a mixture of nostalgia and curiosity, his fingertips tracing the slightly worn edges.

The temptation to pop in one of the newest, mind-bending braindance experiences was strong. The thought of immersing himself in a world of intense sensations and vivid fantasies was alluring, a brief escape from the harsh reality of Night City. He could practically feel the rush of adrenaline, the surge of emotions, and the hypnotic pull of the BD's surreal narrative.

However, tonight was different. Tonight, David felt a different kind of yearning. He didn't reach for the latest violence-inducing head melter; instead, he found himself drawn to the idea of exploring something else entirely. His thoughts drifted to the cybernetic enhancements that most street kids his age had already embraced.

He looked down at his own hands, flesh, and bone, and contemplated the possibilities that cyberware could offer. The idea of replacing a limb with something stronger, faster, more efficient—it was an alluring notion, a ticket to a world where physical limitations could be shattered. The thought of being more than just "ganic," of transcending his own humanity in a city that prized the synthetic.

"Miho Im home!" Gloria shouts walking into the

David walked out of the room to see his mother's bright EMT jacket covered in blood and the woman was carrying a massive sack that clinked suspiciously with each of her steps.

"Mom!" David exclaimed, his voice laced with concern and fear. Without hesitation, he rushed towards her, his instincts kicking in as he reached out to steady her. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

"No, I just went to an extra violent scene today," Gloria says flopping over tiredly onto the couch.

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A Quadra type 66 Avenger pulled into the front of Misty's Esoterica.

"I still don't trust this new guy," Nyx states sitting in the passenger seat.

"You'll like Vik he's good people," Helen states

"Good people? Really?" Nyx states

"Yeah, he's like only a decade younger than me. You know how people who manage to live this long in Night City are right?" Helen asks

"No, no I don't. I don't think anyone does." Nyx states

"Why do you keep calling me out on my bullshit?" Helen asks opening the car door.

"Cause it's fun," Nyx says

Helen sighs as Nyx nimbly jumps across the center gear shift and runs across the driver seat before leaping out on to Helen's cybernetic arm swiftly climbing her shoulder.

"Let's go see… Did you say Viktor Vektor?" Nyx states

The two had walked through Misty's the mystical woman not there.

"Huh odd, maybe she's with her boyfriend," Helen mutters walking through the back door into the alleyway.

"Yes, this seems exactly like the place good people would be!" Nyx states sarcastically.

"I know it looks like a sketchy back alley, but I am convinced that is just so the man can lay low. He doesn't like attention." Helen states heading down the stairs leading to the underground ripper doctor's office.

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The door to Viktor's office slid open with a soft whoosh, revealing Helen standing in the doorway with a cat on her shoulder. Her presence was unexpected, a surprise Viktor didn't really like surprises. Although it did distract him from the replay of last month's big match display. l

Viktor's cybernetic fingers hovered over the interface controls, freezing the display of the ongoing boxing match. He turned his head towards Helen, a semi-genuine smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Well, well, if it isn't my favorite unexpected visitor."

"That was a rather good lie. We both know you hate surprises." Helen states

"I will still never understand how you are able to read me so well," Viktor says

"It comes with the age, anyways since I was in the area I decided to bring a surprise with my visit," Helen says teasingly

"I think it would be rather hard to top your last visit's surprise," Viktor says

Helen notions to the cat on her shoulder which is handling some pretty heavy crome rather well. It also looked heavily modified.

"A cyborg cat? I mean that's kinda cruel I can only imagine the pain it is feeling." Viktor says

"You know, I actually feel kinda comfortable like this," Nyx says causing Viktor's jaw to drop like it has lead weights in it.

"No fucking way!" Viktor snaps impulsively