While Roqi and Johnny argued about the hellhole that was world history, the rest of the crew around the table wasn't just sitting there brooding.
They were facing some real problems: assassins sent by Arasaka to silence them; the relic deal completely torched; Dexter Deshawn, a major fixer, killed and triggering waves across Night City's underworld; and Roqi now flagged as a threat by the NCPD's MaxTac.
T-Bug joined in via remote call.
She was a bit salty at first about Roqi killing Dex. But the moment she heard how the fat bastard (now very dead) tried to use V as a scapegoat—and was ready to put a bullet in his back—her frustration turned into a visceral "traitors deserve what they get" empathy.
V, Jackie, Roqi, and T-Bug—direct participants and supposed beneficiaries of the Konpeki heist—had ended up with nothing but a hot mess on their hands.
"Lucky, thanks for what you did back there," T-Bug said. "Just a few minutes after I got cut off, Arasaka's netrunner backup team showed up. Came this close to flatlining."
Roqi nodded calmly, without much reaction.
In the original timeline, T-Bug and Jackie both died. Only V was left to face Night City's twisted nightmare alone.
Now? Four of them were alive and breathing.
Roqi had no idea where this story was heading anymore.
At least Viktor and Misty weren't mourning anyone. They were still here—supportive, quiet, offering everyone emotional shelter.
Takemura, on the other hand, looked like the odd one out.
"First, we need to find Evelyn Parker," he said with a frown, arms folded.
"Evelyn? What for?" V asked.
"She had a close relationship with Yorinobu Arasaka… very close." Takemura even mimed the intimacy. "She knows how to get near him."
"So?"
"She's got her own motives. I need to confront her face-to-face and find out what they are."
Roqi shook his head. "Evelyn… she's not just some high-end doll from Cloudtop. That woman's hiding something. No way she pulled off all this unless she had ambition—and the means to back it up."
"And the relic…" Roqi glanced at his PDA and then at Takemura, his expression unreadable. "...can't be traded anymore anyway."
"She offered to cut Dexter out—give me fifty percent," V added, raising a hand. "She had a buyer lined up for sure."
"I doubt it," Takemura said. "I've tried tracking her. No luck. I suspect she's deliberately gone dark."
"She's suspicious," he added bluntly.
"Probably backed by a corp," Jackie shrugged. "Stealing from each other like gangs in suits."
Even Takemura, who'd investigated her thoroughly, didn't really know what Evelyn was about. Only V had some personal connection.
"I don't really know her," V admitted. "But she understood the relic. Knew way too many confidential details."
"Let's just say she had that sneaky corpo-agent aura, always lurking around like a ghost."
Takemura took that personally. "You saying I'm sneaky too?"
[God help me…] Johnny groaned inside Roqi's head.
"If Yorinobu sends assassins after you, and you're still defending Arasaka?" V shot back.
"Yorinobu Arasaka must answer for his crimes," Takemura said after a pause. His voice was firm.
V rolled his eyes. "You want justice? In Night City?"
"I want revenge. It's more achievable." Takemura tapped the table. "I have allies. We plan to make Yorinobu confess. All we need is evidence."
[Oh for fuck's sake…]
Johnny practically gagged on the words.
[Mute him if he's too much for you,] Roqi said dryly. [Go listen to your punk rock or something.]
"What's in it for us?" Roqi asked, raising one finger.
V wasn't dying from the relic anymore, so they weren't desperate. And in Night City, as long as you were breathing, there were always other gigs.
"If Yorinobu is taken down, your names get cleared. Arasaka won't be hunting you anymore," Takemura said. "And Arasaka could offer you many… rewards."
"Yeah, hard pass on being Arasaka's lapdog," V scoffed.
Takemura looked offended and stood up to leave.
"Wait. I'm interested."
Everyone turned toward Roqi with wide eyes—even Viktor looked intrigued.
"Here's the thing," Roqi said, sitting back. "I need to find Anders Hellman. And Evelyn Parker."
Takemura narrowed his eyes. "How do you know that name?"
"We did our homework," V cut in. "Hellman designed the relic. It's his work."
"I need to meet him," Roqi said clearly, not backing down.
Takemura hesitated, then slowly sat back down. "Hellman defected from Arasaka. He's been missing for days. Vanished—how do you say... evaporated."
"And you want us to help you take down Yorinobu, while you can't even find one guy?" V scoffed. "If we have to fight Arasaka again, then so be it."
"Then we have nothing more to discuss," Takemura said with a sigh.
"No, you're the one who needs us," Roqi smiled. "How much influence do you still have? You're a fugitive. Your cyberware's been remotely shut down. How are you gonna get revenge?"
"I have a plan. Gathering intel takes time. If you help me, there'll be benefits for you too."
Roqi rubbed his chin. "How many Arasakas are left? Yorinobu, Hanako…"
"There's Michiko Arasaka, Saburo's granddaughter," Takemura said, then shook his head. "But she won't get involved. Not her place."
"So you're planning to help Hanako overthrow Yorinobu? Why would she trust you?"
"We need evidence. A neutral setting. Rational judgment. Maybe some... technical means to expose the truth."
"A shareholder meeting? That's gonna stop bullets?" Roqi snorted.
"I know. But it's our best option." Takemura frowned. "If we help Hanako, she'll be grateful. That's politics."
Roqi took the drink Misty quietly handed him and nodded his thanks. That girl really was thoughtful. Honestly, she was perfect for Jackie.
"This is corporate warfare, not politics. You can call it what you want, but it's still cutthroat."
"How will Hanako trust you?" he added. "You served Saburo directly, didn't you?"
"Hanako and Saburo stood together. She is not like Yorinobu," Takemura said firmly, though he still nodded politely to Misty.
"Busy guy," V said sarcastically.
"I'll do whatever it takes to prepare. As for Evelyn Parker—she can't help you."
"You don't even know why we need her," Jackie pushed back.
Truthfully, even he didn't know why Roqi wanted both Hellman and Evelyn.
"She's a pawn. The real player is behind her."
Takemura was sure of it. After years as Saburo's bodyguard, he knew who had real power. Evelyn, at best, was just a capable spy.
"A doll, nothing more. Her records are legit—not forged. I don't know what you want from her, but whoever's backing her probably has their own Arasaka agenda."
"She's not our main goal," Roqi said. "I just want to know what her handler wants with the relic. But we can't move openly. We've got to lay low."
There were other things he wasn't saying. Not yet. Not with Takemura in the room.
"Dexter was a fixer. He tried to kill us to save himself. Broke the code. That's why I killed him."
Roqi placed his drink on the table.
"And Evelyn Parker vanished after handing us the relic…"
"I need answers. From her—or the people behind her."
"I agree," V added. "Even thieves have a code. Ever heard that one?"
"Yeah, and it's a joke," Takemura scoffed. "Honor? Loyalty? Among thieves?"
"Yorinobu would love that logic," V fired back.
Wasn't it Yorinobu who stole the relic from his own father?
"You think corporate profits are freely given? That exploitation's voluntary?" Roqi asked. "Oh right. Not theft. Just 'resource acquisition.'"
"Say whatever you want." Takemura had had enough of this debate.
Their views were too different to reach any middle ground.
"This is Night City," Roqi said. "There's no justice here—only profit. We're just on opposite sides."
"Opposite sides…"
And with that, Takemura left.
He dropped a number. "Call me if anything comes up."
A moment later, Jackie peeked out to make sure he was really gone, then slid back in.
"Lucky, just one thing—why the hell are we looking for this Hellman guy?"
Roqi looked at everyone, then set his PDA on the table. "Johnny?"
[…You serious? You want me to dance for these people like I'm in a cage?] Johnny growled. [Who even are these guys? Can you trust them?]
[You trusted me and we only met an hour ago. They're family. You're fine.]
"Alright then… guess I'll do it my way."
Roqi cleared his throat and dramatically gestured toward the PDA.
"Ta-da! Here comes the... JOHNNY!"
ヾ(?°?°?)??
Silence.
[Jesus fucking Christ, that was dumb.]
Finally, Johnny materialized on the PDA screen.
Wavy rocker hair, aviators, goatee, and all the rebel vibes in one digital ghost.
"Your friend?" V asked, eyeing the screen.
Viktor blinked, then laughed.
"What's funny, Vik?" Roqi asked.
"Just thinking… it's 2077, and some people are still remembered. Others? Forgotten before sunrise."
"I get it." Roqi nodded. "Some people are alive, but already dead. Others are dead, but still alive."
"Nice line," Jackie said. "Who said that?"
"A Chinese poet—Zang Kejia. Almost two hundred years ago."
"You really dig Chinese culture, huh?" T-Bug smirked.
Roqi gave a quiet smile.
"Yo, are y'all really just gonna ignore me while you chat it up?" Johnny protested.
"Johnny Silverhand," Viktor explained. "Rock rebel from the early 21st century. Blew up Arasaka Tower."
"Correction—legendary rebel who blew up Arasaka Tower," Johnny said smugly.
Vik laughed, pushing up his glasses. Together, they looked like two OG fixers.
"Voice and face match perfectly. Doesn't look artificial at all. Damn… tech these days…"
SMACK.
Roqi slapped the speaker before Johnny could shoot off another rude comment.
"That's the real Johnny Silverhand."
Everyone: ???
Roqi saw the disbelief and elaborated:
"The relic we stole? Had Johnny's consciousness stored on it. He didn't die in the Arasaka bombing. He was digitized. Now he's a digital soul."
Everyone: (☉_☉)
...Wait—what the actual fuck?
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