39: On the Eve of Chapter 39
The next day, V woke up in a state of hollow exhaustion.
Sunlight streamed through the apartment's not-so-clean window, a reminder that a new day had begun, but the news of Carter Smith jumping off a bridge hung over her heart like a grey veil.
Her target for revenge was gone, in a way she hadn't anticipated. It left behind not satisfaction, but a void of loss and a deeper understanding of this fucked-up world.
Just then, her personal terminal rang urgently—it was Jackie.
"Hey, Chica! You awake? Got a rush job, pays well, just the thing to help you change your mood!" Jackie's voice was as energetic as ever, as if it could dispel all gloom.
V took a deep breath, forcing herself to pull it together. "Jackie? What's the job?"
"Picked it up from Wakako, a rescue mission. A news reporter named Sandra Dorsett probably poked the Scavengers' hornet's nest and got herself kidnapped, locked up at a 'collection point' in the north of Watson. The client is paying well and wants us to get her out in one piece as soon as possible." Jackie spoke quickly, laying out the mission in a few brief sentences. "Same old rules, we need precise intel. I've already contacted T-Bug; she'll handle remote support and intel."
Scavengers... Hearing that name, a flash of cold disgust crossed V's eyes.
This scum, who viewed people as mere spare parts, disgusted her even more than a traitor like Carter.
Using action to vent her emotions might be a good choice.
"What about Lin Yi? Isn't he done with his business? Can't we just freeload off his help?" V remembered that Lin Yi was free yesterday and couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Eh, that guy was exhausted from dealing with some 'little problems' a few days ago. Let's just give him a break for a couple of days; we can 'exploit' him properly later," Jackie replied.
"Aight, send me the address, I'll be there in a bit," V said decisively, quickly getting up to prepare her gear.
The mission location was a house in a slum. Before Jackie and V even reached the door, they could smell the stench of blood, preservatives, and despair permeating the air.
With T-Bug's remote support—providing real-time guard distribution, disabling surveillance systems, and guiding them along the optimal path—V and Jackie's infiltration went quite smoothly.
T-Bug's calm voice sounded in their earpieces, like the most precise navigation, making V realize once again how much of a relief it was to have a top-tier netrunner teammate.
The scene inside the factory was nauseating.
Everywhere were cold metal hooks stained with dark red residue, and several bodies that had lost their lives after being anesthetized or dismantled were discarded randomly in the corners.
After a tense but uneventful stealth run.
In a bathroom at the very back, they found the mission target, Sandra Dorsett, being kept "fresh" in ice water. Though she was still unconscious, fortunately, the Scavengers hadn't had a chance to work on her yet.
Target found. They took care of the guarding Scavengers quickly, and the process of rescuing Sandra was flawless.
Jackie's heavy firepower and V's precise marksmanship and agility formed a perfect complement.
While extracting, V looked back at that hell on earth, venting all the pent-up frustration from Carter's death onto the charging Scavengers, each shot lethal.
"What a disgusting bunch of 'people'." V couldn't help but think.
Before Trauma Team arrived, V turned back and finished off the 'subdued' Scavengers one by one.
After safely handing over the still-unconscious Sandra to the Trauma Team personnel, the mission was successfully completed.
The generous payment arrived immediately.
"Nice work, V! You're really starting to have the vibe of a top-tier merc!" Jackie patted V's shoulder firmly, praising her sincerely.
V smiled, feeling the slight fatigue from the adrenaline wearing off after the mission, but feeling more of a sense of fulfillment.
She was finding her footing in this city in her own new way.
That evening, Jackie suggested gathering at Lin Yi's place to celebrate V successfully emerging from the gloom and establishing herself on the path of a mercenary.
Lin Yi had prepared food that wasn't lavish but was hearty. The three of them sat together, the atmosphere relaxed and harmonious.
Jackie talked on and on about the details of today's mission, and then the two of them started praising each other.
Although V said, "It wasn't that exaggerated," her mood had indeed brightened considerably.
Watching Lin Yi, who was smiling and listening to Jackie brag, a warm current welled up in her heart.
When she was at her lowest, it was these two who accepted her and helped her.
After the celebration, Jackie gave Lin Yi a wink, then said Misty needed him, and left first.
After a while, V also got up to return to her own apartment.
"I'll take you down," Lin Yi picked up his jacket.
"No need, I'll just grab a cab." V waved her hand, but Lin Yi followed her out anyway.
The Charter Hill area was relatively quiet at night.
Lin Yi drove V to the apartment building near H10.
"How are you feeling?" Lin Yi asked softly.
"Much better." V nodded, answering honestly, "Although... it still feels a bit empty, at least I know I should look forward."
"That's good." Lin Yi looked at her, "Contact me anytime if you need anything."
"Yeah. You too." V smiled and turned to head upstairs.
Returning to her cold but independent little apartment, V washed up and lay on the bed, receiving a message from Lin Yi: [Are you there?]
[I'm here. Getting ready to sleep.] V replied.
[Get some good rest. Don't think too much, you've done well.]
Looking at this simple concern, the corners of V's mouth curled up slightly. [Got it, you nag, like a nanny. You get some sleep too.]
Putting down the terminal, V looked at the ceiling that was gradually becoming familiar.
Carter's shadow seemed to fade a bit, replaced by a vague anticipation for the future.
She had found new partners and had a new rhythm to her life. Although it was still fraught with danger, at least her fate was in her own hands.
A few peaceful days passed. V took on a few small gigs and gradually got used to this free but uncertain mercenary life.
That afternoon, her terminal rang—it was Jackie. But this time, his tone wasn't the usual carefree one; it carried an irrepressible excitement and unprecedented seriousness.
"Amigo, V! Listen, I just got back from Dexter Deshawn... He offered a 'gig of the century'! Pull this off, and we'll be set for life! And, the target... is Arasaka!"
V's heart skipped a beat.
Meanwhile, in Lin Yi's apartment, he also received almost the same message from Jackie.
Lin Yi put down his terminal and walked to the window, gazing at that black giant tower piercing the clouds in the distance—Arasaka Tower.
His eyes became deep and complex as he muttered to himself: "This day, it has finally come."
He stared at the black tower for a long time before adding in a low voice: "…I have to get everyone out."