"Haha... Come on, let me introduce you."
Jack grinned from ear to ear, clapping David on the shoulder as they stood by the bar. "V, this is the new partner I told you about—David, leader of the crew code-named David ."
Then, he gestured toward V, the sleek corpo woman beside him. "David, meet V—just like I mentioned before."
David and V locked eyes for a moment.
V's presence was striking—long black hair framing sharp, well-defined features that hinted at Asian ancestry. Her tailored Arasaka office wear hugged her curves in all the right places, exuding power and confidence. Yet, beneath her composed demeanor, there was a certain weight in her gaze—the kind that only came from years of navigating Night City's corporate underworld.
"David," he said simply, extending his hand.
V arched an eyebrow, her lips hinting at a smirk as she took his hand. Her grip was firm—calculated, like everything about her.
"V. Jack's been talking about you lately," she replied.
"Pleasure to meet you," David said, stepping back and motioning toward the bar stools. "Take a seat. What can I get you?"
"Whatever," V replied casually, sliding onto the stool and lighting a cigarette with a flick of her chrome lighter. Smoke curled above her as she exhaled slowly. "Jack said you're the real deal. I had the day off, so I figured I'd see for myself."
David could see the subtle air of superiority in her posture—the signature arrogance of someone who stood high on the corporate ladder. Unlike the average street merc, V held a position of real power. As the second-in-command of Arasaka's counter-intelligence division, she commanded multiple departments, earned a salary most people could only dream of, and enjoyed elite perks like Trauma Team Platinum coverage.
Of course, David knew the other side of that coin—behind the polished exterior was a life of relentless pressure, internal politics, and the constant threat of being discarded the moment her usefulness expired.
"Alright. One cocktail, coming up," David said, focusing on mixing the drink with practiced ease.
"Hey, V! Did you hear?" Jack chimed in, leaning against the bar. "This guy David's the one who took out one of the Tiger Claws' top dogs last night!"
"Oh?" V's eyebrows lifted slightly. "You mean Jotaro Shobo? I saw that on the news this morning."
As someone who frequently dealt with the Tiger Claws on Arasaka's behalf, V knew how dangerous the gang was. The idea that the young man in front of her had single-handedly taken down one of their executives was impressive, to say the least.
"Wasn't anything special," David replied as he placed the finished cocktail in front of her. "Just another job."
V picked up the glass, took a sip, and raised an eyebrow in approval. "Not bad," she remarked, tapping the rim lightly with her finger.
Rebecca, who had been sipping her own drink beside them, craned her neck to get a better look at V. The fiery young woman, who had been bickering with Jack moments ago, now sat quietly, her eyes flicking between David and the corpo woman with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
"Anyway," Jack continued, undeterred, "I told V she should consider ditching that corpo life and joining us. Seriously, V, think about it—busting your ass for that piece of shit Jenkins? Cleaning up his messes while he takes all the credit? Screw that! You should come work with us. Live for yourself for once, you know?"
V glanced sideways at David, her expression carefully neutral. Her gaze then shifted to Rebecca, who was still eyeing her suspiciously.
"You've even got minors on your crew?" V asked, her tone lightly teasing.
"Hey!" Rebecca immediately bristled, her cheeks flushing red. "Who're you calling a kid?"
"Relax, pequeña," Jack chuckled. "Rebecca's not part of the crew—just a friend of David's, here for a drink."
"Interesting place for a night out," V remarked with a faint smirk.
"Who do you think you're looking down on?!" Rebecca snapped. In a flash, she pulled a compact Omaha Tech pistol from her pocket and aimed it at V's head.
David's eyes widened slightly, and Jack flinched, but V remained completely unfazed.
"Nice piece," she commented calmly, eyeing the firearm. "Omaha Tech—powerful punch, but limited ammo and heavy recoil. Probably not the best fit for someone your size."
Rebecca's hands trembled slightly from a mix of adrenaline and frustration.
"If I were you," V continued smoothly, "I'd switch to an Arasaka HJKE-11 Yukimura smart pistol. Automatic target locking, tracking rounds—you could hit your mark even if your aim's off. Plus, it's got burst fire and a bigger mag, so you won't have to reload as often. Perfect for someone with your... fiery temperament."
"You—!" Rebecca's face burned with embarrassment as she fumbled for a retort.
"Rebecca," David interrupted with a calm but firm voice. "Put the gun down."
After a moment's hesitation, Rebecca huffed and holstered the weapon, turning away with a muttered, "Tch…"
"V, I get it," David said, meeting her gaze once more. "With your position in Arasaka, you've got a life most people can only dream of. But you know better than anyone—everything they give you comes with a price."
V's cigarette paused halfway to her lips.
"You've got money, status, power—but you traded your freedom to get it. The moment your usefulness runs out, they'll drop you without a second thought. And when that happens, they'll take back everything—the apartment, the security, the privileges. You'll lose it all faster than you can blink."
David leaned forward slightly, his eyes unwavering. "You're smart. You wouldn't be here if you hadn't already started thinking about what comes next."
V's hand trembled faintly, causing ash from her cigarette to fall unnoticed onto the bar.
David's words struck a nerve. For a moment, the mask of corporate composure slipped, and something raw flickered behind her eyes.
Damn… she thought. This kid sees right through me.
After a long pause, V exhaled a stream of smoke and let out a soft chuckle. Shaking her head, she turned to Jack with a faint smile.
"Jack, your friend's something else," she said. Then, she extended her hand toward David again—this time with a more genuine look in her eyes.
"V. Valerie. It's an honor to meet you."
"David," he replied, shaking her hand once more. His tone was calm and steady, as if the intense exchange just moments ago had never happened.
Rebecca, still sulking beside them, blinked in confusion at V's sudden change of attitude. After a beat, she simply took another sip of her drink and grumbled something under her breath.
"David, you're right," V admitted after a moment. "On the outside, my job looks perfect. But inside? It's suffocating. I've got a new assignment coming up—if I can pull it off, maybe I'll get a promotion. But if I screw up…" She shrugged, her smile thin and humorless. "You know how Arasaka works."
"I get it," David replied. "It wouldn't make sense for you to leave right now. But just remember—never trust your bosses too much. When things go south, they won't think twice about throwing you under the bus to save their own skin."
V studied his face carefully. There was something about this young merc that unsettled her—like he understood the harsh truths of Night City better than most veterans she'd met.
"Thanks," she said quietly. "I'll keep that in mind."
"No worries," David replied with a faint smile. "Hey—whether you're on a job or just need to clear your head, you're always welcome to stop by. Our crew's base is over on Sakura Street. Feel free to drop in anytime."
"I might just take you up on that," V replied with a smirk.
"Hey, David!" Rebecca cut in, raising her hand like a kid in class. "You said I could visit the base too, remember?"
David chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. Come by whenever."
"Heh, don't regret saying that!" Rebecca shot back with a grin.
Suddenly, loud shouting and the sound of commotion echoed from outside the bar.
"Hey! Anybody seen a guy named David from the Dragon Kingdom?!"
"Yeah, the one in the picture—where is he?!"
David's gaze sharpened as he glanced toward the entrance. Through the glass, he could see a group of men gathering outside—each one sporting garish tattoos and chrome cyberware. Samurai swords gleamed in their hands, reflecting the neon lights of Night City.
Tiger Claws…
So much for a quiet night.
To Be Continued…
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