Chapter 6: Arasaka's Tower - Progress from Arasaka
Vera stepped into the vast interior of Arasaka Tower, the heart of corporate power in Night City. The lobby was a spectacle of futuristic surveillance technology—fixed scanners, drones, radars, and countless other security measures scanned her as she walked, all in perfect synchronization. Dozens of hidden eyes momentarily turned toward her, scrutinized, then quickly shifted away, as though she'd passed some invisible test.
The first floor of the tower was the only area accessible to the public, designed to impress and intimidate. However, Vera, an employee of Arasaka's Security Bureau, knew this was just the façade. Beyond this space, Arasaka Tower was a labyrinth for insiders only—employees or internal service personnel, all carefully vetted.
Ding.
The private elevator smoothly carried Vera to the office floors of the Arasaka Security Department. It was May 27, 2074, 8:00 a.m. precisely. Upon arriving, she sent two of her bodyguards to place her briefcase in her office. With a calm demeanor, she strolled towards the cafeteria, projecting the Night City Brief, sent from the Arasaka Administrative Center, directly onto the digital screen of her cybernetic eye.
First order of the day? Breakfast. She hadn't eaten yet.
Contrary to popular belief, Arasaka's notorious work demands—virtually expecting its employees to work 24/7, without rest—didn't apply to everyone. Vera, a high-ranking officer, enjoyed more freedom. Having just returned from successfully handling the Brasilia Security Mission, which won Arasaka crucial leverage in the Rio de Janeiro reconstruction efforts, she knew she was on the cusp of another promotion.
In this corporate world, the victors take all. And Vera was winning.
---
Arasaka Security Department Cafeteria
The space was large, with glass curtain walls creating barriers between the tables, offering privacy through a soft blurring effect. Only those with seniority—veteran employees or middle-ranking managers—were allowed to dine here. Unlike the synthetic meals that most citizens in Night City endured, the food here was real, a rare luxury in this age of environmental decay. Only the elite of the corporate world could afford such indulgence.
A hostess, dressed in a sleek, light-colored uniform reminiscent of a flight attendant, approached Vera immediately upon her arrival. She bowed respectfully.
"Good morning, Chief Vera Adelheid."
Vera gave a small nod, settling down near the greenery that adorned the cafeteria. With a brief connection to the holographic television feed in her cybernetic eye, she placed her order.
"The usual—pasta set meal," she said.
The hostess hurried away to fulfill the request. On the screen in her eye, a loud, over-enthusiastic voice shouted:
"Good morning, Night City! It's your old friend Stanley! And yesterday's Deadman's Lottery…"
Vera tuned out the noise, sipping a glass of iced water while scanning the cafeteria. Colleagues from the Security Bureau were scattered across the room. She spotted a few familiar faces but made no move to engage.
Vera held the prestigious title of Deputy Chief of the Special Assault Force, the crown jewel of Arasaka's Security Bureau. Her team, the 6th Unit, was an elite heavy infantry division comprised of one hundred highly trained soldiers. They handled the dirtiest, deadliest jobs Arasaka required—missions all over the world, supporting regional branches and defending Arasaka's assets wherever needed.
She also worked closely with other units in the Bureau—less glamorous forces like the 1st Mobile Unit, stationed at Arasaka Square, handling ceremonial duties, bomb disposal, and counter-sniper teams. The Security Bureau was vast, with specialized units assigned to different regions or tasks, including riot control, security contracting, and strategic operations. But Vera's team was the elite, sent where the stakes were highest.
A colleague approached her table.
"Miss Russell, congratulations. I believe you'll be dropping the 'Deputy' soon, eh?"
Vera smiled politely.
"Thank you."
"Soon, you'll surpass old Fred," the colleague added with a laugh.
"Let's hope so," Vera replied, raising her glass in a casual toast. "We're all in this together, working for Arasaka's future."
The man nodded, offering a return toast before making his way back to his table. It was a small interaction, but important. Building alliances, maintaining relationships—especially in the Security Bureau, where fieldwork required trust—was crucial.
A hostess returned with Vera's meal: Spaghetti with tomato and beef, curry chicken, and cream ice cream.
"Enjoy your meal, Chief," she said, before retreating respectfully.
---
After finishing her meal, Vera felt rejuvenated. The act of eating, of indulging in real food, was one of the few simple pleasures left in the world. Despite the high stress of her job, she wasn't above appreciating the finer things. She rinsed her mouth with the last of her iced water and left the cafeteria to return to her office.
8:30 a.m.
Back at her office, her staff were already at their stations. Vera settled in for a long day of work, starting with a brief video conference with her superiors. After the meeting, she opened her personal briefcase and pulled out several data chips that required processing. Today's tasks were mostly reports and assessments related to her team.
A few stood out, notably the 6th Unit Combat Evaluation and an Action Bonus Application. Both were critical to the future of her soldiers—the former determining their qualifications and performance reviews, the latter ensuring they were fairly compensated. And if there was one thing Vera had learned in Arasaka, it was that money mattered. Keeping her soldiers satisfied and well-paid was the key to maintaining their loyalty.
Hours passed in a blur of work. Reports, action reviews, assessments—Vera tackled them all with methodical precision. When she finally reached the last data chip and clicked Submit, it was well into the afternoon.
She stretched, feeling the tension release from her muscles. Just as she was about to head to the Biotechnology Research Department for a quick check-in with one of her contacts, her desk console beeped.
---
"Officer Vera. You have a package."
Vera straightened, her curiosity piqued.
"Send it in," she replied.
The door to her office slid open, and one of her bodyguards entered, holding a sleek black envelope. It wasn't often that she received anything in physical form.
"A paper invitation?" she muttered. "Who still sends these?"
The bodyguard scanned it twice before handing it over, ensuring it was clear of any anomalies. Vera took it, recognizing the Arasaka clover stamped in gold on the envelope.
Unfolding the invitation, she scanned the text quickly:
"Arasaka Academy hereby invites outstanding graduates to attend the 2074 New Student Enrollment Ceremony. We would be honored if you would deliver a keynote speech…"
She smiled slightly. It seemed Arasaka Academy was calling on her to inspire the next generation of corporate warriors. No doubt, they wanted her to stand as a shining example of success—a graduate who'd risen through the ranks to become a force to be reckoned with in Arasaka's Security Bureau.
---
Chapter 006: Persona
Vera flicked open a lighter, lighting the end of a cigarette. She hadn't always been a smoker, but the stress of balancing her rise within Arasaka, combined with the harsh training at the Academy, had changed her. Smoking had become a small vice, a way to decompress.
The invitation lay on her desk, a reminder of how far she had come. In a world where few survived the grind, she had thrived. Now, they wanted her to be the face of their next wave of recruits.
Vera smirked as she tapped her fingers on the armrest of her chair. She knew exactly what they were doing. The timing of the invitation coincided perfectly with her upcoming promotion. The Academy wanted to boast about her success as their own—a strategic move to convince incoming students of the prestige and opportunities that awaited them.
The ceremony was set for June. She clicked Confirm on her terminal, accepting the invitation to speak. It was a harmless gesture of goodwill, a small favor for a place that had once molded her.
---
4 p.m.
The sun was setting over the steel jungle of Night City. Vera stood in front of the bulletproof, one-way glass windows of her office, sipping a glass of whiskey. Below, the city sprawled in a chaotic mass of skyscrapers, neon lights, and dystopian reality. From this height, it was beautiful—untouchable. But she knew the truth. Down there, survival was a brutal game, and only the strong prospered.
Her desk console beeped again. A new message from James Thomas, her superior's superior.
"Good afternoon, Vella. I see you're enjoying a little drink there."
Vera smiled at the screen.
"Uncle Thomas, I was just celebrating. Waiting for the official announcement."
James Thomas chuckled. "Well, you won't have to wait much longer. Tokyo has approved your promotion. In 30 minutes, it will be announced officially in our internal meeting. Congratulations, Vera. Fred and Mia would be proud."
"Thank you, Director Thomas," Vera said, standing up. She was careful to