Gearbound: Cyberpunk 2077

No one knew where the Scavs had gotten their hands on a fairly advanced jamming chip, but it managed to block their captive's distress signal. As a result, the fixer network caught wind of the kidnapping before Trauma Team did. Right now, Trauma Team still had no idea that one of their Platinum members had already landed on a Scav "menu," and so mercenaries were needed for the rescue.

Typically, only new or perpetually unknown mercs got stuck tangling with the Scavs. However, the victim's family offered Wakako a hefty fee and specifically requested reliable mercs to retrieve their loved one. If they succeeded, there would be a substantial bonus for injuries sustained. When Wakako thought of "reliable," she instantly pictured Leo's crew, who had a 100% success rate, which was why she reached out to him.

…

In Japan, within Arasaka's main lab on the northern tip of Honshu, a major incident had just occurred: the relic personally commissioned by Saburo Arasaka himself had vanished without a trace, as though it had evaporated into thin air. Not even a single clue remained behind, leaving the lab's director in a state of panic.

For a moment, he considered hiding it, but he ultimately chose to make a truthful report. If he alerted his superiors, he might only need to commit seppuku alone, but if he hid it and they discovered the truth later, his children—also loyal Arasaka employees—would be implicated too.

The theft of Saburo Arasaka's relic from their own lab in Japan, rather than some overseas site, sparked huge concern. The upper echelons promptly granted the counterintelligence department at the Japanese headquarters full authority to investigate anyone other than Saburo himself. That included Saburo's children, grandchildren, and the entire Arasaka board of directors. Given the severity, Japan's counterintel department went into full 24/7 overdrive.

It didn't take long before they found something. Hacking the terminal of Saburo's second son, Yorinobu Arasaka, they discovered suspicious email exchanges between him and NetWatch.

Naturally, Yorinobu wasn't foolish enough to lay everything out in plain text, but his repeated hints and invitations to get NetWatch operatives to visit Yorinobu's current accommodation—Ember Tower in Night City—stood out. Pairing that with the missing relic, the counterintelligence bureau pegged Yorinobu as the prime suspect.

…...

..

.

In the Arasaka family manor on the outskirts of Tokyo, Goro Takemura stepped into a pristine white room. At its center, an organic tissue-regeneration chamber slowly opened, releasing an elderly man who looked around seventy or eighty years old, but in truth, he was 158—Saburo Arasaka himself.

"Saburo-sama!"

Takemura knelt on one knee, respectfully summarizing the situation. He then offered without hesitation, "Please don't worry, sir! I'll go to Night City in person. I promise I'll bring Yorinobu and the relic back safely!"

Saburo Arasaka dressed in a kimono with the help of an attendant, then clasped his hands behind his back and walked over to Takemura.

"No. I'll go myself."

Takemura's eyes widened. "Saburo-sama?! But your health—"

Ever since stepping into the shadows behind the corporation, Saburo almost never left his manor, much less ventured outside Japan.

"It's fine. Consider it a long-overdue trip."

Takemura said nothing more, but he silently vowed to protect Saburo Arasaka with his very life.

…

A bit later that same day, two Arasaka representatives paid an unannounced visit to Mayor Lucius Rhyne and Deputy Mayor Weldon Holt at City Hall in the City Center. The pair from Arasaka sat across from them, radiating pressure. Lucius and Holt both wore uneasy expressions.

"Is there something we can do to help you?"

One representative wasted no time. "We need you to seal off Watson."

Lucius felt his heart skip a beat. His first thought was that perhaps something serious was about to happen at Arasaka Waterfront in Watson.

"Why? Did something happen?"

"No—this is…just a precaution."

Lucius hated that word "precaution." It was supposed to mean preventing accidents, but the moment anyone said it, accidents almost always happened.

Sensing Lucius's concern, the other rep spoke up. "Mayor Rhyne, we don't want to make things hard for you. You know Arasaka always treats its friends well. Name your price."

Lucius toyed with the ring on his finger. He was tempted to set a sky-high price, but he worried if he pushed too far, Arasaka might turn on him.

"It's not about the money. The election's coming up, and if I seal off Watson for too long, what will people say? That I can't even keep one district under control? I was born there, you know…"

He played up his difficulties, pouring out his grievances. Meanwhile, he used the team comms to confer with Weldon Holt, who was seated beside him. Holt chimed in at just the right time.

"One week. We can give you at most a week. We hope you understand our position."

The two Arasaka representatives exchanged glances.

"We'll do our best… We can only promise that much."

They felt just as frustrated. Tokyo had sent an urgent request to have Mayor Rhyne lock down Watson District without explaining why or giving them a timeframe. The two envoys couldn't help speculating that something big was about to happen.

…

Simultaneously, in Japantown, the underground garage of a run-down apartment building looked deserted. Jackie sat in the passenger seat, double-checking two kinetic handguns.

"The chick we're after is probably in this building, and the Scavs who took her are here too. Keep your eyes and ears open."

In the back seat, V leaned forward between the front seats. "Hey, Leo, did Wakako mention anything in particular about this gig?"

Before Leo could reply, Jackie slipped into a playful imitation of Wakako's voice. "'I'm not your mommy. I take money to solve problems. It's not complicated.'"

Leo chuckled at his theatrics, he explained, "Sandra Dorsett. Corporate second-tier insurance, lost her biomonitor feed a few hours ago, presumably kidnapped."

Lucy, also in the back, frowned. "Second-tier corporate insurance? Then she must have a Trauma Team membership, right?"

"She's Platinum."

"Damn. And TT doesn't know one of their clients got snatched?"

"The Scavs probably used a jamming chip to disable her TT card. That's why they need us."

Jackie grinned. "No complaints from me. A little muscle flexing never hurt anyone."

Their briefing complete, the four of them grabbed their gear and stepped out. They rode a creaking elevator from the garage to the designated floor. A soft ding sounded, and the doors slid open onto a narrow, dim corridor. Trash in black plastic bags was piled in the corners, peeling paint revealed the patchy walls beneath, and cryptic graffiti covered doors and walls. Flickering ceiling lights cast ominous shadows, lending the place a haunted feel.

Previously, someone mentioned that a run-down motel in the Northside Industrial District cost around five thousand eurodollars a month. Meanwhile, this dump of an apartment in Westbrook cost over ten grand monthly. Because aside from City Center, Westbrook had the nicest environment and strongest economy in Night City.

"Straight ahead. Room 1237," Leo said.

He and Jackie led the way, with the two women following behind. Their footsteps echoed in the deserted hallway. Maybe they'd already been heard…