Cyberpunk: Becoming a Legend from Dogtown

"Arasaka's goods got smuggled into Dogtown. Militech wants dirt on us, and Hansen's pinning the blame on both corps, claiming we don't play fair."

"We've got someone double-dipping—selling to Arasaka and Hansen. That's it…"

"Now tell me about that braindance—and after that, get the fuck out of my sight."

V had considered using more persuasive methods, but figured the request wasn't unreasonable. She gave Lin Yue a rough summary of the situation, leaving out Arasaka's internal politics. She knew exactly what to say and what to omit.

Lin Yue nodded.

It matched his suspicions. The corps were deep in this mess, and Hansen wanted everyone with knowledge of the smuggling dead, using it to bargain with the corporations.

He and that cyberpunk crew were just pawns—Hansen's bait and the corps' collateral damage.

No point hiding anything now. Lin Yue spilled everything he saw in the braindance.

The corps would find him anyway. If this woman could show up in Dogtown, she'd find him wherever he ran.

Corporate power's no joke.

He recalled how, in the game's story, V struggled just to set foot in Dogtown after getting booted from Arasaka.

"Turbo-R… golden Tora figurine, speaks Japanese… uh-huh."

As Lin Yue finished, V pocketed the recording chip and stood up without sharing any further intel.

Lin Yue instinctively blurted out a question—and instantly regretted it.

What if the braindance from the Pacifica fixer, Hands, was fake?

"What if the intel from the Pacifica fixer isn't legit?"

Under her dark hair, V's expression turned icy. "Then lie down and wait to die. We'll find you—and that fixer too."

Damn. Corp types are cold-blooded.

Lin Yue swallowed.

"V Shockwave" lived up to her rep. Maybe she was still climbing Arasaka's ladder, still a loyal corporate dog.

But soon enough, she'd become that cyber-machine packed with implants, immune to cyberpsychosis.

The Relic chip would shove a madman's consciousness into her brain, making her a short-lived legend of Night City.

Lin Yue shook his head. Only mercs and corporate grunts worried about fixers.

By his estimate, V's career was soaring right now—probably already Jenkins' top asset in Arasaka's counterintelligence unit. Future Trauma Team Platinum member, too. Impressive.

"Speaking of Pacifica… what about Dexter DeShawn? Heard that guy's a big deal."

V folded her arms, fishing for intel—a habit drilled into her by Arasaka's counterintel training.

Lin Yue couldn't help but recall Royce from the Maelstrom gang's classic roast: "Punches Animals, kicks that fat Pacifica pig? He's still alive?"

He wasn't trying to laugh, but the slight smirk on his face didn't escape V's notice.

"You got your ass handed to you by Maelstrom and you're still smiling?"

"Maelstrom's got you corpo clowns brainwashed," Lin Yue scoffed. "Dogtown's got its own ways. All I know is Hands sold me out. I'm heading back to deal with him."

This guy's crazier than me, V thought.

"Dogtown? You really wanna go back?"

Lin Yue shrugged. "Wouldn't you love that? Arasaka's still hungry for Dogtown intel, right? Otherwise, why are you still here?"

V liked smart people—like Jenkins.

"Alright. Tell me your plan," she said, settling back into her chair, already seeing her promotion within reach.

"I'll handle it. But that corporate rat who sold you out…"

"I mean, that fine upstanding employee who played both sides—if he's buttering up Hansen like you said, you can track their meetings for data, can't you?"

V shook her head. "Idiot. That guy's too high up to get his hands dirty."

Lin Yue stayed silent.

V's sharp eyes narrowed. She realized this punk had baited her into admitting it. That little shit!

"So, you need me in Dogtown for intel, huh? Easy enough. But it'll cost you." Lin Yue enjoyed teasing her, though not too much—he just wanted a side gig.

Working with corpo types was a double-edged sword, but Arasaka was eager to mess with Hansen right now.

The implants weren't free, and Lin Yue wanted some perks. More eddies never hurt.

As for Hands, Lin Yue would leave him alone for now. Even cornered rats bite. For now, he'd make his mark in Dogtown—by cutting into Hands' business.

"What's your price?" V asked, thinking Lin Yue had some serious nerve.

No one dared mess with Arasaka operatives—especially a washed-up merc booted from Dogtown by Maelstrom and burned by a fixer.

"Discount on my cyberware upgrades from Viktor. And pay me per job like a fixer would. Fair deal, right?"

V tapped her fingers on her arm. Lin Yue gave her time to think. Who knew what the future held? Time to stock up on cash while he could.

"What if I bring you into Arasaka?"

"Arasaka? What for?" Lin Yue blinked, feigning confusion.

"Counterintelligence, field ops. Regular paychecks, bonuses for big jobs, no clocking in, Trauma Team Silver membership—plus some personal perks. That's the deal."

Trauma Team Silver? Useful in Night City, but their AVs wouldn't enter Dogtown.

Lin Yue knew her game. She wanted to impress Jenkins, climb the ladder.

And Lin Yue was perfect—a Dogtown insider. Arasaka agents often faced elimination in Dogtown, but someone like him, who knew the place inside out, was ideal.

"Doesn't Arasaka do background checks?" Lin Yue asked.

He had his concerns—ex-Maelstrom, beef with Pacifica fixers, and Arasaka's detailed employee records didn't scream safe.

"They do. But I can get your file cleared. Arasaka's got plenty of off-the-books field agents. The rest is on you—like getting yourself an identity that's hard to trace or scan."

"Pick a new name. Or a codename."

"One condition—I'll have a personal tracker on you."

Lin Yue wasn't dumb. Corporate money was risky, but stable. With Arasaka backing him for now, he could use them as much as they used him.

And when the time came, he'd find a way to cut ties.

"Deal."

"Call me Lin—L, I, N. Short and easy to remember."

V shrugged. "Fine by me."

...

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