Cyberpunk: Becoming a Legend from Dogtown

"Morning, Vik."

V greeted him casually.

As the two chatted, Viktor Vektor entered his shop, ready for the day's business.

Vik set his coat aside and pointed at the backrest of the cyberware surgery chair behind Lin Yue. "Lie back. I'll run another check on your implants—old age hasn't dulled my skills, but I do tend to forget things now and then."

Lin Yue obediently lay down.

V stretched, yawning, "Vik, he'll pay you for the surgery. If he tries to skip out, find me—I've got work to do."

As Vik plugged the diagnostic cable into Lin Yue's neural port, he warned, "V, you need rest. Arasaka doesn't give a damn about your life, but you should."

V chuckled and waved it off, heading out the door.

Lin Yue's eyes grew thoughtful. Vik wasn't just a ripperdoc—he was more like V's real family.

"Arasaka… they'll squeeze every last drop out of you," Vik muttered, shaking his head before carefully examining Lin Yue's vitals and implant data.

"Uh… Dr. Viktor, about the surgery bill…"

Lin Yue scratched his head. Despite Vik's calming presence, the thought of the bill still worried him.

He hadn't forgotten that Vik, in his younger days, had a reputation for sending "I'll fucking end you" messages to rivals. A respected boxer in Night City's underground scene.

Lin Yue respected Vik—not just for his skill, but for being one of the few genuinely decent people in this brutal city.

"V figured you were broke, so she covered 10,000 eddies for the surgery. If you've got the money, another 10,000 should cover it… discounted. Pay V, she'll pass it on."

Lin Yue's eyes lit up—he still had enough cash.

"No need. I trust you. Sent the payment. Your work's top-notch. Please give it to V."

Vik appreciated customers who acknowledged his craftsmanship, though he knew young mercs never held onto cash for long.

"You kids always want the big score. Load up on flashy implants, roll with your crew, street racing through the city—but remember, too much chrome turns you into a full-blown psycho."

"That's why I use quality gear. Good for your body, perfect for you kids who like real combat."

"Oh, and… you overpaid."

Lin Yue shook his head. "I want a full facial reconstruction. A whole new look."

"Trouble found you? Alright… but changing your face isn't foolproof. CIR Network databases match biometrics and behavioral patterns. No hiding from them."

Lin Yue understood. Even the worst ripperdocs could alter faces, but it wouldn't erase his identity from the system.

"There's black-market tech in Dogtown—Behavioral Faceplate. Heard it can remake you completely—skin, muscles, voice modulation, full target data sampling…"

"Honestly," Vik smiled sheepishly, "I'd love to get my hands on that tech. Lots of research potential."

Behavioral Faceplate?

Lin Yue recalled that Dogtown's V had used this tech to impersonate Aguilar and threaten Hansen's crew. More complex than he'd imagined.

Gotta get back to Dogtown and track this down.

For now, Lin Yue settled for a facial reconstruction from Vik.

After leaving the clinic, Lin Yue exited through Misty's shop, nodding politely to her.

Now, he had to figure out how to get back to Dogtown.

Even though Hands and Hansen would love to see him dead.

V's offer gave him a chance—but he had to handle it himself.

Asking V to smuggle him into Dogtown would kill his value. Arasaka would just send a real agent instead.

Lin Yue's plan? Cut into Mr. Hands' business. Step one.

He wouldn't expose Hands' corporate past—bigger players would swoop in, leaving him with nothing. And pushing Hands too far might backfire, not to mention clients wouldn't trust a new fixer.

The hardest part was starting out. Lin Yue feared not knowing where to go more than any challenge.

[Incoming Call: V]

Lin Yue sat by a food cart in Jig-Jig Street, eating what Takemura would definitely call garbage Japanese food.

Lin Yue didn't mind. Sure, the chicken skewers were mediocre and hygiene questionable, but they tasted fine.

Real meat? Doubtful. Probably synth protein or high-protein bugs.

"Your new ID's ready, Lyn," V's voice came through, now addressing him by his new codename.

Efficient. No wonder she's climbing the corporate ladder so fast.

"Thanks, boss!" Lin Yue grinned.

"You'd better head to Dogtown soon. I've got a pile of work waiting for you. Arasaka's got too much going on, and I can't keep showing my face there—"

"Hansen would sniff out any corp presence immediately."

Lin Yue smirked.

"Boss, you ever dig into Hands' personal life?"

V signaled him to wait, then replied after a moment, "Yeah… wife's German, likes speaking French—"

"Emma. That's her name."

"Hands hired a security firm to protect her and their kid."

"Why? Planning on flirting with someone's wife?"

Lin Yue slurped his ramen. "What's her favorite pastime? Or, when's she without her bodyguards?"

V immediately caught his drift. "If you're aiming for a weak spot, family's a good choice."

"Every Saturday, Mrs. Hands hits a braindance club in Westbrook with other corpo wives and B-list celebrities. No security inside."

"But careful—push too hard, and Hansen or Dogtown's crew might step in."

Lin Yue stood, leaving his half-eaten ramen behind.

"Relax, just a 'peaceful chat' to give Hands a few sleepless nights."

"I'm not messing with his family."

V ended the call. Lin Yue admired his new face in an oil-stained glass panel by the cart. Vik's work was flawless.

Damn, even better-looking now.

"Boss, the ramen was great!" he called to the busy Japanese chef behind the cart.

"Arigatou gozaimasu! Thank you so much, sir—"

A green-haired Tyger Claws thug choked on his food nearby. "The fuck is this? Tastes like shit! This is cooking?!"

"Nani?! What the—shit! There's a cockroach in my bowl!"

The plump chef's face turned beet-red as the Tyger Claws thug grabbed his collar, waving a katana menacingly. Shouts and curses filled the street.

Walking away, Lin Yue shook his head, amused.

I had a roach in my bowl too. No big deal…

...

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