Cyberpunk: The Magnet fruit

Emerging from the shabby slums, David stepped into the bright light of morning. He navigated through the narrow alleys, strewn with garbage and inhabited by drunkards and beggars.

The first rays of sunlight broke through the towering buildings above, warming his face.

David instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes. The brightness was overwhelming, but the warmth was oddly comforting.

"Good morning, residents of Night City!"

"The weather is sunny today, with a temperature of 28°C. Please be cautious of UV rays..."

The announcement blared from a massive 3D screen on a high-rise building, alternating between an AI weather report and flashy commercial advertisements.

David snorted. "Good morning? In Night City, there's no such thing as morning."

Adjusting his hood, he continued walking. He eventually arrived at the maglev train station, a sleek, humming hub bustling with people. The destination: Little Chinatown, a few stops away from his rundown rental in Watson's Edge.

He swiped his card to enter the station and boarded the train. The interior was crowded with corporate workers heading to their morning shifts.

From their tailored suits, marked with Arasaka's emblem, David could tell they were employees of the most powerful corporation in Night City.

Arasaka Corporation.

The shadow that loomed over every aspect of the city. The ultimate symbol of capitalist dominance.

David glanced at the weary workers, who were practically slaves to their corporate overlords. Their cyber-enhanced bodies were evidence of their dependence on the very system that exploited them.

In contrast, David stood out. His body was untouched by cybernetic modifications—a rarity in a world where almost everyone had been altered in some way.

Leaning against the train's door, he pulled a chip from his pocket. The sleek device was stamped with the Arasaka logo.

"Not bad," he muttered with a smirk. "Claude's gonna have a hard time lowballing me for this."

Claude was a black-market prosthetic doctor—a shady character David often dealt with. Black-market medics like him were a necessary evil for those living on the fringes of Night City.

But David wasn't stupid. He knew how to haggle with someone like Claude.

As the train sped along its magnetic tracks, David examined the chip, completely absorbed. He failed to notice the pair of eyes discreetly watching him from the shadows.

The maglev train glided smoothly through its route, stopping at intervals to pick up more passengers.

David was two stops away from his destination, Little Chinatown. The morning sun filtered through the glass panels, creating shifting patterns of light inside the train.

Leaning back, David squinted, enjoying the warmth on his face. For a moment, it felt like a peaceful morning.

But the peace didn't last.

A faint fluctuation in the magnetic field around him made David tense.

Someone's too close.

His instincts kicked in, and his hand shot toward his pocket.

Snap!

He grabbed a wrist—thin, firm, and unmistakably human.

David's heart raced as he turned to confront the thief.

Night City was notorious for its crime. Pickpocketing and robbery were as common as breathing, and only the careless fell victim.

"You picked the wrong guy to mess with today," David muttered, tightening his grip.

He turned to face his would-be thief, only to freeze in shock.

Standing mere inches away from him was a girl—a thief with a striking appearance.

Her short, blue-white hair shimmered under the sunlight, and her piercing azure eyes were modified to an almost hypnotic degree.

David instantly recognized her.

"Lucy..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.

There was no mistaking her. It was Lucy from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, a character he'd admired back on Earth.

Lucy was known for her sly demeanor, quick reflexes, and charm. She was a fringe dweller, someone who thrived on the edges of Night City's chaos.

But now, here she was, attempting to steal from him.

David's thoughts raced.

Did she spot the chip earlier? That must be it.

Lucy's sharp eyes had likely noticed the Arasaka logo on the chip, and she'd seized the opportunity.

Before he could process further, the maglev train came to an abrupt stop.

"Ding-dong! Passengers, we have arrived at Kabukicho Station. Please exit the train in an orderly manner..."

The sudden halt caused Lucy to stumble forward, pressing against David.

The contact was startling.

Her slight frame leaned into him, and David could feel her warm breath against his chest. A faint floral scent lingered in the air between them.

Lucy looked up, her sharp gaze softening into something more playful.

"Sir," she said, her voice light and teasing, "how long are you going to hold my hand?"

David's grip on her wrist faltered.

Her eyes—modified as they were—seemed to shimmer under the sunlight streaming through the train's windows.

She's trying to distract me, David realized.

But even knowing that, it was hard to resist the charm she exuded. Lucy's combination of confidence and playfulness was disarming, to say the least.

David swallowed hard, his throat dry.

"It's fine," he said, his voice steadying. "Just hand over the chip, and we'll call it even."

Lucy tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Chip? I don't know what you're talking about."

David narrowed his eyes. "Don't play dumb. You're good, I'll give you that. But you're not getting away with this."

The train doors hissed open, and the bustling crowd began to spill onto the platform.

Lucy glanced toward the exit, clearly contemplating her next move.

David tightened his grip on her wrist. "Don't even think about it."

She sighed dramatically, her free hand slipping into her pocket. "Fine, you win this round."

Lucy pulled out the chip, holding it between her fingers.

"Here," she said with a smirk, "you've got quick hands, I'll give you that."

David snatched the chip from her, his expression hardening.

Lucy winked. "Careful, handsome. Keep flashing that around, and someone less charming than me might take it off you."

With that, she slipped out of his grasp, disappearing into the crowd.

David stared after her, the chip clutched tightly in his hand.

As the train pulled away, David let out a long sigh.

Lucy... in the flesh.

He couldn't help but admire her audacity, even if it had been at his expense.

Still, he had the chip, and that was what mattered.

"Night City..." he muttered, shaking his head. "It's never boring."

With that, David slid the chip back into his pocket and continued on his way, ready to face whatever came next.