After finishing his discussion with Arthur, Kai returned to his office and called Carter in again.
It did not take long for Carter to hurry over.
While packing up his things, Kai gave him his instructions.
"Mr. Jenkins has decided to move on the Maelstrom deal tonight. They probably won't have that many people there, since they still don't know the true origin of the Sandevistan."
"Take a Counterintel tactical team with you. If necessary, offer a higher price on the spot and buy it outright. Either way, you get the implant."
"I have other business to handle today. The moment anything develops tonight, report to me immediately."
After hearing the arrangement, Carter said he understood and turned to leave.
Once Kai finished gathering his things, he headed out as well, planning to meet Jackie and sort out tonight's operation.
He walked out of Arasaka Tower and called Jackie. They agreed to meet at Misty's Esoterica. Viktor's clinic was down in the basement behind it.
Misty had grown up on the same street in Heywood as Jackie.
After leaving to try her luck elsewhere for a while, she eventually came back to Night City and opened her little spiritual shop, helping people untangle the mess in their heads and hearts.
The two of them had always liked each other.
The problem was that when Jackie was younger, he had been completely oblivious, too busy chasing other girls to notice the one standing right in front of him.
But now that he was single again, he had finally come to appreciate Misty's warmth and kindness, and had started making clumsy little attempts to get closer to her.
Things like asking for a destiny reading. Or pretending he needed spiritual guidance. Or just stopping by for no reason so he could chat a while longer.
Never actually getting to the point.
Kai inserted the AV chip into his portable comm unit and summoned the vehicle, first confirming its location, then activating the autopilot.
A luxury AV slowly lifted off from an estate in North Oak and began flying toward Corporate Plaza.
Flying over Night City let it avoid traffic, though city airspeed was restricted, and North Oak was still a fair distance from downtown. While waiting, Kai decided to go pick up some proper beer first.
He stepped into a nearby commercial tower and grabbed two packs of dark beer. He also made a point of choosing a more traditional variety brewed from actual grain rather than biotech-engineered substitutes.
That kind had a richer flavor and did not hit as hard. Viktor liked cracking one open while watching boxing or installing chrome on somebody.
Kai carried the beer back out of the building and saw the AV already waiting at the nearby landing platform.
As he approached, the gullwing door lifted automatically, revealing the luxurious interior in leather and gold trim.
Kai got in with the beer and started the flight program.
The doors closed, the engine engaged, and four blue flames blasted out from the rear as the whole vehicle rose smoothly into the air. Outside the window, the city climbed with it until the AV was level with the hundred-story towers.
After entering the destination through the onboard assistant, the AV turned and headed toward where Jackie was waiting.
The onboard assistant asked in its standard polite tone,
"Hello. Would you like beverage service, music, news, or any other amenities?"
Kai shut the stupid thing off immediately.
The whole assistant profile had obviously been set up for Arthur's personal tastes, and Kai doubted there was a single overlap with his own, except maybe the news.
He certainly did not see much in common between himself and a nearly fifty-year-old rich bachelor, aside from both of them working for Arasaka.
Though he had to admit, Arthur's qualifications were near the top of the heap in Night City. If he wanted to get married, he easily could.
As for why his diamond bachelor of a boss was still single, Kai had no idea whether it was a question of preference or a question of ability.
Then again, in Night City, preference was hardly an issue anymore. People had true freedom in that area.
Sitting in the soft leather of the AV, Kai found the thick mixed perfume clinging to the cabin a little unpleasant.
"Yeah. Definitely a personal-use AV."
Before long, the vehicle reached Little China in Watson and slowly descended onto the rooftop balcony outside Misty's Esoterica.
Jackie was already waiting there. The moment he saw the luxurious black-metal AV glide down onto the roof, he knew Kai had arrived.
As the door opened, Jackie stepped forward with his usual broad grin.
"Brother, did you buy this beast for yourself? With a ride like this, half the girls in Night City are gonna lose their minds over you."
Kai got up and shot back with a grin.
"You think I need an AV to make an impression? Looks to me like you're the one in love with the thing. Come on, grab the beer."
Jackie laughed it off and climbed in to pick up the packs.
As they walked, he said,
"Sorry, but I really did ask around. V isn't back yet. My mom and Padre both said she left for Atlanta over a year ago."
Kai nodded.
"Fine. We'll work together another time. She's got real talent."
Jackie said he was keeping his eyes open and ready.
"Viktor's mentioned you a few times, actually. When I told him you were back, he said he'd prepared something good for you."
Kai assumed Viktor meant full-body implantation.
Once he stepped out and the AV door closed, he followed Jackie and replied,
"Viktor always has that big-brother way about him. But this time I don't plan on doing the basic chrome package yet. I'll wait. It's not time."
Halfway down the narrow stairway, Jackie suddenly stopped and turned around.
"Why not anymore? Before, it was because you were too busy, always out running around for work. Now you've finally got time..."
Kai did not want to go into it, so he simply pushed on Jackie's broad shoulder and kept him moving.
"It's nothing. Just a small thing. The company keeps wanting to do it, but I'm worried they'll slip something dirty into me."
"Let Viktor hold onto whatever good thing he's got. If I need it later, I can always use it then."
Jackie did not press any further.
Whenever company matters came up, Kai always got stubborn, and Jackie had long noticed that. Still, he could not help saying what he thought.
"You've given too much to that company. It isn't worth it. You're supposed to be like some eagle flying free, not trapped in a cage, killing yourself against a nest of venomous snakes every day."
He paused, seeming to realize he might have pushed too hard. After all, Kai truly cared about the job and had nearly died for it more than once.
"Brother, I know how you are. Those corp dogs don't deserve to call themselves your friends. If the day comes when you really can't stay there anymore, don't force it. Any street in Heywood would welcome you. That's when you and me should really go out and make our mark."
Hearing that, Kai understood all over again that Jackie really did have the heart of a straightforward, decent man.
Like a big kid who had once gone out into the world knowing nothing except that loyalty came before everything else.
A little dumb. A little lovable.
"Come on, Jackie. Don't make it sound so tragic. I barely got into this position and you've already decided I should wash out. At least let me enjoy being a corpo for a while first, yeah?"
Jackie burst out laughing too.
As they passed through the Esoterica on the first floor, Kai greeted Misty and booked a reading.
Misty, in her blue dress, smiled with the same quiet gentleness as ever and agreed.
Kai and Jackie continued into the back, and as they passed the landing near the basement stairs, Kai crouched down on purpose and reached out to pet Nibbles, curled up in its little nest.
The cat narrowed its eyes at him and began to purr.
Then Kai followed Jackie down into the basement and stepped into Viktor's clinic.
It looked just like he remembered.
Viktor was still seated at his workbench, holding that same wide tablet and watching the same boxing match, as if that fight contained his youth and all the dreams he once had.
The familiar faces, the familiar surroundings, all of it made the feeling hit him again.
"It's good to be back."
"Viktor!"
(End of Chapter)
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