The trio took the bus, much to the detriment of both David’s and Jackie’s reputations—at least among those in the underground who actually knew them. Not that either had much clout beyond their usual circles. Ciri, on the other hand, was too busy marveling at the sheer strangeness of this world. She was used to horses, dirt, monsters, swords, and different races, yet here? Everything was metal, cybernetics, and hacking—something she still didn’t fully understand.


    And somehow, despite everyone being the same species, they still managed to invent racism.


    Curious.


    This was her first real venture into this world after the portal dumped her here in the middle of that fight with the Great White. A frustrating event with no clear resolution. Still, she was grateful that Vomi had found her when she did—otherwise, she’d still be struggling to understand a language completely foreign to her.


    The bus pulled into their stop at The Glen. As David stepped out, a memory flickered—6th Street punks beating him to a pulp, leaving him in his own blood. If they tried that again, he’d return the favor. Jackie, meanwhile, was just here to watch his choom’s back. As for the meeting, David was playing the part of a corporate rep—technically not a lie, given he was in Arasaka’s Academy, just not graduated yet. He’d handle the negotiations while Jackie and Ciri played the role of bodyguards.


    What they didn’t expect was a group of Tyger Claws waiting outside the shop. They weren’t just loitering—they were patrolling, looking for something else. That was enough to get David suspicious, but they moved forward regardless.


    “This must be them,” a woman said, her thick accent cutting through the air.


    “I expected a corpo cruiser, given how you set up the meeting,” added another, a slim guy dressed in anime merch.


    David gave a polite nod. “We’re just starting, but the payment is secured—no worries there.”


    The anime Tyger eyed Jackie and Ciri. “And you brought security.”


    “In Night City, you can never be too careful,” David replied, glancing at the patrolling gang members. “Seems like you feel the same way.”


    The man let out a short chuckle. “Yeah, well… Maelstrom’s been a pain in the ass ever since the, uh, ‘truce’ after the gang war.” He gestured toward the shop. “You wanna take a look inside?”


    “Of course.” David kept his voice cool, measured. “Though I have to ask—why sell this place? Doesn’t seem like the Tygers would let go of useful territory.”


    As they stepped inside, the anime Tyger hesitated. “Well, you see… The location isn’t exactly working out anymore. The higher-ups think we should expand elsewhere—wherever my boss’s boss thinks is ‘worthy’ or whatever the fuck that means.”


    David hummed in acknowledgment. So, the place was too hot for the Tygers. The patrols outside already told him everything he needed to know.


    “The place has been cleaned up to the best of our ability,” the Tyger explained as the garage doors rolled open. Inside, workers were still loading cargo onto trucks. “We’re still in the process of moving some things out, as you can see.”


    Jackie let out a low whistle. “Damn, this place is bigger than I expected. Preem.”


    “Yeah, it can fit cars, bikes, even trucks,” the Tyger said, motioning toward the open space. “There’s enough room for at least four cars to be worked on at once over there. Tools, equipment, and uniforms—unbranded, of course—are already stocked in the locker room. Which brings us to payment, since all that comes with the deal.”


    David scanned the garage with a critical eye. It was spacious and well-organized, making it difficult—but not impossible—to spot any flaws.


    David crossed his arms, taking slow steps around the garage as he analyzed everything. It was big, no doubt, but big didn''t mean perfect. The structure looked solid, but there were clear signs of rushed maintenance—patch jobs on the walls, a few floor panels that had been hastily replaced, and a lingering scent of burnt metal, likely from a recent electrical fire or overheating equipment.


    The lockers were stocked, as the Tyger had said, but David noticed something off. Some of the uniforms had faint outlines where patches or logos had been removed, meaning this place had been repurposed more than once. Maybe it wasn''t just a mechanic shop before.


    As if anything was their front, right...


    “Nice setup,” David muttered, tapping the side of a tool cabinet. “But tell me something—if this place was so well-equipped, why sell it? I get that your bosses are looking at other districts, but leaving all this behind? Sounds like either bad business or a situation too messy to deal with.”


    The Tyger hesitated, exchanging a glance with one of his crew before exhaling sharply. “Look, it’s no secret the Maelstrom’s been acting up. The truce we got with them after the gang war? Yeah, turns out that was just a way for them to buy time while they rebuilt their numbers.”


    David raised a brow. “And now they’re making a move?”


    The Tyger nodded. “They’ve been pushing into our old spots, testing our patience. We had some… disagreements here. Nothing major, but enough to make this place a liability.” He gestured toward the patrols outside. “We ain’t selling because we want to—we’re selling because we’d rather cash out before this turns into a war zone.”


    David clicked his tongue, looking around the garage again. So that’s why they left in such a hurry. The place itself wasn’t bad, but the baggage that came with it? That was the real cost.


    Jackie must’ve picked up on the shift in the air because he crossed his arms, suddenly less impressed. “So what you’re saying is, we’re buying a workshop that could get hit by Maelstrom any day now?”


    The Tyger shrugged. “That depends. They were after us. If we’re out of the picture and some neutral party takes over? Maybe they let it slide. Maybe not.”


    David sighed. It wasn’t a deal-breaker—not yet—but it meant extra steps. Precautions. Possibly more eddies spent making sure no cyberpsychos rolled up looking for revenge.


    David kept his stance firm, his expression unreadable. “Alright, mister. About payment…”


    The Tyger Claw folded his arms. “Yeah?”


    “It’s obvious security will be a necessary investment—not just for us, but for anyone using this place long-term. On top of that, I can already tell the maintenance has been… let’s say, less than ideal.” David paced slowly, hands behind his back, eyes scanning the walls and floor. “If I’m going to make this a permanent operation, I need to be sure it’s worth the risk. I’m willing to take chances, but we need to reach a compromise.”


    A chuckle came from the entrance. The woman from earlier smirked, resting her weight on one hip. “And what makes you think we’ll agree to that, orokana?”


    David kept his cool, but Ciri was faster to respond. “Your choom over here already admitted you’re in a hurry to leave,” she said, her arms crossed as she studied them. “If you stick around, Maelstrom will make their move, and this place? It gets torched. Which means we can buy it for pocket change.” She tilted her head. “Either way, we get a good deal.”


    The woman’s smirk faltered for just a second before she let out a low hum. “Is that so?” She reached for the Carnage shotgun strapped to her back, cocking it with deliberate slowness.


    David exhaled through his nose. “I appreciate the support, Ciri,” he said, his tone suddenly cold and calculated—the same voice he’d heard from corpo execs a hundred times at the academy. “But refrain from speaking out of turn, especially when I didn’t ask for your input.”


    Ciri’s expression twisted into offense, and she took a step toward him, but Jackie was already moving. He placed a hand on her shoulder, keeping his voice low but firm. “Not now, hermana.”


    David barely spared them a glance. His focus was on the Tyger Claws—and the shotgun.


    The Tyger Claw woman held David’s gaze, her grip firm on the Carnage shotgun. For a long, tense moment, no one spoke. The gang members at the entrance shifted slightly, hands hovering near their weapons.


    Then, the slim man—the one with the anime merch—cleared his throat. “Let’s all relax, yeah? No need to turn this into something messy.” He glanced between David and his own crew before gesturing toward a door at the back of the shop. “We should talk inside. Fewer ears. Less... distractions.”


    David nodded, not breaking eye contact with the woman. “I’d prefer that.”


    The woman snorted but slung the shotgun back onto her shoulder. “Fine.”


    Jackie exchanged a quick glance with David, his usual laid-back demeanor masking the way his fingers twitched near his belt—ready to grab steel if things went sideways. Ciri, still visibly irritated, said nothing, but David could hear the sharp exhale through her nose as she followed.


    The group moved toward the back, stepping through the door into what looked like a manager’s office. The lights flickered slightly, the ventilation humming overhead. The room smelled of old cigars and oil, a long-abandoned desk sitting in the middle with scattered files and an old terminal that had clearly seen better days.


    The anime-clad Tyger leaned against the wall, arms crossed. The woman took a seat on the edge of the desk, staring at David like she was still deciding whether he was worth her time.


    “Alright, corpo boy,” she drawled. “Talk.”


    “On Foreclosure.Net, you listed this place for five hundred thousand eddies,” David began, casually tapping his fingers on the worn desk. Ciri and Jackie stood behind him, both silent but watchful. “I get that the location is solid and that this shop has the potential to make valuable connections.” His tone was calm, measured—corporate. “But, as I’ve already pointed out, security is paramount, maintenance is a necessity, and most importantly—legality. It’s obvious this place was used for more than just vehicle modifications. I’m not an idiot, and I’m certainly not going to ignore that when making an offer. If anything, this place isn’t even worth twenty percent of your asking price.”


    "Twenty?! Are you out of your fucking mind?!” The woman shot up from the desk, her rage instantaneous.


    Jackie moved just as fast, pulling his Nue and leveling it at her. Ciri, already tense, unsheathed her sword in a fluid motion, her stance shifting like she was expecting a fight.


    The anime-clad Tyger sighed, rubbing his temple before resting a hand on her shoulder. “We are in no position to discuss this, Yuki.” His voice was even, but there was something strained behind it. He glanced at David, then back at her. “And as much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. Corpos do know how to navigate contracts and negotiations.”


    “Because they want to fuck us over and squeeze the best deal out of us!” Yuki snapped, her eyes blazing. “What, they’ll throw fifty thousand at us and call it a good negotiation? Are you gonk or corrupt?!”


    “I’m reasonable.” David’s tone didn’t waver, but his posture shifted slightly—relaxed, but unwavering. Jackie, sensing the moment, lowered his pistol, though he didn’t holster it.


    The anime Tyger let out a slow breath before turning to David. “Look, that offer is too low. I already set the price lower than what the big boss wanted. If we go any lower… we’ll be fucked a hundred times over.”


    David raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And how much would you consider fair for this place?”


    “Around—”


    BANG!


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The sudden gunfire tore through the tense atmosphere. Shouts erupted from outside, followed by the unmistakable screech of metal and the heavy thud of bodies hitting pavement.


    “Shit, it’s Maelstrom and—!” The voice was cut off by a wet, choking sound—gurgling, then silence.


    David''s finger stopped tapping on the table as the door swung open. The sharp whir of cybernetics filled the air as four fully armed Maelstrom stepped in, their spider-like optics gleaming red in the dim light. Their weapons were already raised, aimed directly at the room’s occupants.


    “Ah, there he is—the negotiator,” one of them sneered, his grin twisted by the metal plating on his face. “Thought there’d be more of you, but this? This is perfect.”


    Tension snapped into place instantly. Everyone raised their weapons, fingers hovering over triggers. The room became a powder keg, one wrong move away from exploding. Yet, amid the chaos, David remained oddly calm, his expression unreadable.


    “I assume you’re here to take over the shop?” His voice was measured, controlled, as if the situation barely warranted his attention. He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a moment, as if contemplating something unrelated. “That, or you’re after the cargo on the trucks.”


    “Both, actually.” The Maelstrom leader strode forward with unsettling confidence, dropping into the chair opposite David. The servos in his cybernetic limbs whined slightly as he leaned forward, resting an elbow on the table. “Of course, we could sell the place to you—if you’ve got a million eddies to spare. Maybe more.”


    Jackie scoffed, his grip on his Nue steady. “And what makes you think we’d take that deal?” He spared a glance at the leader, but his focus remained on the Maelstrom guarding the door.


    “Are you gonk or what?” one of them barked, his tone full of mockery. “We’ve got assault rifles. You’ve got a goddamn peashooter. It’s five against two. And the Tygers? Yeah, they’re already dead. We own this place now.”


    David sighed, rubbing his temples as if this whole ordeal was more of an inconvenience than a life-threatening situation. “We can talk business—after you’ve finished dealing with the Tygers. How about that?”


    The leader let out a sharp, metallic laugh. “And miss out on a kidnapping payday? Ha! Not a fucking chance.”


    The Maelstrom leader leaned back in his chair, metal-plated fingers tapping against the worn surface of the table. His optics flickered, scanning David like a piece of meat waiting to be carved up. The gangsters at the door shifted, tightening their grips on their rifles.


    Jackie tensed, his finger hovering dangerously close to the trigger of his Nue. Ciri, on the other hand, remained eerily still, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword, her emerald eyes cold and calculating.


    David, however, remained perfectly composed. He studied the Maelstrom leader for a moment, then exhaled through his nose. “Alright, let’s assume you do take us hostage. What’s your plan then? Sell us to the highest bidder? Ask for ransom? Do you even know who would pay for us?”


    The leader’s smirk faltered, just slightly. He hadn’t expected David to call him out so directly.


    “The Tygers might be dead,” David continued, his voice level, “but that doesn’t mean this place is truly yours. You think your war with them is over? You think they won’t retaliate? They will. And if they find out you kidnapped a potential corpo asset in the middle of a business deal—” he clicked his tongue “—well, you’ll have more problems than just some burned-out garage.”


    The leader’s grin twitched, his cybernetic fingers curling into a fist.


    Jackie glanced at David, catching on to his angle. “Yeah, choom. You think Arasaka, Militech, or hell, even a fixer with enough pull wouldn’t take an interest in this kind of fuckup?” He chuckled darkly. “You ain’t thinking long-term, amigo.”


    The Maelstrom at the door shifted uneasily. They weren’t stupid; even they knew that some jobs came with baggage too heavy to carry.


    David leaned forward, his voice dropping to a more confidential tone. “You want money? Fine. There’s still cargo in this place, isn’t there? You let us walk, we don’t give a damn what you take from the Tygers’ stash. Hell, we might even be willing to grease some wheels to make sure no one else comes looking for this place for a while.”


    The leader tilted his head, considering. His optics whirred as he glanced between his crew. He wasn’t an idiot—David was giving him an out. A way to profit without taking on the extra risk of kidnapping someone who could bring even bigger sharks into the fray.


    The silence stretched, the weight of it pressing down on the room. Then, finally, the leader snorted. “Heh. You got some preem balls, corpo-boy.” He tapped the table twice, then stood. “Fine. You get to walk. But I expect some of that ‘grease’ you mentioned, yeah?”


    David gave a small, knowing smile. “Naturally.”


    The Maelstrom lowered their weapons. The tension in the room didn’t vanish, but it shifted—from immediate violence to cautious understanding. Jackie let out a slow breath, lowering his Nue. Ciri remained still, her eyes locked onto the Maelstrom leader like a predator sizing up prey.


    "Are you serious?! Weren’t you going to buy it from us?!" Yuki growled.


    THUD


    A swift strike with the butt of a weapon cut her off mid-sentence.


    “For fuck’s sake, shut up,” the anime Tyger muttered under his breath.


    The Maelstrom leader barely spared them a glance, waving them off with a lazy flick of his wrist. “Get out of here. But don’t take too long—we got biz to finish.”


    David gave a slow nod, then signaled for Jackie and Ciri to move. They backed toward the exit, weapons still in hand, eyes locked on the Strom. As soon as they stepped into the garage, the full scope of the situation became clear—every Tyger was dead, their bodies sprawled out in pools of blood. More Maelstrom were busy looting, prying open crates, ripping wires from cars, and laughing amongst themselves.


    David’s hand slid smoothly to his Overture.


    “Jackie, Ciri?” His voice was quiet, controlled.


    “What?” Ciri paused, catching the shift in his tone.


    David’s expression remained cold, detached. “Kill on sight.”


    BANG


    The first shot cracked through the air, and the Maelstrom standing over a crate dropped instantly, a bullet tearing through his skull. Jackie didn’t need to hear it twice—his Nue barked out shots, lighting up the doorway as he gunned down the ones still inside.


    Ciri moved like a ghost, swift and precise—one step, two, then a clean swing. The Maelstrom leader barely had time to react before his head separated from his shoulders, rolling across the floor as his body slumped forward.


    The hostage situation ended in an instant.


    But the real problem was still outside.


    The remaining Maelstrom whipped around, shouting, rifles raising in their direction. David threw himself behind a stack of cargo crates just as bullets shredded through the air. Shrapnel bit into his coat, but nothing vital. Jackie pressed against the doorframe, laying down suppressive fire, while Ciri darted to the opposite side, her sword already gleaming with fresh blood.


    “Fuck,” David muttered under his breath. “This turned ugly.”


    “Oh, you think?!” Ciri snapped, her voice dripping with sarcasm.


    Jackie dashed forward, drawing attention just as planned—being the biggest guy in the room had its advantages. Some of the Maelstrom turned their guns on him, giving Ciri just enough time to slip away to a better vantage point.


    David, keeping low, fired his Overture at a stack of crates near one of the cars. The bullet struck a fire extinguisher, triggering an explosion that sent a thick cloud of smoke billowing through the garage. It gave them cover, but also blinded both sides, turning the fight into a chaotic scramble.


    Ciri crouched behind one of the trucks, waiting for an opportunity.


    “Reloading!” one of the Maelstrom called out.


    “Oh no, you won’t,” Ciri muttered, already moving.


    She struck with precision—her blade slashed across the thug’s torso as he dodged, but he wasn’t fast enough. Before he could react, she drove her sword through his chest with the practiced ease of a seasoned warrior. Another Maelstrom raised his gun, aiming to avenge his fallen choom—


    BANG


    David put a bullet clean through the bastard’s head before he could fire.


    Jackie, still playing bait, took out a couple of gangers, but it was clear his Nue wasn’t hitting as hard as David’s Overture or Ciri’s blade. Even so, he wasn’t backing down.


    “C’mon! Can’t you putos shoot any better?!” Jackie taunted.


    “Fuck off!—” one of them snapped, right before David put a round in the back of his neck.


    Jackie chuckled. “Hehe, never gets old.”


    BANG BANG


    Ciri finished another one by slamming his head into the hood of his own car, while David handled the last two with clean, precise shots.


    Spinning his revolver before holstering it, David let out a whistle. “That was way too messy, even for my liking.” He coughed, wrinkling his nose. “What is that smell?—Oh. I see.”


    One of the Maelstrom corpses was slumped over, a pool of CHOOH2 spreading beneath him, dangerously close to igniting.


    David moved fast, dragging the body away before things got any worse.


    “David!” Ciri’s voice snapped through the aftermath.


    She was marching toward him—and she didn’t look happy.


    “What?” David asked, genuinely unaware.


    SLAP


    His head snapped slightly to the side as the sting settled in.


    “Never. Ever. Talk to me like that again! What the hell were you thinking?!”


    David blinked, touching his cheek. “Ow.”


    “Don’t you ‘ow’ me!”


    Jackie, brushing off his coat, raised a hand. “He needed to roleplay, chica! Otherwise, the deal wouldn’t even—”


    “It didn’t happen! Look at this place!” Ciri gestured with her sword at the bodies, the blood, the wreckage—then sheathed it with a frustrated huff. “This is your idea of negotiation?!”


    David crossed his arms. “Hey, this is Night City. Nothing ever goes as planned.”


    “Oh, that’s your excuse?!”


    “We knew the risks, Ciri. You can’t blame me for something you were aware of yourself.”


    “Yes, I can! Because it didn’t involve walking into a gang war!”


    Jackie scoffed, shaking his head. “A deal with a gang fresh out of a war with another gang, and you didn’t expect a bloodbath? I don’t even know where to begin.”


    “You two— Ugh.” Ciri exhaled sharply and sat on the hood of one of the Maelstrom cars. “At least finish the deal.” She nodded toward the two remaining Tyger Claws, who were cautiously making their way out of the room.


    “The hell happened here?” the anime Tyger muttered. “This is a serious war declaration… Fuck, this is bad.”


    “What are you three still doing here?” Yuki snapped, eyes narrowed. “I thought you set us up.”


    David shook his head, slipping back into his corporate demeanor. “Please. If I wanted this shop so badly, I’d take it with my own squad. Using Maelstrom for an attack?” He scoffed, as if the mere thought was beneath him.


    “And,” Jackie added with a grin, “we kinda, you know, protected your place?”


    “So?” Yuki crossed her arms.


    “If we were the ones attacking,” Ciri said, hopping off the car hood, “why the hell would we wipe out our own people?”


    David sighed, rubbing his temples. “Regardless, the deal still stands. And, given the circumstances, the price needs to be adjusted. No negotiating on that.”


    The anime Tyger barely hesitated. “Fine. 250K.”


    David smirked. “A hundred.”


    “What?” Yuki frowned. “Two hundred.”


    “A hundred and fifty.” David met her gaze, unwavering.


    “A hundred and seventy-five, and we call it done.”


    David gave a curt nod. “Deal.” He extended his hand.


    Yuki spat in her palm before shaking his. David didn’t even flinch. A messy deal—but a deal nonetheless.


    <hr>


    “Alright,” the anime Tyger said, finalizing the transfer of funds. “I let the higher-ups know about the place. They had one request in return.”


    David tapped his foot impatiently. “And?”


    “If the Tygers use the shop’s services, they get a 50% discount.”


    “Fifty?” Jackie raised an eyebrow. “That’s a helluva lot.”


    “Considering how little we paid for the place, I’d say that’s more than reasonable.” David chuckled. “If I were them, I’d be asking for free services.”


    “Of course you would,” Yuki muttered, unimpressed.


    “The paperwork will be delivered soon,” the anime Tyger added, standing up. “I still need to clear this cargo out. Shit… this was a heavy loss.”


    David smirked, stepping aside. “Good luck.”


    This time, they left with no risk of an ambush.


    As the door clicked shut and the trio was finally alone, a collective sigh filled the room.


    “Man, that was intense,” David groaned, slumping like a puppet with its strings cut. He slid down the wall in slow motion, practically melting onto the floor. “No way the Academy prepared me for this kind of negotiation.”


    Jackie let out a deep breath and followed suit, sliding down next to him. “If you were a real corpo, this might’ve been a skyrocketing career move for me.”


    Ciri, ever the contrast, simply sat down—back straight, legs crossed, as if she were attending a high-society gala instead of surviving a gang shootout. “If this was a tame experience, I really don’t want to know what you consider an exciting one.”


    David groaned from his puddle of exhaustion. “Probably involves more explosions. And, like… a mech or something.”


    Jackie nodded sagely. “Yeah. And at least one high-speed chase.”


    Ciri shook her head. “You two are gonks.”


    David waved a lazy hand in the air. “Okay, but hear me out—what if next time, instead of Maelstrom, it’s Militech?”


    Jackie groaned, rubbing his face. “Oh, great, now we’re adding corpo shootouts to the mix. What’s next, Arasaka?”


    Ciri scoffed. “At this rate, we’ll be pissing off the entire city before the month is over.”


    David snorted. “Hey, that just means we’re climbing the Night City social ladder! One enemy at a time.”


    "Don''t you work for the—."


    "YES, I DO.", David interrupted swiftly, "And that means we are climbing the ladders of society!"


    Jackie gave him a deadpan look. “Hermano, that’s not how ladders work.”


    Ciri pinched the bridge of her nose. “That’s not how anything works.”


    For a moment, there was silence—just the three of them sitting in the wreckage of what was supposed to be a simple business deal. Then, almost in sync, the absurdity of it all hit them.


    First, a chuckle. Then, a snicker. And before they knew it, they were laughing—the kind of wild, exhausted laughter that only comes after barely cheating death.


    Jackie wiped a tear from his eye. “Man… we really suck at smooth deals.”


    David just shook his head with a grin. “Yeah, but damn, it makes for one hell of a story.”


    Ciri wiped a teary eye and stretched. “Alright, I’ll admit it was kinda fun. So… what now?”


    David sighed and started ticking off fingers. “Wait for the legal papers, save up to fix the place, hire people, and get actual working equipment.”


    Jackie whistled, glancing around. “Yeah, this shop’s seen better days. You’re gonna need a serious upgrade. Also, don’t forget—you still need a name for this dump.”


    David groaned. “Oof, didn’t even think about that. Guess I’ll pawn that off to Lev. I’ve done way too much already.”


    Ciri snickered. “Oh, great. So we’re trusting Lev with the name? What’s he gonna call it, ‘Motherland Motors’ since he never shuts up about Russia?”


    Jackie raised a brow. “What is his deal with that place anyway?”


    “No clue,” David shrugged.


    “Well, if that’s all, I’m out. Just make sure you don’t forget to pay me, hermano.” Jackie stretched before heading toward the door.


    David frowned. “Wait… did I actually agree to that?”


    Ciri crossed her arms and deadpanned. “Are you seriously not gonna pay him after he literally put his life on the line?”


    David quickly waved his hands. “I was joking, obviously.”


    Nice save, David. He mentally patted himself on the back.


    Ciri, of course, did not believe him.


    Jackie, already halfway through the door, turned back with a knowing smirk. “Yeah, sure, sure. Just remember, I do accept payment in beer.”


    David scoffed. “Oh, so you nearly die and your first thought is ‘where’s my six-pack’?”


    Jackie shrugged. “Gotta have priorities, hermano.”


    Ciri shook her head. “And this is why I work alone.”


    David snorted. “Yeah, because that worked out so well today.”


    Ciri rolled her eyes but couldn''t fight the grin tugging at her lips. “Okay, fair. But next time, I expect a plan that doesn’t involve ‘winging it and hoping for the best’.”


    Jackie chuckled. “Oh, so no Night City plans then?”


    That got a laugh out of all of them. Because, really, in this city, when did anything ever go according to plan?