(V's Pov)
'Fuck….' Is all I could think as I sat at the bar of the El Coyote here in Heywood as I've been taking shot after shot of Tequila to try and calm down.
But that wasn't helping as I had a feeling that I was being watched every second which has been giving me panic attacks while I'm at my apartment which I think I need to find a new one but that wasn't helping.
*Try and leave for the border and there won't be anything left for anyone to bury* that threat rang in my after dealing with my new 'Boss'
But I knew I was very lucky as out of everyone I wasn't flatlined and I'm still breathing but that doesn't mean I'm on the edge of being killed by anyone in the AWG.
"So what am I supposed to do…." I mumble out before downing another shot of Tequila as this was the sixth one and now I really was beginning to feel a little drunk.
"No idea what you should Hermano but maybe Jackie could give you some advice, and speak of the Diable himself." Pepe, the bartender, said as he motioned his chin towards the front door as I turned to see Jackie saunter on in with a big smile on his face which got bigger as he saw me.
"V! Why didn't you say you were stopping on by the Coyote? Wait hold up, you look like shit, how long has it been since you slept?" Jackie said looking me over as he could see the bags under my eyes from my restless and sleepless nights as of late.
"Your Amigo seems to be in a pretty fucked up sitch Jackie." Pepe says as he is wiping down a shot glass while Jackie took a seat right next to me.
"Really? What? Something happen with your cushy Corpo job?" Jackie asked as Pepe left us the bottle while Jackie poured one out for himself.
"Alright, I'll spill what happened Jackie, so…." I said before I went and explained everything that led up to right now.
"Shiiiit Holmes I don't know what to tell you man, I don't really have the rep to change your sitch especially with the AWG'S prez watching you like a Hawk if he has people watching you is true." He said while looking around as if he could see anything but he couldn't either but he knew being watched like that wouldn't be comfortable for me.
Though the doors opened and Jackie smiled so I turned to look at what he saw as I saw an Asian kid walk on in, "Eyy Hifumi! How's it been? Haven't seen you in a few weeks." Jackie called out as the guy came on over to us.
"Oh you know been busy with gigs and all that, got this pretty big one coming up so I'll probably be out of town for a week maybe two." He said sitting down right next to him as he turned to look at me.
"And if I had to guess your V? Well you can correct me if I'm wrong it's just I don't see any Corpo coming over here to the Coyote after all." He said giving me a once over before extending his hand which I shook in return.
"You talked about me to him?" I said raising my eyebrow at Jackie.
"Ehh I said it more in passing instead of the full thing, though the suit does give it away man, you need some new casual threads." Jackie said making me look down at the suit I usually always wear since I'm so used to it by now.
"So why are you drinking your sorrows away V? Cause you look like shit." He says which gets a chuckle out of Pepe.
I didn't really feel like talking about it with someone I have no clue about, though for some reason his name and face seemed familiar to me but I can't remember why.
"Ahh Cmon V, Hifumi here is one of the top of the line Edgerunners here in Night City! Shit he's the one who helped me get in contact with several of the fixers around town to get my foot in the door for the Merc biz." Jackie said explaining who he was which started to make the gears turn a bit in my head.
"Wait…. Aren't you apart of one of the best Edgerunners crews here? Your that Hifumi?" I said surprised as the memories clicked into place, Arasaka was keeping an eye on him and his crew but him and another had little to no information on there chrome as it was all top of the line and considered experimental even to the Arasaka higher ups but they deemed it a 'High Risk, Low Reward' Scenario if they actually went after him and they seemed the rest not to be important enough to pay attention to them, but I did remember one thing that might help me out of this sitch I'm in.
"In the flesh, guess my reputation proceeds me if the words Edgerunner and Hifumi make my face appear in peoples eyes." He said before pouring himself a glass of Tequila before downing it as he looked at me.
"And that look on your face says it all, so tell me V, what do you need help with? And since your Jackie's friend I'll even do it at a 90% discount for your first request from yours truly." He said it a little smugly but he also sounded genuine about helping me out.
"Yeah Holmes, telling him about it I'm sure he can get you out of it, guys got connections everywhere in this city, almost on the fixers level of contacts." Jackie said encouraging me to spill it.
So with a sigh I decided to tell him what was going on and how I ended up in this sitch I'm in, though hearing what I said raised his eyebrows as he tapped his fingers on the table as he thought it over.
"Well lucky you I have some favors I can cash in with the AWG and the big guy himself, so let me see what I can do." He said as his eyes lit up as he made a Holo call to someone who might be Shie himself or someone of at least CEO standing in the company.
They were using thought holos as he wasn't saying anything out loud though he was nodding as if he was having an in depth conversation with whoever was on the line.
So in the meantime I say and drank my 7th glass of Tequila as I wasn't as drunk after that long talk I had with the two, though after a few minutes his eyes went back to normal and turned to look at me with a smile.
"Well, it seems your in luck V as it seems the AWG is willing to let you go, but there's a catch, though not a bad one as you'll get plenty of Eddie's out of it as a result." He says before pulling out a pack of smokes before lighting it and smoking it.
"So what is it?" I asked but I had a bad feeling in my gut for some reason.
"How's a trip to Chicago to fuck with ZetaTech sound?" He said with a raised eyebrow as I felt my eye twitch hearing it, and only one thing crossed my mind.
'Fuck my life….'
******
(Shie Pov)
I ended the call with Hifumi and smiled, I found a way to get him out of my hands sooner than I thought with me sending him out to Chicago to run alongside the Distraction team for the big gig coming on up.
"Northside of Sin City will fall into my hands soon enough, then Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, New York, DC, Seattle, The Pitt, Atlanta and all the other major cities across the NUSA will soon have at least one AWG there." I mutter to myself as I fix my tie and comb back my hair completely before the elevators opened up allowing me to step on out as two women with completely golden skin bowed to me.
"Youkoso, Welcome to Embers Yamada-sama, Arasaka-sama along with Hinako-sama are waiting for you." The said to me before looking back up and motioning me to follow after them which I did.
It's time I met the Emperor for myself.