patreon.com/Masterworks951 - For those interested, I'm 32 chapters ahead on my Patreon. I also offer freebie chapters to my free members! Otherwise, I'm back to my usual posting schedule after taking a short break to recharge. Happy reading!
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"Come on, Uncle Viktor, trust me just this once!"
Lin Mo clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture, his tone sincere. Inside, though, he was feeling a bit helpless.
In Night City, Viktor Vektor was one of the rare ripperdocs with a conscience. Most others wouldn't give a damn if an underaged kid wanted to implant high-grade military tech, as long as they got paid. But not Viktor. He cared, and that's why Lin Mo was standing here, desperately trying to convince him.
If it were any other doc, they'd happily take his eddies and not even blink twice, even if they knew this cyberware could rip him apart from the inside. But Viktor? No. Viktor had ethics.
"Do you even realize how many people have come through this clinic, how many mercs and gonked-out edgerunners thought they could handle top-shelf implants like this?" Viktor said, frustration lacing his voice. "Cyberware isn't a toy, kid. Once it's in, you can't just throw it away when it starts hurting."
His words carried the weight of experience, his gruff tone that of someone who had seen far too many bodies chewed up by the merciless streets of Night City.
Lin Mo mumbled, half under his breath, "Didn't you suggest I get some combat implants when we first met?"
The unspoken question hung in the air: Why are you against it now?
Viktor let out a long, tired sigh, adjusting his mechanical arm with a small screwdriver. His voice softened, just a little. "Look, I know the life you're getting into. I know what it takes to survive out there. Hell, I've patched up more than my fair share of mercs who wouldn't have lasted a week without their tech." He glanced up at Lin Mo, his gaze piercing. "But everything's gotta be done in steps. You don't just jump to the big guns like this right off the bat. Even the Trauma Team boys don't go as hard as you're trying to."
Lin Mo leaned on the table, staring at the ground. He was out of excuses and explanations. He couldn't just come out and tell Viktor that he knew exactly what he was doing because of the simulation. He couldn't show him that all the calculations had already been run.
Kitagawa Hiro, who had been standing by the door quietly, finally spoke up, trying to back Lin Mo. "Doc, you've got to trust Lin-kun. His talent... his body can handle this. I've seen it firsthand. He's not like the rest."
Viktor gave Hiro a sidelong glance, recognizing him after a moment. His voice softened a bit. "How's your sister doing, anyway?"
"Thanks to you, she's recovering well. I can't thank you enough for saving her." Hiro bowed slightly, eyes lighting up with gratitude as he transferred the remaining balance of his medical fees to Viktor. "I've been taking jobs. We're doing okay now."
Viktor waved his hand dismissively, his gruff demeanor hiding the concern beneath. "Focus on your sister first. She needs you. Money can wait."
Hiro nodded respectfully, but Lin Mo seized the opportunity. "So, Uncle Viktor... about the implants?"
Viktor shot him a hard look, clearly still wrestling with his thoughts. "Kid, I don't need to tell you again. You put this in, and you better be damn sure. I know if I say no, you're just going to run off and find some sleazy back-alley doc to do it for you. And those gonks? They'll screw it up for sure."
His expression hardened as he made one last attempt to warn Lin Mo. "Are you absolutely certain? No second thoughts?"
Lin Mo met Viktor's gaze, unflinching. "I am. I won't regret it."
In truth, if Viktor hadn't agreed to help, Lin Mo wouldn't have risked going to anyone else. He trusted Viktor's steady hands, his skill. And, of course, there was the issue of aftercare—he'd need someone he could trust to fix any problems that might arise with the implants.
Relenting, Viktor sighed deeply, standing up and nudging his chair toward the operating table with a small kick. "I get it. You kids always want to go all out, make a name for yourselves... Jackie was just like you." He pointed to the surgical table, indicating for Lin Mo to lie down. "Let's get this over with."
Lin Mo wasted no time, quickly settling onto the table. Viktor moved around the room, pulling out a pneumatic syringe from a tray and injecting himself in the arm to steady his hands. The enhanced nerve stimulant would heighten his dexterity, a necessity for such delicate operations.
"I'll say this one last time," Viktor said, his tone still strict but less hostile. "With your body, you can't use this more than once or twice a day. If you start getting nosebleeds, headaches, nausea, that means you've already pushed it too far. You stop immediately, got it?"
Lin Mo nodded solemnly. "Understood."
Viktor connected a bio-monitor to Lin Mo's neural interface, data streams flashing up on the screen nearby. "You had a lot of work done this morning?" Viktor asked, surprised as he scanned the information.
Lin Mo blinked, realizing Viktor had picked up on the recent installations. "Yeah, I... got some upgrades earlier. Nothing major."
Viktor gave him a skeptical look. "Kid, you're talking about stuff that's worth more than most people's apartments. You're coming in hot today."
Lin Mo grinned sheepishly. "You know how it is. I trust you, though, Viktor. Best hands in Night City, right?"
"Flattery won't save you, kid," Viktor grumbled, shaking his head. But his lips twitched in what might've been the faintest hint of a smile. "Fine. Get ready. You'll be out cold for a bit. I'll take care of everything."
Lin Mo rolled over onto his stomach, exposing his back, the sharp ridges of muscle and bone. Viktor readied the anesthetic, a quick dose that would knock Lin Mo out in seconds.
The world around Lin Mo faded fast.
From the corner of the room, Hiro coughed lightly, clearing his throat. "Doc, I'll step outside and wait. Once you're done with Lin-kun, I'd appreciate you taking a look at my own implants, maybe tune them up."
Without turning away from his work, Viktor gave a noncommittal grunt. "Fine. Just wait outside. I've got enough on my hands with this kid."
And with that, the operation began.