(Growl F.M. For life baby)
All cleaned up, and by that I mean in different clothes entirely because of how long it's gonna take to get the smell out, I arrive at Lizzie's at around 1:00 AM.
Two Mox bouncers are outside the door. The Mox are by far the strangest gang in the city. Legal prostitution meets lethal prostitution.
"Hey there, output. Looking for a Preem BD?" The Mox on the rights asks, smoking a cigarette.
"Nah. Here for a drink and to meet a new friend."
"Oh really? Well first, some ground rules. No scrolling, no groping. If you see someone you like, you do not approach them. You look them up in the catalog and find a booth."
"Other than that, the floor is yours. You can grab a drink at the bar if that's all you're here for."
"In you go output."
Entering Lizzie's, I make my way straight for the bar.
"What can I get for you."
"Cenzon. And if you could point me in the direction of Evelyn Parker, you might even get a tip. She's expecting me."
"That I am." A woman to my left speaks up. Should've known it was her. People come to Lizzie's to get off and to do business, and she doesn't exactly fit in with the rest of the clientele. "It's alright Mateo. I was waiting for this one."
"Hello Evelyn. Names V but you already know that."
"That I do, among other things. I like to know everything about the people I work with."
"Well" I say finishing my drink. "Lead the way."
Evelyn takes me to a private room with a…hologram stripper? I guess if that's what you're looking for. Can't say it's unwelcome, just unique.
"Have a seat. How much has Dex told you about the job?"
"We're meant to steal a relic from Arasaka although judging by how you look, I doubt we're robbing an armed transport, much less Arasaka tower. Where is this biochip?"
"Quite astute, aren't we V. Konpeki Plaza, ever been?"
"Been to the parking lot. Some cyberpsycho barged in claiming that someone staying there stole his favorite shirt. Homeless guy, must've lost his mind. Anyway he took down about 20 guys from hotel security before we got called in."
"You worked for Maxtac?"
"Yep, former Maxtac officer. Thought you did background checks?"
"Just about your reputation as a merc. I saw that you'd never done something as high profile as this so I wanted to check you out."
"Don't trust Dex?"
"More fixers in general. They just grab any idiot for a job. Then dispose of the bodies."
"Not the big ones. Dex's rep may have taken a hit when he left two years ago, but he still has the mindset and connections of a top level fixer. They prefer stability in their business. Reliable mercs who take on larger jobs. Dex knows we're capable, just unused. He needs a new crew, we needed better gigs. It's symbiotic."
"I suppose all I can do is take your word for it. Back to the topic at hand, the relic is in the top floor penthouse, where Yorinobu Arasaka is staying."
"He's in town? With Yorinobu and the relic in the same place, even the tech we've got for the job won't be able to get us in unseen past all the security. So what's the kicker?"
"Yorinobu swipes the relic and is planning on selling it to Netwatch."
"Netwatch? There a rogue ai on that chip or something? Only reason I could think of for them to be interested."
"What's on the chip isn't your concern. Just know that I have a buyer lined up willing to pay big for the data on the biochip."
"So since Yorinobu stole the chip, no bodies are protecting it. Hotel security is the only concern, and we have the tech to get around it."
"Now all we need to know is where the relic is being stored. Follow me."