Scene: Preparing for the Heist
Rogue laid out the details of the Juno extraction over the next hour, explaining the layout of Neon Tower, the security measures in place, and the role each member of the team would play. Starr listened intently, her mind already mapping out every possible contingency, every potential threat. The team Rogue had assembled was solid—Nix, a top-tier netrunner with the skills to crack Arasaka's firewalls, and Vega, an ex-corporate operative with deep knowledge of the tower's internal layout.
But even with a solid crew, breaking into Neon Tower was suicide. Arasaka's flagship building in Westbrook was more fortress than corporate office. It had its own private security force, top-tier AI monitoring systems, and cyber defenses that would fry the brain of any netrunner foolish enough to try breaching its systems. And yet, Rogue made it clear—this was Starr's shot. If she wanted to survive the Militech hit squads and get Militech off her back, Juno was her ticket.
"I've arranged transport and gear," Rogue continued, sliding a data shard across the table. "You're going in through the underground service tunnels beneath the tower. They use it to move equipment in and out—heavy security but nothing compared to the upper floors. Once you're in, Vega will guide you to the inner chambers where Juno's held."
Starr picked up the shard and slid it into her neural port, letting the plan unfold in her mind. It was detailed, precise, but no plan survived first contact with Arasaka. She knew that much.
"And once we get Juno?" Starr asked, her voice cold and focused.
"That's where things get tricky," Rogue admitted, leaning back in her chair. "Arasaka won't let her walk out of that building without a fight. That's why we've got Nix. He'll disable their network from the inside, give us enough time to extract her and disappear."
Starr nodded slowly, already calculating the risks in her head. It was dangerous—suicidal even—but Rogue's plan had teeth. With the right moves, they could pull it off.
"You've got one shot at this," Rogue said, her eyes narrowing. "If Juno's neural data is corrupted or lost, the whole deal is off. Arasaka will double down, and Militech will keep coming for you. But if you can get Juno out and intact, we've got the leverage we need to negotiate."
Starr stood up, pocketing the data shard. "When do we move?"
"Tomorrow night," Rogue replied, her voice like steel. "Get your head straight, Starr. Once you're inside Neon Tower, there's no turning back."
Scene: The Calm Before the Storm
Later that night, Starr returned to her safehouse, her mind still buzzing with the details of the job. The Juno extraction weighed heavily on her, but it wasn't the only thing gnawing at her insides. The entire situation—Militech hunting her, Arasaka's grip tightening—had thrown her into a corner, forcing her to take bigger risks than she had ever planned.
Her safehouse was a far cry from the chaotic neon of the city's streets. It was a dim, quiet apartment hidden in a forgotten section of Watson, where no one came unless they had a reason. She needed the quiet to think, to plan, but tonight the silence felt oppressive. She flicked on a small lamp, its yellow glow casting soft shadows across the sparse furniture. The weight of everything felt heavier now, pressing down on her chest.
Her comms buzzed to life again, Byte's familiar voice cutting through the silence. "Starr? You back at the safehouse?"
"Yeah," Starr muttered, sinking into a chair by the window. "Just got in."
"I've been going over the specs Rogue sent for the Juno job," Byte said, her voice filled with its usual professionalism but tinged with something more. "It's going to be rough, Starr. Neon Tower's security isn't like anything you've dealt with before."
Starr closed her eyes, trying to shut out the tension clawing at her mind. "I know. But we don't have a choice. Militech's coming for me, and if we don't get Juno, I'm dead."
Byte hesitated for a moment, her silence speaking volumes. "I just… I don't like this. You're running out of moves, and Neon Tower is a death trap. I'm not saying you can't pull it off, but if something goes wrong…"
"Then I'll deal with it," Starr interrupted, opening her eyes and staring out at the dark streets below. "I always do."
"I know you do," Byte said softly, her voice quieter now. "But this time feels different. This time, I'm afraid you might not make it out."
Starr didn't respond right away. The truth was, she wasn't sure either. Neon Tower was Arasaka's crown jewel, and if she slipped up, she'd be dead long before Militech's goons even got to her. But she had to try. She had to survive.
"Byte," Starr said after a long pause, her voice softening. "If anything goes wrong, I need you to get out. Disconnect, disappear. Don't wait for me."
"What?" Byte's voice was sharp now, a hint of panic rising. "No. You're not doing this alone. I'm with you until the end, Starr."
Starr's chest tightened. Byte's loyalty—her concern—it cut deeper than any blade. But it was also a weakness, a vulnerability Starr couldn't afford right now.
"This isn't up for debate," Starr said, her tone firm but gentle. "You've got a life outside of this, outside of me. I don't want you caught up in this mess."
There was a long silence on Byte's end, and Starr could feel the weight of it, heavy and suffocating. Finally, Byte spoke, her voice quiet but filled with emotion. "You're not just a job, Starr. You're… more than that. I'm not leaving you."
The words hit Starr harder than she expected. For so long, she had kept people at arm's length, refusing to let anyone get too close. But Byte had wormed her way past those defenses, bit by bit, until Starr couldn't imagine doing this without her.
"Fine," Starr muttered, her voice soft. "But if things go sideways, you promise me you'll pull the plug. No heroics."
"Deal," Byte replied, but Starr could hear the reluctance in her voice.
The comms went silent again, leaving Starr alone with her thoughts. Tomorrow, everything would change. The job, the stakes—it was all or nothing now. And if she failed, if she didn't pull this off, she knew it would be the end.
Scene: The Night Before
Hours passed in a haze of restless preparation. Starr checked her gear, running through the list of weapons and mods she would need for the mission. Her Kenshin blade, still sharp from the raid in the Badlands, was strapped to her side. Her Malorian Overture rested on the table, gleaming under the dim light as she cleaned and loaded it, the familiar click of the magazine sliding into place comforting in its predictability.
The quiet of the night was interrupted by a soft knock on the door.
Starr froze, her hand instinctively reaching for her gun. The safehouse was supposed to be off the grid—no one should've been able to track her here. She crept to the door, her fingers resting lightly on the trigger as she peered through the small viewing slit.
Reaver stood outside, his face partially obscured by the shadows. He looked different—tired, more worn than usual, but there was still that same dangerous edge to him.
Starr opened the door slowly, keeping the gun in her hand but hidden at her side. "What are you doing here?"
Reaver stepped inside, his eyes scanning the apartment as if checking for threats. "Heard you've got a big job tomorrow."
"Rogue tell you that?" Starr asked, her voice flat.
Reaver shrugged, leaning against the doorframe. "Word gets around. Especially when it's Neon Tower."
Starr crossed her arms, studying him. Reaver had always been a wild card, unpredictable and volatile. But he had saved her more times than she could count, and even though she knew better, part of her still trusted him.
"You here to warn me off the job?" Starr asked, raising an eyebrow.
Reaver's eyes met hers, dark and unreadable. "No. I'm here because if you go in there tomorrow, it might be the last time I see you. I figured we should settle things."
Starr's heart skipped a beat, her body tensing. "Settle what?"
Reaver stepped closer, his expression softening just enough to let a flicker of emotion slip through the cracks. "You know what, Layne. We've been dancing around this for too long."
Starr's breath caught in her throat as Reaver's hand brushed against her cheek, his touch surprisingly gentle for someone so hardened. She could feel the unspoken tension between them, the weight of everything they'd been through together.
"You don't have to go through with this alone," Reaver said, his voice low. "I've got your back. Always have."