Out of the shabby slums, Thailia walked through alleys filled with garbage, drunkards, and beggars.
The first ray of sunlight pierced the urban gloom, casting light over the decaying surroundings.
Thailia squinted against the brightness, raising a hand to shield his eyes. The warmth felt unfamiliar, almost alien in Night City.
"Good morning, residents of Night City!"
A cheerful voice echoed from the massive 3D screen perched atop one of the square's towering buildings.
"The weather today is sunny, with a high of 28°C. Please remember to take precautions against ultraviolet rays…"
Thailia shook his head, muttering, "Morning? There's no such thing as morning in Night City."
The streets bustled with activity as he made his way to the maglev train station, his hands buried deep in his pockets. The destination was a black-market prosthetic clinic in Little Chinatown, a few stops away from his apartment near Watson's Edge.
After swiping his card, Thailia entered the train. The sleek, magnetic transport was packed with commuters. Most wore corporate logos on their suits, branding them as workers from Arasaka Corporation—the omnipotent overlord of Night City. These were the faces of corporate slavery, trapped in cycles of exploitation.
Thailia leaned against the door, tugging the hood of his coat low over his face. He felt out of place amidst the masses of modified bodies. Prosthetic enhancements were ubiquitous in Night City, yet Thailia remained unaltered—a rarity.
His thoughts drifted to the chip in his pocket, branded with the Arasaka logo. It was a relic he'd salvaged, worth a decent sum on the black market. The faintest smirk crept onto his lips as he thought about the negotiation ahead. "That black-market doc, Claude, is going to gouge me. But this time, I'll make sure he bleeds a little too."
The train rattled along smoothly, sunlight filtering intermittently through the towering buildings outside. Just as Thailia began to relax, his muscles tensed.
Something was off.
A flicker fluctuations in his magnetic field around him were impossible to miss. Someone had entered his space.
Too close..
"Pickpocket," he thought instantly. His hand snapped to his waist, closing over an arm that wasn't his.
With a smooth and fast action he grip the thief wrist firmly,
Turning sharply, he locked eyes with the thief
"You..." With the matter of second he instantly know the person identity that he know very well
She was tall and young, with short, white hair and striking red eyeshadow that accentuated her piercing red-purple eyes. Her cold and calculating expression, but Thailia's focus remained razor-sharp.
This wasn't a random thief—this was Lucy.
The realization hit him like a shockwave.
Luck Kushinida..
Cyberpunk: Edgerunner...
David
Gloria
Maine
Dorio
Pilar
Rebecca
Kiwi
Faraday
Adam Smasher
He know who is she because he watched the Edgerunners series and now here she was, inches from him, trying to lift his chip.
Had he been too careless when he pulled it out earlier? Clearly, she'd noticed.
Before he could process further, the maglev train came to an abrupt stop. The announcement chimed in:
"Ding dong. Passengers, please note, Kabukicho Station is now arriving. Please prepare to disembark…"
The inertia of the stop sent Lucy stumbling forward. She crashed into him, pressing against his chest.
Thailia's reflexes tensed. His grip remained firm on her wrist.
"Let go." Her voice was smooth, carrying a hint of annoyance.
"Return the chip first," he replied coldly.
She tilted her head, her sharp gaze narrowing. "You're making quite the scene."
Thailia didn't flinch. In a city where survival depended on vigilance, he wasn't about to be swayed by theatrics. "You're good, but not good enough. The chip—now."
For a fleeting moment, Lucy seemed to weigh her options, her free hand inching toward something behind her. Thailia noticed the subtle shift and tightened his grip.
"Don't even think about it."
Her lips curved into a sly smile. "You're sharp. Fine." With a flick of her wrist, the chip appeared between her fingers. She dropped it into his hand and took a step back, raising both hands in mock surrender.