The credit chip resembled a credit card but was far more advanced, capable of being inserted into the slot behind the ear for seamless, direct payment.
Lucy's platinum credit chip wasn't just her savings—it was her dream encapsulated. Years of 'work' had gone into securing what little remained, a fragile hope for escape in her otherwise black-and-white world.
If someone were to truly steal it, she might lose more than just her money.
Without hesitation, Lucy snatched the chip back, pressing it securely into the slot behind her ear.
She muttered under her breath, her tone half-cursing, half-relieved. "You damn thief. If you had actually stolen this, I'd have clawed you to bits…"
Thailia merely shrugged, his expression calm but his golden eyes gleaming with confidence. "Do you still think I'm not qualified to cooperate with you?"
Lucy froze at his words, a realization dawning on her.
She replayed the scene in her mind.
She hadn't even noticed him taking her chip—not even a hint of his presence while he did it.
Her brows furrowed as she thought about the earlier display of him retrieving chips mid-air, seemingly defying gravity.
"This guy…" Lucy's mind raced.
"…Maybe he really has the skills to back up his claim. Or maybe…"
Her caution wouldn't let her trust him just yet. Still, her curiosity outweighed her doubts.
"Why do you want to cooperate with me?" Lucy asked, her voice measured, masking her thoughts.
Thailia didn't hesitate. "Because I need money. And I don't have any connections for moving goods."
His blunt honesty was disarming, and Lucy found herself studying him again.
What he said made sense, though. Someone like him, still a full original body in Night City, clearly wasn't connected to anyone trustworthy.
Even if he had interacted with some back-alley doctor, no reputable black market dealer would ever trust a complete rookie to handle high-value transactions.
But despite her doubts, Lucy couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was more to him.
The train rumbled on, its rapid movement punctuated by the hum of machinery and faint announcements.
Finally, Lucy sighed and extended a hand.
"My name is Lucy."
Thailia met her hand with his own, his grip firm but not overbearing.
"Thailia."
Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Thailia? That's not from here, is it?"
"No," he replied, his tone even. "Just call me Thailia. It's simpler."
Lucy smirked, leaning back in her seat. "Alright, Thailia."
She studied him for another moment before shrugging. "Let's see if you're worth it."
Thailia stood up, glancing at the stop sign above. "Great. Let's get started."
"Wait!" Lucy's voice stopped him, a new problem occurring to her.
"You don't have any prosthetic comms," she said, frowning. "How are we supposed to coordinate while working?"
Lucy's hacking skills allowed her to identify her targets with precision, but without direct communication, she couldn't guide him.
For a moment, Thailia simply looked at her. Then, with a small smile, he tapped his forehead.
"Communication devices use electromagnetic waves. Close-range frequencies shouldn't be hard to work with."
Lucy's frown deepened. "What are you talking about?"
"Give me your communicator number," he said.
Lucy hesitated before muttering, "29374."
Thailia closed his eyes, his head tilting slightly as if searching for something.
Lucy leaned back, crossing her arms. "What's this supposed to—"
Her prosthetic eye flickered.
A notification appeared—a call incoming from an unknown signal.
"What?" she whispered, baffled.
Hesitant, she accepted.
"Can you hear me?" Thailia's voice came through her comm.
Her jaw dropped. "How did you—what did you do?"
Thailia's lips didn't move, but his voice echoed through the connection once more.
"Let's just say I know a few tricks. Don't forget, I've got my share of skills too."
Lucy stared at him, her surprise slowly giving way to reluctant admiration.
For a moment, the two simply looked at each other.
"Well…" Lucy said, shaking her head with a faint laugh. "You might just be crazy enough to pull this off."