The NCPD had re-entered Pacifica.
It was something that should never have happened openly—but because of Karl, it did.
The Haitians, who had scattered in panic, now stood frozen in confusion at the sight of Night City's law enforcement—an authority that had never once set foot here before.
They were used to living under gang rule. Now that the gang was gone… the NCPD had arrived?
Night City's police had come to Pacifica—a place the city government had long abandoned in both policy and presence.
"Establish a perimeter. Clear out all non-involved civilians. From this point on, the NCPD is in charge."
Andy stepped down from a modified Sky-Hera enforcement AV, shouting commands as his officers moved efficiently under the confused and uneasy stares of the Haitians.
Civilians?
Did that officer just call them civilians?
The Haitian community had always been one of Night City's most marginalized groups. They had originally come here as cheap labor during Pacifica's ill-fated development boom. Having never enjoyed protection or support from the city, the Haitians had long believed, "We don't need the city, and the city doesn't need us. We built Pacifica with our own hands—this is our home."
And now, they were being called citizens?
Was this a new scheme by the city? Another attempt to use them as disposable labor? Or a prelude to taxing them?
They should've been wary of the NCPD. But with the Voodoo Boys gone, there was no one else left in sight.
If not the NCPD—then who would protect them?
The gang that ruled them through fear was gone. But the Animals? The Wraiths from Dogtown? Maelstrom? They were still out there. If those crews came knocking, what defense would Pacifica have?
"If we bribe the NCPD… will they protect us? Will they be better than the Voodoo Boys? Will we stop seeing our people turned into braindead cyberzombies, their minds fried by net-signals?"
The Haitians didn't know. But the NCPD had already made their choice.
City Hall might have abandoned Pacifica. That no longer mattered.
Because the NCPD had not.
If you wanted the NCPD to cooperate, it wasn't impossible. Just promote someone with enough authority to command the loyalty of most officers. Double the benefits they enjoy now. But which city council candidate could pull that off?
The NCPD would follow orders when it came to big moves—they were still part of the system, after all. But setting up a precinct in an abandoned district like Pacifica? That didn't need clearance from the suits at the top.
This came straight from KK, with Vice-Chief Johnson's backing. City Hall had no jurisdiction here. Even the current Chief had no say in it.
"We'll be establishing an NCPD outpost here."
Andy spoke as Karl approached. "With that in place, transporting shipments from the Badlands into the city will go a lot smoother."
"And from Dogtown, too," Karl added, sending Andy a number. "Call this guy—Mr. Hands. He's the fixer with ties to this whole zone. He's pretty invested in Pacifica's future."
"Mr. Hands…"
Andy's tone shifted. "Wait—don't tell me he's the one who set this whole Voodoo Boys takedown in motion?"
"Careful with that kind of talk," Karl replied, still honoring his agreement. "All I'll say is—he's a good partner to work with."
"I'll make contact."
Andy didn't push the issue. He used to be a merc himself—he knew how these things worked. Fixers didn't lift a finger unless profit was involved. Unless… maybe there was some kind of personal stake.
Still, if Hands was in the mix, transport logistics would definitely get easier.
Andy was one of the hottest names in the NCPD right now—a precinct chief with real clout, widely seen as the heir apparent to the Vice-Chief position. He had a solid grasp of Night City's moving parts.
Sure, the Wraiths in Dogtown and the NCPD didn't get along. But if the police wanted weapons—especially bulk shipments—Dogtown would be the first to step up. Why? Proximity.
In logistics, distance dictates both risk and profit.
Establishing a foothold here in Pacifica—securing this Haitian community and forging ties with Dogtown—would earn the NCPD big returns. Open the taps a bit, and the steady stream of funds might just satisfy the appetites of the higher-ups. At that point, Johnson might even make the jump from Vice-Chief to full Chief.
Andy had thought this through.
The fall of any gang always left a vacuum. Karl hadn't just destroyed the Voodoo Boys—he'd already mapped out how the pieces would be redistributed, ensuring only people he trusted would move in.
Had Karl really planned all this from the beginning?
Andy couldn't help but ask, "Karl… did you already have this whole Pacifica endgame mapped out before you even took out the Voodoo Boys?"
"I had a few ideas. But come on—I'm not clairvoyant."
Karl was refreshingly honest.
"At first, I just realized the Voodoo Boys didn't have overwhelming numbers. Cleaning them up was doable. Then I figured I'd need someone to coordinate with them—Hans naturally came to mind. And once the area lost its leadership, someone new had to step in. Not many groups came to mind. But the NCPD—especially with you and Johnson around—seemed like the best fit."
So Karl figured it all out one step at a time…?
And yet every step had left everyone—except the Voodoo Boys—completely satisfied.
If he hadn't planned it all from the start… then it just meant Karl truly was someone who always looked out for others.
Warm, like the sun itself.
Andy looked up.
The sky was clear. The sunlight poured down in golden warmth.
What would Pacifica look like tomorrow, now that the Voodoo Boys were gone?
No one could say for sure.
But today…
Today was a good day.
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