Chapter 18: Going Dark
POV: Tom
The safe house in Northside squatted between abandoned factories like a concrete bunker designed to weather both corporate attention and gang warfare. Tom sat at a folding table covered with encrypted data tablets, weapon components, and medical supplies that Viktor had salvaged from his compromised clinic. Three days since the Arasaka escape, and the full implications of their exposure were becoming mathematically clear.
Burned all safe locations. Compromised all regular contacts. Corporate intelligence networks sharing our biometric data. We're officially the most wanted people in Night City.
Viktor entered the safe house carrying another load of medical equipment, his expression grim with the particular exhaustion that came from abandoning twenty years of careful practice to protect someone he'd started thinking of as family.
"MaxTac's been asking questions about unusual chrome signatures," Viktor reported while unpacking diagnostic scanners. "Friendly questions so far, but they're building a profile. Cyberpsychosis risk assessment, behavioral analysis, threat evaluation."
Regina arrived thirty minutes later with Cipher in tow—an unusual arrangement since the netrunner preferred digital communication to physical meetings. Cipher's physical appearance was disappointing compared to their digital persona: average height, minimal visible chrome, the kind of forgettable face that suggested deliberate cultivation of anonymity.
"Situation assessment," Regina said without preamble, activating security scramblers that would protect their conversation from electronic surveillance. "Arasaka wants Tom alive for research purposes. Militech probably does too now that they've reviewed Arasaka's intelligence reports. MaxTac is monitoring for cyberpsychosis classification."
Tom gestured at the data displays covering the safe house walls—corporate org charts, surveillance networks, faction analysis that painted Night City as a predator ecosystem focused entirely on his capture or elimination.
"How long do we have before they find us?"
"Here? Maybe a week if we're careful about electronic signatures. But this location is temporary solution, not long-term survival strategy." Regina's tone carried the professional detachment of someone calculating odds that didn't favor their continued existence. "We need comprehensive plan for extended evasion."
Cipher spoke for the first time since arriving, their voice carrying electronic harmonics that suggested extensive vocal augmentation. "Your Net presence is the biggest vulnerability. Every time you use Techno-Sovereignty, you're broadcasting location to anyone with sophisticated monitoring equipment."
"I'll teach you proper digital stealth," Cipher continued, connecting equipment that would allow them to demonstrate advanced techniques. "Signal masking, trace prevention, ICE avoidance. Basic tradecraft for operating in corporate surveillance environment."
Viktor set up mobile medical equipment while explaining the biological implications of Tom's continued chrome evolution. "You're at sixty-five percent integration now. Spread accelerated during the Arasaka fight—stress response triggered massive adaptation."
"How close to the critical threshold?" Tom asked, though part of him dreaded the answer.
"Seventy percent is where most people start showing cyberpsychosis symptoms. But your chrome is different from standard augmentation." Viktor's diagnostic scanners painted Tom's body in cascades of information that revealed the extent of his transformation. "You might have more tolerance, or you might have less. Unknown variables make prediction impossible."
Tom studied the medical readouts while his enhanced consciousness processed implications. Chrome patterns covered most of his torso and arms now, creating geometric designs that pulsed with blue light. His reflection in Viktor's monitoring equipment showed someone whose humanity was measurable in diminishing percentages.
"Sixty-five percent and climbing. Viktor's worried I'm approaching cyberpsychosis territory. But I feel more human than ever—connected to people who matter, fighting for something beyond simple survival."
"What about Judy?" Tom asked, gesturing toward the adjacent room where she was modifying security equipment with skill that exceeded most professional technicians. "Arasaka used her as bait once. They'll try again."
"Judy's not hiding," Regina replied with respect that bordered on admiration. "Already told me she won't accept protection that requires distancing herself from you. Says you're stronger together than apart."
Viktor nodded agreement while continuing his medical preparations. "She's right. Human connections are the strongest defense against cyberpsychosis. Isolation accelerates psychological breakdown—maintaining relationships preserves humanity."
Cipher looked up from their equipment setup with expression that might have been surprise. "Most people in our situation try to minimize exposure by abandoning emotional attachments. You're doing the opposite."
"Most people in our situation are dead," Tom replied. "Maybe that's because they abandoned the connections that made survival worthwhile."
The group spent the next six hours developing survival strategy that balanced Tom's need for operational security with Judy's refusal to be marginalized for her own protection. Regina would provide safe houses and secure communications. Viktor would maintain mobile medical support for Tom's continuing evolution. Cipher would teach advanced Net stealth while monitoring corporate surveillance networks.
"Too late for subtle approach," Regina said as they finalized operational parameters. "You're our investment now, Tom. Also our friend, and friends protect each other in Night City even when it's inconvenient."
Viktor clapped Tom's chrome-covered shoulder with genuine affection. "And our friend, you idiot. Should've told me you were family from the beginning instead of making me figure it out gradually."
Tom felt something profound settle in his chest as he processed their declarations of loyalty. For weeks, he'd been thinking of them as game characters whose responses were predetermined rather than people making conscious choices about risk and relationship.
They're real. Their loyalty is real. Their willingness to sacrifice safety for my survival is genuine human choice, not scripted behavior.
"Thank you," Tom said quietly. "All of you. For staying, for risking yourselves, for treating me like person worth protecting instead of anomaly worth studying."
Judy emerged from her equipment modifications with security upgrades that would protect the safe house from most electronic surveillance. She approached Tom directly, ignoring the assembled group while focusing entirely on his emotional state.
"Second thoughts about staying involved?" she asked with the particular directness that marked someone whose decision was already made regardless of his response.
"They'll use you against me again."
"Then we're stronger together. I'm tech expert, not liability. Proved it during the Arasaka extraction by maintaining communication networks under hostile conditions." Judy gestured at her equipment modifications. "Also proved it by securing this location better than most corpo facilities."
Tom realized she was right. During the escape, Judy had provided technical support that exceeded his capabilities while maintaining operational focus under extreme stress. She wasn't protected asset requiring defense—she was team member whose skills complemented his abilities.
"Partners," Tom said, extending his chrome-covered hand for formal agreement.
"Partners," Judy confirmed, accepting the handshake without hesitation.
Night fell over the safe house while the assembled group continued planning for survival against corporate resources that viewed their continued existence as unacceptable variables in Night City's power equilibrium. Tom sat with Judy after the others had departed, watching chrome light pulse beneath his skin while she traced the patterns with gentle curiosity.
"What if Viktor's right?" Tom asked quietly. "What if I'm losing myself to chrome integration? What if the person you care about disappears one adaptation at a time?"
Judy's hand moved to his face, chrome and flesh united in gesture of acceptance that transcended technological boundaries.
"Then I'll be here to catch you," she said with conviction that made his augmented heart rate increase. "Whatever you become, whoever you become, I'll be here to remind you what matters."
Tom closed his eyes and allowed himself to believe her promise. Outside the safe house, Night City hummed with corporate surveillance networks that shared information about impossible individuals who challenged every assumption about human-technology integration.
But inside their small circle of stolen security and genuine affection, Tom felt human enough to hope for survival that extended beyond simple existence into something approaching life worth living.
The chrome beneath his skin pulsed with soft blue light that matched his heartbeat, a rhythm that belonged neither to man nor machine but to something caught between them—something worth protecting, worth fighting for, worth the loyalty of people who chose to stand with him against impossible odds.
Night City could hunt them. Corporations could study them. But for now, they were alive, together, and that was victory enough.
Author's Note / Promotion:
Your Reviews and Power Stones are the best way to show support. They help me know what you're enjoying and bring in new readers!
Can't wait for the next chapter of [ Cyberpunk: The Impossible Chrome ]?
You don't have to. Get instant access to more content by supporting me on Patreon. I have three options so you can pick how far ahead you want to be:
🪙 Silver Tier ($6): Read 10 chapters ahead of the public site.
👑 Gold Tier ($9): Get 15-20 chapters ahead of the public site.
💎 Platinum Tier ($15): The ultimate experience. Get new chapters the second I finish them (20+ chapters ahead!). No waiting for weekly drops, just pure, instant access.
Your support helps me write more .
👉 Find it all at patreon.com/fanficwriter1