Chapter 21: The Hunter
POV: Katsuo
The briefing room on the forty-seventh floor of Arasaka Tower carried the particular sterility reserved for corporate black operations—white walls that reflected nothing, air that smelled of ozone and ambition, and silence thick enough to suggest that conversations here never officially occurred. Katsuo sat across from a table covered with holographic displays that painted Thomas Adler's life in data points and behavioral analysis.
Subject designation: Anomaly-Four. Age: Estimated mid-twenties. Chrome integration: Seventy-two percent and climbing. Threat assessment: Extreme. Mission parameters: Capture alive. Authorization level: Unlimited resources.
Katsuo studied the target's psychological profile with professional detachment that came from fifteen years of hunting enhanced individuals for corporate interests. Adler demonstrated predictable attachment patterns, emotional vulnerabilities centered around protective instincts, and tactical weaknesses that could be exploited by someone with proper preparation.
Sentimental. Uses abilities defensively rather than aggressively. Prioritizes civilian safety over tactical advantage. Classic bleeding-heart mercenary who hasn't learned that humanity is liability in Night City.
The holographic displays showed security footage from Adler's various encounters—warehouse infiltration, Maelstrom negotiations, the penthouse escape that had impressed even Takemura. Katsuo watched the target move with fluid grace that suggested chrome integration beyond standard parameters, demonstrating capabilities that exceeded known technological limitations.
"Fascinating," Katsuo murmured, his augmented voice carrying electronic harmonics that reflected extensive vocal modifications. "Adaptive chrome, temporal manipulation, technological consciousness integration. Either he's experimental prototype or he represents evolution beyond baseline human parameters."
Takemura entered the briefing room with the measured stride of someone who'd spent decades navigating corporate hierarchies without losing either competence or honor. His expression carried respect mixed with warning as he approached Katsuo's analysis station.
"Subject is formidable," Takemura said without preamble. "Don't underestimate him based on emotional attachments. I've observed his capabilities personally—he's more dangerous than psychological evaluation suggests."
Katsuo nodded acknowledgment while reviewing tactical assessments. "Standard approach won't work. His chrome adapts faster than countermeasures can be deployed, and his technological control negates most electronic advantages." He gestured at the tactical displays. "But he has weaknesses. Predictable protective instincts, known associate patterns, emotional attachments that can be leveraged."
"Three-stage operation," Katsuo continued, outlining his methodology with clinical precision. "First contact establishes his capabilities and psychological responses. Systematic pressure on his support network forces tactical errors. Final confrontation occurs in controlled environment that negates his technological advantages."
Takemura studied the operational plan while accessing his own memories of facing Adler in combat. "He's not standard enhanced mercenary. His consciousness integration with technology suggests capabilities that might not respond to conventional countermeasures."
"Which is why I was selected for this assignment," Katsuo replied, activating displays that showed his own chrome modifications—military-grade adaptive systems designed specifically for hunting enhanced targets. "Counter-adaptive technology, reflexive enhancement suites, ICE generation capabilities. I'm built to neutralize people like him."
POV: Tom
Regina's call came at 0347 hours while Tom was maintaining Techno-Sovereignty connection with the safe house security systems, monitoring electronic signatures for threats that had become increasingly sophisticated since Arasaka's direct interest had intensified.
"We have a problem," Regina said without preamble, her voice carrying the particular gravity that marked genuinely dangerous developments. "Arasaka deployed specialist hunter. Not standard corpo security—someone built specifically for tracking enhanced targets."
Tom's chrome augmentations responded to stress with defensive activation, creating geometric patterns that pulsed with blue light across his arms and chest. The news wasn't unexpected—his escape from the penthouse had been too public, too complete, too embarrassing for Arasaka to ignore.
"How dangerous?"
"Dangerous enough that my sources won't talk about him directly. Former special forces, augmented specifically for hunting people like you, unlimited resources authorized for capture operation." Regina paused. "This isn't random corpo muscle, Tom. This is someone who understands adaptive chrome better than anyone."
Tom immediately activated communication channels to check on his associates—Judy, Viktor, Cipher, even the Maelstrom contacts who'd provided occasional support. Everyone responded within minutes, confirming their safety but also their awareness that something had changed in Night City's power dynamics.
Professional hunter. Arasaka's sending message that escape from penthouse was temporary reprieve, not permanent victory. They're escalating to capture rather than negotiate.
"Recommendations?" Tom asked, though he suspected Regina's advice would involve alternatives he wouldn't find acceptable.
"Run. Leave Night City, find somewhere Arasaka influence doesn't reach, establish new identity in territory controlled by competing corporate interests."
"Not an option. Too many people here depend on me, and running just delays inevitable confrontation while abandoning everyone I care about."
Regina's tone carried resignation mixed with professional respect. "Then prepare for war. This hunter will study your patterns, identify your weaknesses, exploit your emotional attachments. He'll turn everyone you care about into weapons against you."
Tom ended the call and spent the next hour reviewing security protocols while his enhanced consciousness processed tactical implications. A professional hunter with unlimited resources and specific anti-chrome countermeasures represented threats that exceeded his current defensive capabilities.
But I'm not the same person who escaped Arasaka three weeks ago. Chrome integration has reached seventy-five percent. My abilities have evolved dramatically. Let him come.
Three days later, Tom was purchasing medical supplies from a Watson vendor when his enhanced senses detected someone watching him with professional intensity. Not casual surveillance, but active tactical observation that suggested immediate threat rather than intelligence gathering.
Tom's Techno-Sovereignty reached out automatically, scanning for electronic signatures that might reveal the observer's identity and capabilities. What he found made his chrome systems flare with defensive energy—military-grade stealth technology, adaptive countermeasures, and chrome integration that rivaled his own.
Across the street, a figure emerged from shadows with deliberate visibility. Average height, nondescript appearance, but moving with mechanical precision that suggested extensive augmentation designed for functionality rather than aesthetics. When their eyes met, the hunter smiled with expression that carried professional appreciation rather than hostility.
He wants me to see him. This is announcement rather than ambush. He's studying my responses, measuring my capabilities, building psychological profile for future engagement.
Tom's enhanced vision catalogued every detail—the subtle chrome modifications that suggested military hardware, the positioning that indicated professional combat training, the confidence that came from someone who'd successfully hunted targets with capabilities similar to Tom's.
The hunter raised his hand in mock salute, smiled again, and disappeared into Watson's crowd with efficiency that demonstrated his stealth capabilities were beyond standard commercial augmentation.
Tom's communication device activated immediately as he retreated toward Betty.
"Judy, change of plans. We're moving to secondary safe house immediately. Pack only essential equipment."
"What happened?"
"Made contact with our Arasaka friend. He's not interested in subtle approach."
Tom drove Betty through Watson's maze of streets while maintaining surveillance protocols that confirmed he wasn't being immediately pursued. But the hunter's message had been clear—he knew Tom's location, his habits, his vulnerable associates. The confrontation would occur when and where the hunter chose, not when Tom felt prepared.
Professional assessment, tactical positioning, psychological warfare. He's treating this as hunt rather than fight. I'm prey to be studied, tracked, captured when optimal conditions present themselves.
Returning to the safe house, Tom found Judy preparing defensive equipment with efficiency that suggested she'd been expecting this development.
"How bad?" she asked while reviewing their evacuation procedures.
Tom looked out the window at Night City's neon maze, where somewhere in the electronic landscape a professional killer was planning his capture with unlimited corporate resources and specific knowledge of adaptive chrome weaknesses.
"Bad enough he wasn't scared of me."
The hunter was coming, and Tom suspected that all his evolution, all his technological integration, all his accumulated power might not be sufficient to survive someone who'd been designed specifically to neutralize people like him.
But he was about to find out.
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