Under eerie blue lights, misty cold vapor drifted. Four or five bathtubs lined the tiled floor, filled with ice and twisted corpses.
It was worse than the game.
The stench of refrigerant and rot hit them like a wall, forcing them to hold their breath.
Berry gagged first, vomiting water as she stumbled out. "You guys handle it—I can't."
Jackie grimaced at the doorway, gun ready. "V, hurry up. I'll cover."
"Damn it…" With both partners refusing, V pinched her nose and trudged in, pushing aside frozen bodies to find their target.
"This is sick… a human meat freezer? These scavvers are monsters…" Jackie muttered, piling on the pressure.
"I swear—this is the last job like this."
Finally, V uncovered the face of their target submerged in ice.
"V?" Jackie noticed her pause.
"This is her. Target confirmed." V lifted the naked rescuee.
Outside, Berry leaned on a desk, recovering. "I'd rather fight Tiger Claws than do this again."
Her hand brushed paper—bundles of cash.
Eyes lighting up, she stuffed bills into her jacket and pants until she bulged with loot.
"Let's move. Get her out."
Jackie and V carried the target. Berry waddled after, pockets stuffed.
On the balcony, a Trauma Team AV descended, soldiers barking orders. They seized the patient, shoved V back, and left within seconds.
"Bastards!" Berry snarled.
"Forget it. That's how they are," V sighed. Jackie urged them toward the garage.
As they walked, Jackie ranted: "Trauma Team's just white-coated scavvers. 'Seven minutes or your money back'? Bullshit. If you're rich, they'll save you in a minute. If not, you die in front of them. Poor folks go to black clinics—one-third live, one-third die from infection, one-third get harvested for cyberware. Even the rich aren't safe—Trauma Team strips high-end implants off corpses. The council's investigated a dozen times, found nothing. This city kills everyone—rich or poor."
His words echoed in Berry's mind as they drove away.
Bug signed off: "I'm logging out. See you next time."
Jackie, sheepish, asked V: "Hey… mind if I borrow your car? Got a date with Misty. Can't take the subway."
V chuckled. "Sure, man. Go ahead."
Berry, distracted, nodded.
V's car was a cheap but durable Hera EC-D I360, bought with Berry's financial help. Even so, V still rented her apartment, drowning in debt.
Jackie grinned, imagining his night with Misty. Berry slipped him a wad of scavenger cash.
"Take it. A gift, not a split."
Jackie accepted, touched.
V finished a call with Wakako: "Watson's about to be locked down. Let's head back fast."
Jackie floored the gas. Neon lights blurred past as the three finally relaxed.
Then Jackie teased: "Hey V, didn't you have something to say to Berry?"
V blushed. "Uh… yeah. Berry, I was wondering… maybe this weekend we could hang out in Japantown? Play some games, do some shopping…"