"So, what kind of job are you looking for?"
As Haywood's middleman—and a veteran one at that—Father had no shortage of gigs up his sleeve.
"Obviously, one that pays big eddies!"
Jack Welles flashed his pearly whites. He'd been strapped for cash lately, dreaming of a shiny new ride but coming up short on funds.
"You little punk," Father chuckled, half-scolding. His cybernetic eye flickered, and in a blink, a job and a contact were sent to Jack Welles and Riku.
Riku now had a fixed contact ID—his own "phone number," all neatly set up by old Vik. Gotta hand it to Vik—man's a real bro! Riku's caller ID was a goat-demon head, with the contact name "Devil." When you're out in the streets, a cool alias like that is practically a must.
He glanced at the job details. Nothing too complicated: take out a gang of Scavs. If there were any survivors among their captives, save them if you can.
Yeah, if you can. Scavs weren't exactly known for leaving people alive long enough for a rescue. At best, you could avenge them.
"Who's this contact?" Jack Welles asked, scratching his head. The job itself was fine—he hated Scavs and was happy to take them down—but why the extra contact info?
"That's V's. I mentioned this job to her," Father explained, the name sparking a memory.
"She said she's heading to Atlanta. Not sure if she's left yet, but you guys could hit her up. She'd be a solid backup."
Father figured V hadn't bailed yet. That kid would've swung by to say goodbye if she was leaving.
"She's still around. I ran into her at the Coyote this morning," Riku piped up. He reckoned V hadn't said her farewells or headed to Atlanta yet because of him.
"Well, ain't that perfect? I gotta meet this V," Jack Welles said, curiosity piqued. Riku had been in town for one day and already met V at the Coyote Cojo? How had he never crossed paths with her? Talk about some shonen-style missed connections.
"I'll reach out to her. We've already met once," Riku offered, taking the initiative. Jack had no objections—what was there to fight over?
Beep beep beep~
Riku dialed V's number. With a contact ID, you could call someone even without being "friends."
Click.
The call didn't go through. It was straight-up rejected, leaving Riku a bit embarrassed.
What the heck, V?!
This was the same V who'd watch a random Braindance off the street or plug a shady chip into her neural port without a second thought. And she's dodging unknown calls? With V's wild, shojo-heroine energy, shouldn't she pick up and chat up anyone who dials her?
Not one to give up, Riku redialed. No way V would keep ignoring him. Annoy her enough, and she'd pick up just to chew him out.
Sure enough, the call connected this time, and V's voice came through.
"I don't give a damn who you are—I'm kinda busy right now! Got it?!"
V's roar blasted through, punctuated by nonstop gunfire. Before Riku could respond, she hung up again.
Jack Welles and Father exchanged looks, confused. Did the call go through or not?
"Sounds like she's in a bit of a shonen showdown, trading bullets with someone," Riku said with a helpless shrug, mimicking a bear spreading its paws. V was clearly in the middle of a gunfight.
"Ha! Ain't that a coincidence? First meeting, and you're already playing the hero saving the kawaii damsel?" Jack teased, raising an eyebrow.
To Jack, V being in a shootout wasn't surprising. That's just another day in their line of work, right?
"I'll check on her," Father said without hesitation, dialing V's number.
V might ignore a rando like Riku, but Father? No way she'd ghost him.
Sure enough, the call barely rang before V picked up, no delay.
"Father! If it's not urgent, I'll call you back!" V's voice was rushed, still cussing up a storm. "FUCK! Die, you filthy yaro!"
Hearing the chaos on her end, Father didn't waste time. "Kid, where are you? I'm sending help."
V didn't reply with words, just shot over her location data. Total trust in Father.
"Hold on, kid," Father said, his eyes flickering as he forwarded the address to Jack and Riku.
"Whoa! Isn't that where those Scavs are holed up?" Jack's jaw dropped when he saw the coordinates. So V wasn't in trouble—she was causing it.
"Quit yapping. Let's move. Father, can we borrow your ride?" Riku checked the location—it wasn't far. A quick drive would get them there.
"Go, but stay sharp, kids," Father said, tossing the car keys to Riku. That trust came from Jack's vouch.
"Yo, Devil-san, in a rush to play the hero for this V chan? Bet she's a total bishoujo," Jack teased as they hustled out.
"You're not wrong," Riku shot back, flipping him the bird as a "reward" for guessing right.
Outside the church, Riku hit the unlock button. A navy-blue Quadra lit up in front of them.
He hopped into the driver's seat. The car wasn't new, but it was clean and tidy inside.
"Villefort Quadra, V5000 Valor, 2040 model. 37,000 eddies. I hear the pink macho edition sold like crazy," Jack said from the passenger seat, rattling off specs like a true gearhead. Motorcycles were his thing, but he knew his cars too.
"Didn't peg you for a pink macho kinda guy," Riku quipped. He had a license and drove plenty, so he took the wheel without hesitation.
After a quick check, he got a feel for the car. Aside from some minor differences in handling compared to Tianchao's designs, a 2074 car was no big deal. He could handle it.
Riku turned the key, and with a roar, the Quadra launched forward.
In 2074 Night City, the NCPD didn't care about traffic violations.
The Quadra's blistering acceleration was its claim to fame, backed by a beastly engine and a reinforced frame co-developed with Militech.