BONUS CHAPTER
"Arasaka's goods were stolen and sold to Dogtown. Militech wants dirt on us. Hansen's pinning the blame on both corps, saying we don't play by the rules."
"We've got a mole. Double-dipping—selling out Arasaka and Hansen both. That's the gist."
"Now tell me about that braindance—then you can go wherever the hell you want."
V had planned to use some persuasive techniques, but after thinking about it, she decided the request wasn't unreasonable. She gave Ethan a rough overview of the situation.
She wasn't about to spill internal Arasaka politics, though. What to share and what to hold back—V knew the difference.
Ethan nodded.
Pretty much what he'd guessed. Corporate fingers were deep in this, and Hansen wanted anyone who knew anything dead so he could leverage the situation.
He and the edgerunner crew were downstream links for the corps and Dogtown. Hansen was fishing while sending a message.
No point hiding anymore. V had tracked him down in Dogtown—she obviously had ways to get to him.
So Ethan told her everything he'd seen in the braindance.
"Turbo-R... golden tiger figurine... speaks Japanese... hm."
After Ethan finished, V pocketed the memory chip she'd been recording on.
Watching V stand to leave without another word, Ethan blurted something out—then immediately regretted it.
What if the info from Hands' braindance was fake? He needed to consider the consequences.
"What if the intel from the fixer isn't accurate?"
V's dark hair framed a cold expression. "Then lie still and wait to die. We can find you—and the fixer."
Corporate dog. Ruthless.
Ethan clicked his tongue.
"V the Destroyer" lived up to her reputation. Maybe right now she was still climbing Arasaka's ladder, a proper company woman.
Soon enough, she'd become the kind of person who could install any amount of chrome without going cyberpsycho.
Eventually, the Soulkiller Relic chip would put a madman's consciousness in her brain. This legend would become Night City's short-lived queen.
Ethan shook his head. Only mercs and low-level corporate drones treated fixers like a big deal.
Based on the timeline, V was probably riding high right now. Arasaka Counter-Intelligence elite. Maybe already Jenkins' right hand. Future Trauma Team platinum member. Impressive.
"Speaking of which, isn't there another fixer in Pacifica? Dexter DeShawn? I hear he's pretty big-time."
V crossed her arms, probing for intel—force of habit from Counter-Intelligence training.
Ethan suddenly remembered Royce of the Maelstrom's classic assessment: "Punching out the Animals, kicking Pacifica's fat pig? He's still alive?"
He didn't mean to laugh, but the corner of his mouth twitched. V caught it.
"You got dumped by Barghest, can't even make it as a merc, and you're smiling?"
"Barghest brainwashed you idiots good."
Ethan shook his head. "Dogtown problems have Dogtown solutions. I know Hands—he sold me out. But I'm going back to deal with him."
V thought she was already pretty abnormal. This guy was worse.
"Dogtown. You still want to go back?"
Ethan shrugged. "You'd love for me to go back. Arasaka wants Dogtown intel, right? Otherwise why are you still standing here?"
V liked smart people. So did Jenkins.
"Then tell me—what's your plan?"
Ethan had caught V's interest. Promotion prospects were looking brighter.
He was ready-made Dogtown infiltration material. Arasaka agents in Dogtown risked immediate exposure. Someone with his inside knowledge was the obvious choice.
"I have my methods. But the Arasaka mole—"
"Ah, I mean the company mole who was double-dealing."
"If he really was playing both sides like you said, Hansen will definitely meet with him. Why not just tail that and build your own data?"
V shook her head. "Amateur. Someone at that level won't show up personally."
Ethan didn't respond.
V's sharp eyes gradually cleared. She finally caught on—this kid had been waiting for her to say that. Making her look foolish?
You little—
"So doesn't that mean you need me gathering intel in Dogtown? Easy trade. But the price is separate."
Deal with a corporate dog—risky, but also useful. Ethan knew V was scheming, so he was willing to play along for now.
Hands' extortion money aside, Ethan could temporarily leverage corporate resources. V could do the same with him.
As for future complications—he'd figure out how to cut ties when the time came.
"What do you want for payment?"
"Get Viktor to give me a discount on my cyberware work. Pay me fixer rates for whatever you have me do. Fair enough?"
V heard this and tapped her fingers on her arm.
Ethan gave her time to think. He wanted to save money—and having corporate backing wouldn't hurt.
"What if I brought you into Arasaka?"
"Join Arasaka for what?"
Ethan blinked, confused.
"Arasaka Counter-Intelligence. External Operations team. Paycheck on time, bonuses for major jobs, no clock-in required, Trauma Team silver membership—plus some personal perks. That's the package."
Trauma Team silver? Useful in Night City. Dogtown AVs couldn't get in, though.
Ethan knew what V was calculating. She wanted credit with Jenkins. Career advancement.
He was a ready-made Dogtown asset. Arasaka agents faced constant cleanup risk there, but someone who knew the territory inside and out? Perfect.
"Doesn't the company do background checks?"
Ethan had concerns. He was ex-Barghest, had fought a Pacifica fixer, and Arasaka tracked their people closely. Not exactly reassuring.
"They do. But I can get your file cleaned up. Arasaka has plenty of off-book external ops. As for the rest—you'll need to figure out how to get an identity that's hard to scan or recognize."
"Pick a new name. Codename works too."
"But I have one condition. I'll be tracking you. Consider it my personal monitoring."
Ethan wasn't stupid. He knew corporate money came with strings. But it was stable. And having the company behind him meant temporary leverage. V thought the same.
As for fallout—Ethan would deal with that when the time came.
"Deal."
"Call me Cole. Short and easy to remember."
V shrugged. "Fine."