Evelyn Parker smirked as she crossed one leg over the other. "Jackie, you know, you could've stayed in that Braindance a little longer. Maybe let Judy disable the sensory filters for you. Who knows—might've opened a whole new world for you~"
Jackie looked dead serious. "To hell with your 'new world.' I'm a real man, not some chromehead perv. The things I saw in there? I'm gonna be sick just remembering them. If you ever suggest that again, I swear I'll put a bullet in my own head before I 'open' anything."
Evelyn chuckled softly, but her eyes soon hardened as they turned toward Neo. "Mr. V, since you've accepted the down payment, that means the deal's sealed. You'll retrieve Militech's stolen prototype from Maelstrom… and make sure the gang itself vanishes from Night City."
Her smile turned razor-thin. "I've got to say, you've got guts."
Neo's tone was calm, almost dismissive. "Miss Parker, you've seen what I can do. You've felt it." He leaned back slightly. "You don't need to worry about courage or risk. You just do what you do best—take the client's money, make your demands, and wait for results. Leave the rest to the professionals."
Evelyn's lips twitched. "Then I'll wait for your results, Mr. V."
With that, she picked up her small bag, turned on her heels, and swayed her way toward the exit. "I've got other clients to attend to. Enjoy yourselves."
As the door hissed shut behind her, the room seemed quieter.
Neo and Jackie exchanged a glance. There wasn't much reason to stick around anymore. Still, Neo didn't rush to leave.
Patience—that was his edge. He knew how to play the long game. Judy Alvarez wasn't someone you rushed. First impressions were groundwork; you built trust one brick at a time before moving deeper.
Like fishing—you didn't cast the bait the moment you arrived at the water. You studied the current, picked your spot, dropped a little feed to draw them in, then you cast the line.
Neo smiled faintly. "See you around, Judy."
Judy blinked at him, caught off guard by his tone. "Yeah. See you, V."
…
When they stepped out of Judy's underground studio, the air outside felt cooler, thinner. Neither of them headed back to Lizzie's Bar for a drink. Instead, Neo and Jackie drove straight to an abandoned warehouse—the current base of operations for Maine's crew.
The place was alive with noise and warmth.
Inside, the whole team was gathered around a long, dented table, eating dinner under flickering lights. It looked almost like a family meal.
Maine sat at the head, broad shoulders hunched, laughing loud. Beside him, Dorio looked every bit the tough, protective mother of the group.
Rebecca was locked in a fierce battle with Pilar over the last piece of meat. Kiwi and Lucy ate quietly, as they always did—focused, efficient, like machines pretending to be human.
"Neo?" Rebecca was the first to spot him and Jackie stepping through the door. Her eyes lit up immediately. She dropped her chopsticks and practically bounced out of her chair. "Hey! You're here! And—oh, Jackie's with you."
Jackie sighed theatrically. "You know, it actually hurts more when you remember I exist after someone else walks in."
Rebecca ignored him completely. Her focus was laser-locked on Neo. "You eaten yet?" she asked eagerly. "Sit, come on, eat with us!"
She didn't even wait for an answer—just grabbed his wrist and dragged him to the table, shoving Pilar aside. "Move it, chromehead. V's sitting here."
"Unbelievable," Pilar muttered. "You realize you're glowing like a neon sign right now, right?"
Maine grinned around a mouthful of stew. "Rebecca, you're not subtle, you know that? Didn't think you were the clingy type."
Dorio chuckled. "She's growing up."
Kiwi glanced up briefly. "...This is awkward."
Lucy just nodded silently.
Rebecca turned crimson but tried to play it off. "What? I'm just being polite! V's a guest, okay? You're all reading too much into it."
Her tough-girl act couldn't hide the flush spreading up her neck.
Neo, of course, noticed—but he played it cool. No teasing, no smirk. Just a calm smile. "Maine, we're here to talk business. Time-sensitive one."
Maine's grin faded instantly. He set his spoon down and leaned forward, all attention now on Neo.
The room shifted with him. Everyone knew when Maine got serious, the jokes stopped.
Neo and Jackie had been working with his crew for a while now, and though they got along fine, there was still that thin wall between them. Professional respect, not yet full trust.
But tonight, that wall was about to come down.
Maine respected power—and Neo radiated it. Even Dorio could feel it in the way the air shifted when he spoke.
Neo didn't waste time. "Jackie and I just came from Lizzie's. We met with a fixer—Dexter DeShawn."
The name hit like a grenade.
Maine froze mid-breath. Dorio's eyes narrowed. Even Pilar dropped his fork. Kiwi's fingers twitched on her cigarette.
"Dexter... DeShawn?" Maine echoed, just to make sure he'd heard right.
Neo nodded. "Yeah. The big one. The gold-arm cigar guy."
Maine leaned back, exhaling sharply. "Choom, that's... that's some heavy shit."
Neo's tone stayed even. "Listen carefully. This job's big—bigger than anything you've ever heard of. Dangerous, messy, but if we pull it off? We make history in this city."
Jackie jumped in. "No more scav jobs, no more petty gigs. This one'll put us on the map, hermano. All of us."
Maine rubbed his chin, intrigued. "Alright, I'm listening. Doesn't matter what it is, V. Hell, you could tell me you're planning to blow up Arasaka Tower and I'd still say I'm in."
Neo grinned. "No towers this time."
He paused, just long enough to let the silence stretch.
"But how do you feel about wiping Maelstrom off the map?"
That got Maine's full attention. His eyes lit up like a kid's on Christmas. "You're serious?"
Neo nodded.
Maine's grin turned wild. "You mean to tell me... the job you got from Dexter DeShawn is to erase Maelstrom from Night City?"
Neo shook his head slowly.
"Not exactly," he said. Then, with a quiet smile that sent a chill through the room, he added,
"Not to erase them. Just to make sure that, while we're at it... they disappear along the way."