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A pass through life is essential—especially for those crushed at the bottom by technology and money.
"Arasaka Academy: The Path of the Elite."
The AI announcement played from the woman's palm. Two holographic goldfish swam freely across the plaza, as if standing here let you share their freedom.
Gloria Martinez was proud.
She was grateful her son passed Arasaka's rigorous entrance exam. Only she knew the blood and sweat this journey cost. The boy worked hard too—he just couldn't express it at his age, standing quietly to the side.
David Martinez felt the glowing acceptance notice in his mother's hand was, in some sense, a shackle.
A shackle binding his mother.
"David, you did it!"
Gloria's voice trembled. She didn't care that her car in the Corporate Plaza parking lot looked out of place among the luxury vehicles. She only knew David was priceless.
Arasaka LAN applications, AI studies, Arasaka corporate history, personality profiling...
IQ and reflex testing—algorithms and questions Arasaka scientists used to filter these children.
David still felt drained from those subjects. He only knew that compared to Kang Tao University, Arasaka Academy had higher standards.
But he'd never aimed for Kang Tao. Only Arasaka Academy.
His mother's most treasured dream.
"Mm, not bad. But Mom—the Academy isn't here. This is Arasaka Tower."
David shrugged, hands in pockets.
Yesterday's courier-delivered uniform was pristine. Premium fabric. Even the shipping was insured at a premium.
That was Arasaka. Dominance visible in every detail.
"Brat, getting a big head, huh?"
Gloria smoothed a wrinkle on her pale yellow jacket. "Bet you think you're something special—"
"You guessed right, David! Mom thinks you're the best."
David was happy. He knew how rare his mother's happiness was.
The exam fees. The expensive programs and study materials she'd bought. This was David's repayment.
Gloria—who rarely showed tears—raised her finger and pointed forward.
David followed her gesture.
The finger traced upward, stopping above Arasaka Tower's massive corporate logo.
AVs carrying Arasaka employees frequently launched from there.
"David, you will stand at the top of Arasaka Tower someday. I know it."
Gloria's tone was certain. She'd lost her husband. Lost everything. Came to this "City of Dreams" that had no dreams. Night City—lawless, frenzied. She believed only standing up there meant escape.
David wouldn't end up like her.
Mother and son walked side by side from Corporate Plaza toward the Civic Center Academy.
At a crosswalk, a cold-eyed woman in a suit brushed past. An Arasaka badge on her chest.
"V?"
David's optics scanned her info. Besides the codename that barely sounded like a name, only "Arasaka" appeared.
The woman noticed. She glanced over, then seemed to ignore him.
David stiffened. Text appeared in his optics—a simple breach:
[Mind your own eyes, Arasaka Academy 🖕]
Meanwhile, an Herrera Outlaw GTS stopped at Arasaka Academy's gates. A slender leg stepped out.
Katsuo. His father was a mid-level Arasaka executive—and Academy director: Tanaka.
"Ugh, annoying. Why do people like that get into the Academy?"
The teenager flicked his light-blue hair. To him, the Academy was just a gilding pool. His life already belonged to this tower—he would serve it.
"Arasaka gives passes to anyone with ability, no matter who they are... let's go."
The portly Tanaka urged his son onward.
Heavy Hearts was strange today.
The crooked billboard at the entrance—knocked askew by some vehicle—remained unchanged. The building was polished, but everything around it was chaos.
Now, security had been swapped for Barghest.
Hands was showing off. Ethan understood.
They were like gladiators and beasts in an arena. Colonel Hansen watched from above. Both Hands and Ethan gripped the other's tail.
Hands didn't want Hansen knowing he was tampering with Dogtown. Ethan didn't want Hansen knowing he was flying a corporate banner.
"Scram back where you came from, got it?"
Barghest soldiers lacked polish. Ethan's mere glance drew curses.
[Barghest Assault Squad]. The two masked guards at the door were likely [Barghest Heavy Gunners].
If Ethan weren't strapped for eddies, he'd have bought Kiroshi premium optics from Viktor—then he could scan their chrome.
Maine's crew held up well. At least nobody flinched.
Rebecca had her hands behind her head. Maine crossed his arms, staring down the loudmouth. Pilar and Dorio didn't look soft either.
"We're here for Hands."
Ethan's gaze swept to normal Heavy Hearts patrons strolling in. Barghest only blocked them—almost certainly Hands' order.
Hands' counterattack came faster than expected.
Ethan had blindsided him initially. But after the Emma incident, Hands had wised up—this was Dogtown's top fixer. Years of work meant he could get Barghest to front Heavy Hearts.
A crossing dragon can't beat the local snake. Simple wisdom.
But Ethan planned to be that dragon—and steal the meat.
"Deaf?" Rebecca tilted her head. "Looking big and strong, but the ripperdoc forgot your ears?"
"Where the hell'd this brat come from? Get lost."
Barghest wanted to stall them.
Ethan: "Touch one of us. Try it."
Broad gesture.
"Let's go!"
Maine shouldered past the soldier. Ethan led, smirking slightly.
Barghest hated taking losses, but since they followed Mr. Hands' commands—Ethan would force them to swallow it.
"Excuse us, guys."
Dorio was sizeable too. The soldier looked her over and stepped aside.
Can't be timid when you're out here making a living.
The more confident Ethan appeared, the more uncomfortable Hands would be.
Heavy Hearts' dance floor pulsed with sickly green light. Residents danced for fun. Alcohol and Glitter stinging the nostrils. Heavy drumbeats.
Maine frowned. "Boss won't show?"
Ethan kept his composure. "Not showing. I negotiate."
"You up for it?" Pilar scoffed. "Look like a fuckin' greenhorn."
He didn't like this guy acting like squad boss.
Meanwhile, Rebecca paid zero attention to today's business. She stared excitedly at the bar scene—who knew how many Night City clubs had refused her.
Looks like a kid. More than kids. Thicc shortstack problems.
Rebecca let out a strange laugh and rushed straight for Heavy Hearts' bar counter.
Ethan's group ignored her. Having her along wouldn't add any pressure anyway—might even make Hands think they were some ragtag amateur squad.
Not helpful for negotiations.
Pilar, meanwhile, followed Maine's orders and stayed on the first floor. He needed to prep his gear and keep an eye on Rebecca—in case Hands decided to start something.
"Enter."
Third-floor office door opened. Ethan, Maine, and Dorio filed in. Hands faced the window, gazing at Dogtown's night, then slowly turned.
"Sit, friends."
Hands appeared calm—as if Ethan had never threatened him or his family.
Really holding it together.
"So. How much of Dogtown does your boss want to eat?"
Straight to business.
Panel showed Hands' affinity at -80. Reward line: Beware your enemy.
Ethan understood: no reconciliation between them. Ever.
"Dogtown business—six months, all goes to my boss. Clients who don't trust us? You take them."
"Pacifica—fair game. Other districts—same."
Hands stayed silent, calmly brewing tea.
Honestly, when Ethan threw out those terms, Maine and Dorio both felt their teeth ache.
Barghest was everywhere outside. This lion's-share demand—they were certain Ethan was trying to get them killed.
"Have some tea." Hands pushed a cup forward. "Six months is too long."
Maine: ?
He's not flipping the table?
Ethan sat steady.
He understood a principle: if nobody agrees to open a window, propose tearing off the roof—then someone will agree to the window.
Extreme demands extract the best realistic results.
Six months was indeed long. Ethan admitted it.
That vacuum period would let Ethan establish himself. Hands would lose all his trusting clients.
"Two months. I stop taking jobs. Rest. Two months later, fair competition."
"Four months. Give us free passes through Dogtown." Ethan raised four fingers.
Dorio found Ethan interesting. Maine's head pivoted between speakers.
Damn!
The kid had real boss energy.
For Ethan: negotiation was war.
Don't give opponents reaction time.
"Three months. Dogtown problems you can't handle—I can assist. If you trust me. You and your friends—Dogtown won't block you anymore. Condition: your boss stays put."
Hands compromised slightly.
"Hansen's side—you're out. He won't use strangers."
Limit reached.
Ethan knew further pushing was useless. Hands' line was here.
The man still wanted profit—else he'd have grabbed wife and child and fled California.
Three months was enough for Ethan.
Draw clients, build reputation—fixer Cole gets established.
Hands' client quality was solid. Definitely not "help Jig-Jig Street joytoy find lost kitten" garbage.
"Deal. Dogtown job-seekers—send them my way. Of course, if you try anything clever, my boss can mess you up too."
Ethan agreed as well.
Maine and Dorio had kept hands on guns the entire time. Only now did they slowly relax, the tension easing from their backs.
Hands let out a soft sigh.
Today's tea tasted too hot.