Cyberpunk 2077: V

Chapter 26: Many Ways To Skin A Cat

It took Jackie a solid five minutes to stop laughing so hard he shook the booth. Avery, the manager on staff that day at Tom's Diner, just gave them a look and rolled his eyes. He was used to their antics. But if only he knew exactly what Jackie was laughing about.

"I don't believe it," Jackie wheezed, tears streaming down his face. "My little cobra had to get all up on Yorinobu Arasaka's cobra - that's hilarious!"

V stared daggers at him from the other side of the booth, arms crossed tight over her chest as embarrassment turned her ears red.

"Hardi-har-har," she snapped. "I hope ya choke on your pancakes you - you-!"

Jackie let out one last bark of laughter, wiping at his eyes with a syrup stained napkin.

"Sorry, sorry," he chuckled, not sounding sorry at all.

V  flipped him off and shifted in her seat before reaching out to play with her now warm can of Spunky Munky. 

"ANYWAY, as I was saying...T-Bug says that we can't crack into Konpeki without the bot, and Dex can't wait around much longer. Have you heard anythin' from Maelstrom?"

Jackie drained his entire cup of coffee, then shoved another pancake dripping in syrup that looked more like hydraulic fluid than anything else into his mouth. In-between slurping sounds, he said, "Nope, not a peep. Reached out to the Padre t'see if he's heard anythin'. He told me that Maelstrom was beginnin' to put out feelers, rebranded under Royce. We should prolly hear somethin' soon."

V shook her head. "We don't got much time to wait around with, Jackster. This gig is big, and seems we got a slim window with how Dex has been actin'. We need to get that bot ASAP."

A drizzle of syrup trickled down Jackie's chin as he nodded solemnly. V let out a sharp huff, then picked up a napkin and reached across the diner to wipe off the offending liquid. Jackie gave her a fond smile.

"Well, if that's the case, how's about we use our trump card?" Jackie asked, digging his fork into another pancake. V had seen pancakes made from real flour before - these pancakes looked nothing like those. In fact, they looked more like a mix of sawdust and trunk insulation. 

"Our trump card?" she asked.

"T-Bug," Jackie said, mouth full again. "If anyone can slip through the Chrome Curtain and get us on the top of Maelstrom's list, it'll be her."

V nodded slowly, mentally kicking herself for not thinking of that earlier. 

"I'll text her!" V offered, pulling up her phone HUD while Jackie continued to inhale his food. She gave him a glance as he poured another healthy serving of syrup all over the last pancake. She had NO idea how this man could eat as much as he could and not straight up fall over dead from sheer caloric intake. Sighing, she opened up a new message.

Hey Bug, me again. Got another gig-related ask.

T-Bug must have been bored or something, because V almost immediately got a message back.

Hit me.

Ya'know how you said we can't get into Konpeki without the bot? Well Jackie says he hasn't heard anythin' back from Maelstrom. Think you could "do something" about that?

There was a pause. Then the chirp of a new message.

Piece of cake. Consider it done. Will give you the detes of the appointment later.

You're the best Bug, the best netrunner in Night City!

I know.

V couldn't help but laugh. Classic T-Bug. Jackie looked up at her then, dabbing at his mouth with another napkin. There was a pile of them next to the dispenser, which was now empty.