Cyberpunk: New Era

KRISTIN

Zach found himself back in the techies clinic, a place he had grown all too familiar with. The buzzing neon lights flickered overhead, casting a cold glow on the makeshift operating tables and shelves filled with various cybernetic parts. This time, though, he wasn't here for a quick fix or a replacement. He was here for an upgrade.

For the first time in his life, he had enough money saved up to make a significant improvement to his cybernetic arm.

As he entered, the doc looked up from his cluttered workstation, a smirk creeping across his face. "Back again, huh? You know, if I didn't know better, I'd think you're addicted to this place."

Zach chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. "You could say that. But I'm here for something special this time."

"Upgrading your arm?" the doc asked, raising an eyebrow as he cleaned his tools. "About time. That thing's seen better days."

Zach glanced down at his cybernetic arm, the sleek design a mix of old and new tech. It had served him well, but he knew it could do so much more. Ever since he joined Mikey, life had taken a turn. His days of struggling for scraps were behind him. He was living on the edge, sure, but being a cyberpunk gave him a taste of freedom that felt almost intoxicating.

"Yeah," Zach replied, his voice steady. "I want something that can give me an edge—better strength, faster reflexes. I can't keep relying on luck forever."

The doc nodded, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "I get it. You want to up your game. Let's see what we can do."

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Zach stepped out of the clinic, He had installed a new cybernetic spine and new lungs. His breathing and movements were lot better. And the new upgrade came with a mantis blade. (The most common melee weapon in the world. It stays inside your implant. When you bring it out it looks like a blade of a praying mantis). But he kept one arm organic. To avoid risks.

Zach knew the risk. Everyone in Night City did. Too many implants could push you over the edge. They called it cyberpsychosis—when the line between man and machine blurs so much that the brain can't handle it. The implants fry your mind, overwhelming every bit of humanity left inside until you become nothing but a killing machine. No memories, no purpose, just rage and violence. A cyberpsycho.

Once your tagged as a cyberpsycho the cops would just blow your brains without questions.

Just then, his head buzzed. It was Mikey.

Zach answered, leaning against the wall outside the clinic. "Yeah?"

"You done with the upgrade, tin man?" Mikey's voice crackled through the line, playful as always.

"Yeah. Just stepped out," Zach replied, rolling his shoulder to test the new arm. "Feels good."

"Good, 'cause I need  to show you something head to the in ten minutes I'm already there." Mikey said.

Zach arrived at their base, an old, abandoned subway station hidden deep underground. The station had been out of use for years, and now it was the perfect hideout for people who wanted to stay off the grid. The walls were covered in colorful graffiti, and the rusty train tracks disappeared into dark tunnels. Lexy's gang used it as their base. Since Lexy died so suddenly Everything was left behind for Mikey. At first Mikey didn't wanted to use this place as he would get bad memories but Zach helped him overcome it. Now the base was a really neat place with a small memorial of Lexy. Zach and Mikey has been sleeping in this place for the last six months.

Mikey leaned against a battered vending machine, flicking the ash off his cigarette. He looked up as Zach walked in.

"Right on time," Mikey said, nodding toward the table at the center of the platform, where maps and screens were spread out.