Cyberpunk: New Era

CYBERPSYCHO

For the past three years, Mikey had lived the chaotic life of a cyberpunk, taking on all kinds of wild jobs. But the most bizarre ones? Those always seemed to involve Zach, especially over the last six months. And now, here they were, on the craziest mission yet—one that blew everything else out of the water.

Mikey sat strapped into a seat inside a military-grade aircraft, high above the glowing sprawl of Night City. The engines hummed loudly, and cold air whistled through cracks in the old metal hull. Beside him, Zach sat casually, as if jumping into a deathtrap was just another Tuesday. Around them were thirty other cyberpunks , most of them silent, either checking their gear or mentally preparing for the madness to come.

All of them had been hired by a corpo from Neo-Tech, a shady corporation with deep pockets. The mission was simple: hit a new EUTA facility that had just been built in the city. The other corps didn't want EUTA gaining a foothold, and that's where these mercenaries came in—to make sure the building never saw the light of day.

But there was a catch. No employees had moved into the facility yet, only guards—and tons of them. Security was top-tier, making a ground assault nearly impossible. So the plan? Drop in from the sky.

The objective was brutal: get in, destroy everything, and eliminate anyone who stood in the way. No backup, no extraction team—just survive, finish the job, and collect a fat paycheck.

Mikey glanced at Zach, who gave him a small, knowing grin. As if to say, Same old, same old, huh?

The pilot's voice crackled through the comms. "We're five minutes out. Get ready."

The aircraft jolted as it adjusted its course. Mikey tightened the straps on his vest and double-checked his Guns and cybernetics. Around him, other cyberpunks did the same, their faces a mix of excitement, nerves, and cold professionalism.

"This is insane," Mikey muttered, though there was a thrill in his voice.

Zach chuckled beside him. "When has it ever not been?"

Mikey shook his head with a grin. "Fair point."

This job was dangerous, no doubt about it. And the scariest part? If they lived through it, they'd be walking away with one hell of a payday. If they didn't... well, at least it'd be a cool way to go out.

The aircraft doors slid open with a deafening whoosh, and cold air blasted through the cabin. Mikey squinted against the wind, the glowing skyline of Night City stretching far below them. The pilot's voice crackled in their comms again:

"Thirty seconds! Get ready to jump."

Mikey tightened the straps on his gear and glanced at Zach. "You ever get tired of jumping out of planes?"

Zach grinned, sliding his visor down. "Nope."

"Remember," a gruff voice said over the comms. It was the corpo who had hired them, giving one last reminder. "No one pulls out until the facility is ash. Anyone who tries to bail early? You don't get paid. Simple as that."

The cyberpunks lined up at the edge of the hatch, guns slung over their shoulders and parachutes strapped tight. The roar of wind filled the cabin as the hatch fully opened, making it hard to hear anything except the rush of air.

Zach leaned forward, gripping the edge of the open hatch, his blue and green eyes wide with wonder. The entire city sprawled beneath him like a sea of neon—endless skyscrapers piercing the night sky, roads glowing with the streaks of cars, and rivers of light flowing through every street. It was the kind of view people could only dream of, a moment stolen from reality.