Elias groaned as he stumbled out of Afterlife, the pounding bass still reverberating in his bones. He tugged his collar tighter against his neck, trying to keep the cold at bay. Night City never slept, and tonight was no exception. Neon lights bathed the streets in an electric glow, and the usual crowd of mercs, corpos, and joytoys swarmed the sidewalks.
Elias checked his messages, hoping for a new gig to distract him from the gnawing emptiness inside. Nothing. Just a text from Judy asking if he was free to hang out over the weekend. He sighed, shoving the phone back into his pocket. "I'll be falling over soon enough," he muttered to himself, trying to shake off the feeling of dread that clung to him like a second skin.
The truth was, Elias had been hard to find lately. He'd been keeping himself busy, filling his schedule with meaningless tasks just to avoid the silence. But tonight, there was no escaping it. He needed to find something—anything—to occupy his mind.
As Elias walked down the street, he noticed a familiar figure leaning against a lamppost. It was Rogue, her eyes scanning the crowd like a hawk. She spotted him and beckoned him over.
"Elias, got a job for you," she said without preamble. "Pays well, but it's risky."
Elias raised an eyebrow. "Risky how?"
"You'll be going up against one of the top corpos in the city. Biotechnica. They’ve got something we need, and I know you’re the right person to get it."
He felt a spark of interest. "What's the target?"
Rogue handed him a data shard. "All the details are in there. Think it over. But don't take too long—this opportunity won't wait forever."
Elias nodded, pocketing the shard. "Thanks, Rogue. I'll let you know."
As he walked away, he couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. This was exactly what he needed—something to focus on, something to take his mind off the cold and the emptiness.
Back at his apartment, Elias slumped into his chair and activated the data shard. The holo-display flickered to life, revealing a detailed plan of Biotechnica's research facility. It was heavily guarded, as expected, but Elias had dealt with worse.
He spent the next few hours studying the layout, marking potential entry points and escape routes. He'd need to be quick and precise—one wrong move, and it would all be over. He couldn't afford any mistakes.
As he prepared his gear, he couldn't help but think about the lyrics to a song he’d been listening to earlier..62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡms33lKVZS3
He shook his head, trying to focus. This wasn't the time for distractions.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuI3CpCZvT
The night of the heist, Elias slipped through the shadows, his footsteps silent on the cold pavement. The Biotechnica facility loomed ahead, its towering structure a stark contrast to the decrepit buildings surrounding it.
He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. "Time to get it right," he whispered, slipping past the outer security. The first hurdle was easy—too easy. He knew the real challenge lay inside.
As he moved deeper into the facility, he encountered more guards. He dispatched them swiftly, his movements precise and calculated. He felt a familiar rush of adrenaline—this was what he lived for.
He reached the central lab and quickly hacked into the security system. The data he needed was stored on a heavily encrypted server, but Elias had come prepared. Within minutes, he had bypassed the security protocols and downloaded the files.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLStBntQT9
Just as he was about to leave, an alarm blared through the facility. "Shit," Elias muttered, sprinting for the exit. He could hear the sound of footsteps behind him—guards closing in.
He reached the rooftop and glanced over the edge. It was a long drop, but he had no choice. He activated his cybernetic enhancements and leaped, landing gracefully on the street below.
The guards were still on his tail, but Elias knew these streets better than anyone. He ducked into an alley, weaving through the labyrinthine paths until he lost them. Finally, he emerged onto a quiet street, his breath visible in the cold night air.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdDnVqRqDK
Back at his apartment, Elias reviewed the data he had stolen. It was a goldmine—Biotechnica's top-secret research on a new type of cybernetic enhancement. This would fetch a high price on the black market, but more importantly, it would give him the leverage he needed against the corpos.
As he sat back, a sense of satisfaction washed over him. For the first time in weeks, he felt a glimmer of hope. He wasn't just surviving—he was fighting back, reclaiming his life piece by piece.
But even as he savored the victory, he couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that lingered in the back of his mind. He knew it was only a matter of time before the demons returned, trying to drag him down.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf13BBX6crF
The weekend arrived, and Elias found himself at Judy's apartment. She greeted him with a warm smile, but he could see the concern in her eyes.
"Hey, Elias. How've you been?" she asked, handing him a drink.
Elias shrugged, taking a sip. "Same old. Got a new gig, though. Keeps me busy."
Judy nodded, but she didn't press for details. She knew better than to pry. Instead, they spent the evening talking about anything but work—music, movies, and the latest gossip in Night City.
For a while, Elias felt almost normal, like he could forget about the darkness that always seemed to follow him. But as the night wore on, he could feel the weight of reality pressing down on him again.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4h7EXaXb7V
Late that night, after Judy had fallen asleep, Elias stepped out onto the balcony. The city stretched out before him, a sea of lights and shadows. He took a deep breath, letting the cold air fill his lungs.
He thought about the song lyrics again:
Baby, are you human?62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHU3qoExjq
Had to tell her that I might be
It felt like a fitting question. He didn't know the answer anymore. Sometimes, he felt more like a machine than a man, his humanity slipping away bit by bit.
But he couldn't let himself fall apart. Not yet. He still had a fight to win, a life to reclaim.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBNmGAxkYE
The next few weeks were a blur of activity. Elias sold the stolen data for a hefty sum, using the money to upgrade his gear and prepare for the final showdown with Biotechnica. He knew they wouldn't let his theft go unanswered—they would come for him, and he needed to be ready.
The night of the confrontation, Elias stood on the rooftop of an abandoned building, his heart pounding in his chest. He could see the Biotechnica strike team moving through the streets below, their heavy armor glinting in the moonlight.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "This is it," he whispered, activating his enhancements. "Time to end this."
The battle was fierce and brutal. Elias fought with everything he had, his cybernetic limbs a blur of motion. He took down the guards one by one, his movements precise and deadly.
But even as he fought, he could feel his strength waning. The cold seeped into his bones, his throat burned with every breath. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNogA5ak0r
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last guard fell. Elias stood amidst the carnage, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He had won—but at a great cost.
He stumbled back to his apartment, his vision swimming. He barely made it to his bed before collapsing, his body screaming in pain.
As he lay there, drifting in and out of consciousness, he thought about the song lyrics one last time:
When I'm dead, will I know?62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fyrTVOx0j
He didn't know the answer. But he was ready to find out.
When Elias woke up, the pain had subsided to a dull ache. He pushed himself up, groaning as his muscles protested. He was alive—but just barely.
He spent the next few days recovering, his mind wandering as he lay in bed. He thought about everything he had been through, the battles he had fought, the friends he had lost.
But he also thought about the moments of joy, the fleeting moments of peace. He realized that, despite everything, he was happy with his life. He had fought for it, bled for it, and he wouldn't trade it for anything.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhyadABRNJ
As he stood on his balcony, looking out over Night City, Elias felt a sense of calm wash over him. He didn't know what the future held, but he was ready for it.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmtsQsDk30
He smiled, feeling the weight of the world lift off his shoulders. He had gotten it right, in his own way. And that was enough.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkWO7FpOZf
