Welcome to part ten of my Cyberpunk solo campaign. This one is special… in many ways. Charm and her newly assembled crew are on their way to do the first in a series of three hits.
I don’t want to think of the one time where Charm was forced to work in a team… that escalated very quickly. Probably she isn’t the luckiest when it comes to team mates.
Ahh… what can possibly go wrong, right? Let’s go!
Scene #42 – Off we go
Palm Street, Charter Hill, Westbrook – 02-09-2079, 18:34
The interior of the battered Villefort Columbus V340-F smelled faintly of stale cigarettes and old synth-leather. Inside, four figures sat hunched over their own thoughts, united only by the mission ahead.
Charm tapped her fingers against the worn dashboard, reviewing the data displayed on her wrist-mounted datapad. Across the street, the apartment building loomed – a monolithic slab of concrete and mirrowed glass. One of the residents was their target: Geng Zhihao, lead engineer for Project Echelon.
“Alright,” Charm announced, her voice tight. “We’re sitting on an activation mechanism for the Wraith worm. Once we eliminate our first target, I’ll trigger it.”
She glanced at her team. Hinata nodded enthusiastically, popping another piece of mochi into her mouth. “Hai! Sounds good to me! A little chaos is always fun!” she chirped, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Ghoul simply affirmed with a curt nod, her expression as inscrutable as ever.
Mutagen remained stubbornly silent, his arms crossed and his jaw set in a grim line. The rebuke he’d received from Ghoul the previous evening clearly hadn’t been forgotten. He radiated an aura of simmering resentment that filled the van’s interior. Charm decided not to push it; stirring him up now would be counterproductive.
Charm consulted her notes again, scrolling through intelligence reports. “This is the address for Geng Zhihao,” she stated, projecting a holographic image of the apartment building onto the van’s interior wall. “According to my intel, he should be heading home within the next half hour.”
She paused, allowing the information to settle. “The good news? He’s operating without personal security. A significant oversight for someone involved with Project Echelon.” She let that hang in the air for a moment.
“He seems to have a rather inflated sense of his own abilities,” Charm continued, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. “My sources indicate he’s quite confident in his martial arts skills and proficiency with firearms. He clearly believes he doesn’t need additional protection.” She shook her head slightly. “Arrogance is often a fatal flaw.”
Hinata chuckled softly. “Sounds like a fun target! A little overconfident, ripe for the picking!”
Ghoul remained impassive, but Charm detected a flicker of something – amusement? – in her grey eyes. Mutagen still hadn’t spoken, his face a mask of sullen silence.
Charm ignored him and pressed on. “The plan is straightforward,” she said, outlining their approach. “Hinata, you’ll provide reconnaissance from the rooftop. Identify any unexpected security measures. Ghoul, you’re point – you’ll secure the perimeter and neutralize any immediate threats. Mutagen… you’re backup. Keep an eye on our six.”
She paused again, her gaze sweeping over each member of the team. “Remember,” she emphasized, “this is about precision. We need to eliminate Zhihao cleanly and efficiently. No unnecessary complications.”
The rain continued its relentless assault against the van’s hull, a soundtrack to their impending mission. Charm felt a knot of tension tighten in her stomach. This was it – the first step in a dangerous game with potentially catastrophic consequences. And she had a feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated than they already seemed.
Scene #43 – Geng Zhihao
Palm Street, Charter Hill, Westbrook – 02-09-2079, 18:57
The rain had intensified as Charm peered out of the Villefort Columbus. Across the street, the sleek, obsidian-black residence of Geng Zhihao shimmered under the neon glow of Night City. It was a monument to wealth and ambition.
Charm checked her wrist comm one last time. “Green light,” she murmured. The signal indicated that all systems were go for the Wraith worm deployment. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was about to come.
Exiting the van, Charm blended into the urban landscape like a shadow. Her movements were deliberate, casual – designed to attract no attention. Zhihao’s arrival was imminent; her intel placed him within a five-minute window. She spotted him now, emerging from the rain and approaching the building’s entrance. He was exactly as described: impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, radiating an air of self-assured confidence.
A crisp voice crackled through her comm. “Go ahead, Charm,” Ghoul’s tone was devoid of emotion, but the implicit permission was clear.
Charm slowly reached inside her bomber jacket, her fingers brushing against the cold steel of her HJKE-11 Yukimura smart pistol. She carefully extracted it, attaching a silencer with a click. The weapon felt reassuringly solid in her hand. With deliberate slowness, she covered the gun with her jacket, maintaining an air of nonchalance as she approached Zhihao.
“Excuse me,” she said, her voice deliberately casual. “Are you Mr. Geng Zhihao?” He paused, his eyes scanning her with a mixture of suspicion and annoyance. “Yes, I am,” he replied curtly, his accent betraying his origins.
That was her cue. With a swift, fluid motion, Charm pulled the HJKE-11 from beneath her jacket, the polished metal glinting in the dim light. A predatory smile stretched across her face. “Goodbye,” she whispered, and squeezed the trigger.
The silenced shot was barely audible above the rain, but it was enough. Zhihao’s body convulsed violently before collapsing onto the wet pavement, a crimson pool rapidly spreading around him. Charm didn’t linger; she turned and walked away.
“Everyone to the rear of the building,” she instructed over the comm, her voice calm despite the adrenaline surging through her veins.
As she nearly reached the van, a piercing scream shattered the relative quiet. Charm froze for a split second before continuing her pace. A woman – likely a resident of the apartment complex – had witnessed the scene and was pointing directly at her, her face contorted with horror.
“She saw,” Charm muttered to herself, urgency creeping into her voice. “Let’s get out of here!” She sprinted towards the van, leaping inside just as Mutagen slammed the door shut behind her.
“Floor it!” he barked at Charm, who responded instantly, throwing the van into a screeching turn and accelerating down Palm Street. The tires squealed against the slick pavement as they hurtled around the side of the high-rise building.
Charm impatiently tapped her foot, scanning the surroundings. They were nearing the designated rendezvous point – the backside of the building where Hinata had established an observation post. Within moments, Ghoul and Hinata materialized from the shadows, their faces grim but focused.
“Wraith activated,” Charm announced, her voice tight with anticipation. She initiated the sequence on her wrist comm, sending a coded signal into the net. Within seconds, she could hear the distant wail of police sirens growing louder, echoing through the rain-soaked streets.
“They’re on us,” Mutagen grumbled, his voice laced with annoyance. “This is going to be a mess.”
The V340-F swerved violently as it navigated the narrow alleyways behind the apartment building, narrowly avoiding a collision with a stack of discarded shipping containers. The rain continued its relentless assault, blurring the neon lights and turning the streets into a shimmering maze.
Charm glanced at her team – Ghoul’s face was an impassive mask, Hinata’s eyes were bright with excitement despite the danger, and Mutagen was scowling as if this entire operation was personally offensive to him. They were a dysfunctional family of mercenaries, bound together by a shared goal and a healthy dose of desperation. The sirens grew louder, closer now. The situation was spiraling out of control.
Scene #44 – We have to split
Silk Road, Japantown, Westbrook – 02-09-2079, 19:11
The Villefort roared through the rain-slicked streets of Japantown, always avoiding patroling NCPD cruisers. Charm wrestled with the steering wheel, her knuckles white as she navigated the labyrinthine alleyways. The vehicle fishtailed and skidded, narrowly avoiding collisions with overflowing dumpsters and startled pedestrians.
“They’re not letting up,” Mutagen grumbled from the back seat, his voice a low growl. “These cops are persistent.”
“Persistence is their job,” Charm retorted, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. “And we’re making it as difficult as possible for them.” The sirens were relentless, a cacophony of noise that threatened to drown out everything else.
“We need to change tactics,” Charm announced, her voice sharp and decisive. “This isn’t a salvage operation anymore. It’s a full-blown crisis.” She glanced at the faces of her team – Hinata, coolly assessing the situation on her own comm, and Mutagen, radiating his usual blend of cynicism and competence. “We need to split up. Hit two targets simultaneously.”
Hinata responded instantly. “You’re insane, Charm.”
“Insanity is what will keep us alive,” Charm countered. “We have Song Hong, the engineer responsible for neural integration, and He Huang, the project lead. Both are high-value targets.” She paused. “Song Hong is important. Her expertise is critical to Project Echelon’s operations.”
Turning her attention to Hinata, Charm continued, “You and Mutagen will take Song Hong. She lives in Japantown – relatively low security, but still guarded. Be discreet, be efficient.”
“And what about you?” Hinata asked, her voice laced with skepticism.
“Ghoul and I are taking He Huang,” Charm replied, her gaze hardening. “He’s holed up in North Oak. Expect heavy security – the kind that’ll make your hair stand on end.” She paused again, a grim expression settling on her face. “With Zhihao’s death and the Wraith worm wreaking havoc, Project Echelon will be tightening security across the board. We need to move fast.”
The van careened around another corner, narrowly avoiding a collision with a delivery drone. Charm expertly maneuvered the vehicle through the crowded streets, pushing it to its limits.
“Here’s Song Hong’s location,” she said, transmitting coordinates to Hinata and Mutagen. “Get there, neutralize her, and get out. No unnecessary risks.” She watched as they acknowledged the transmission, a flicker of determination in their eyes. “Good luck,” Charm added as Hinata and Mutagen got out of the van.
Lucky Street, North Oak, Westbrook – 02-09-2079, 20:22
She continued driving, pushing the Villefort to its maximum speed as she headed towards North Oak. The rain intensified, blurring her vision and making it difficult to see through the windshield. “Then we need to be fast,” Charm said grimly. “North Oak is a fortress. Huang will have every security measure imaginable, and they’ll likely be heightened now that Zhihao is dead and their systems are going haywire.”
The drive to North Oak was fraught with peril. NCPD roadblocks popped up unexpectedly, forcing Charm to execute daring maneuvers to evade them. The streets were crawling with corporate security forces, all on high alert after the incident at the apartment complex.
Finally, she reached the outskirts of North Oak – a sprawling district dominated by expensive mansions and heavily fortified corporate compounds. He Huang’s residence was located within one of the most secure buildings in the area.
“This is going to be fun,” Ghoul said dryly from beside her, his voice betraying a hint of anticipation.
Charm grinned, a flash of steel in her eyes. “For you, it’s just another Tuesday.” She pulled the van into a calm street, giving them a moment to prepare. “Remember,” she said, her voice low and serious. “Huang is expecting trouble. He’ll have layers of security – guards, automated defenses, all the stuff. We need to be precise, efficient, and above all, invisible.”
She activated her wrist comm one last time, sending a final message to Hinata and Mutagen. “Stay safe out there. And try not to blow up too much.”
Scene #45 – He Huang
Lucky Street, North Oak, Westbrook – 02-09-2079, 20:48
The rain had intensified to a near-constant downpour, plastering strands of pink-streaked black hair across Charm’s face. The Villefort was parked at a slope below He Huang’s mansion. From there, they’d been moving on foot, utilizing the darkness and the relentless weather as their allies.
“He Huang’s place is like Fort Knox,” Ghoul muttered, her voice barely audible above the drumming rain. She scanned the perimeter of the sprawling mansion. “Armed guards at every entrance, motion sensors everywhere… this isn’t going to be easy.”
Charm nodded grimly. “We knew it wouldn’t be.” They’d circled around, staying low and utilizing the shadows. Now, they were behind the mansion, concealed from view of the main gate where a phalanx of heavily armed security guards stood watch. Through a large, panoramic window, they could see He Huang – a portly man with slicked-back hair and an expression of perpetual annoyance.
“We need to get closer,” Ghoul said, her voice low and urgent. “A shot from here would just alert everyone without guaranteeing a hit.”
Charm studied the terrain. The mansion was surrounded by high walls topped with razor wire, but there was a large, ancient oak tree that grew precariously close to the property line. “We climb,” she stated, her voice clipped and decisive. “It’s our best shot at getting within range without triggering every alarm in this district.”
The ascent was treacherous. The branches were slick with rain, and the wind threatened to rip them from their precarious perch. Reaching the top, they could see He Huang more clearly – his face now etched with worry as he spoke into a comm device, likely coordinating security measures in response to the developing chaos.
“Now,” Ghoul whispered. “Ready?” Charm nodded, her eyes locked on He Huang’s figure. They leaped. The world became a blur of rain and darkness as they launched themselves over the wall, landing with a jarring thud in the manicured garden below.
The moment their feet hit the ground, alarms blared – a deafening cacophony that shattered the silence of the night. “Damn it!” Charm cursed, her voice barely audible above the din. “We triggered every sensor within a five-mile radius,” Ghoul retorted, already scanning the area for threats.
He Huang’s face appeared at the window, contorted with panic. He was shouting into his comm device, barking orders and desperately trying to regain control of the situation. Ghoul didn’t hesitate. She squeezed the trigger of her weapon. The shot echoed through the night, followed by a sharp crack as the bullet found its mark.
He Huang slumped forward, collapsing onto the floor.
“One down,” Ghoul said grimly, but their moment of triumph was short-lived. Security guards were already pouring out of the mansion, weapons drawn and moving with practiced efficiency.
“We need to go!” Charm yelled, grabbing Ghoul’s arm. They turned back towards the wall, scrambling to climb over it before they could be caught in the crossfire.
They reached the wall, both attempting to scale it simultaneously. Just as Charm was halfway over, her movements suddenly ceased. A muffled noise – a sharp crack followed by a sickening silence – filled the air. Ghoul turned her head, her eyes widening in horror.
Charm’s body hung suspended for a moment, then plummeted downwards with a dull thud. She lay sprawled on the ground, a crimson stain blooming across her forehead. A neat, perfectly round hole marred the skin above her left eye – a single, devastating bullet wound.
Ghoul rushed to her side, dropping to her knees and gently turning Charm’s body over. Her eyes were wide open, staring blankly at the rain-soaked sky. The pink streaks in her black hair were plastered against her face, mingling with the blood that soaked into the ground. She was gone.
A wave of grief and rage washed over Ghoul, threatening to overwhelm her. But she pushed it down, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand. She gently scooped Charm’s lifeless body into her arms, struggling to lift her weight as she stumbled down the slope towards where the Villefort was parked.
She laid her carefully in the back seat of the van, covering her with a blanket. The vehicle roared to life as Ghoul slammed her foot on the accelerator, tires spitting gravel as she sped away from the mansion and into the night.
As she drove, weaving through the rain-slicked streets, Ghoul activated her comm. She contacted Hinata and Mutagen, her voice tight with suppressed emotion. “Status,” she barked curtly, barely containing the tremor in her voice. There was a brief pause before Hinata responded. “We neutralized Song Hong. Clean extraction.”
“Charm is dead,” she said, her voice flat and devoid of emotion. “Repeat: Charm is down. We need to regroup. And we need to figure out what went wrong with this damn mission.” She cut off the transmission, leaving Hinata and Mutagen in stunned silence. The rain continued to fall, washing over the Villefort as it sped away into the darkness, carrying the lifeless body of a netrunner who had dared to challenge her luck.
Epilogue – Never fade away
“Good evening. We begin tonight with developing stories both within and beyond Night City’s borders. First, a disturbing trend has emerged impacting Kang Tao Corporation – a series of targeted assassinations have struck several high-ranking employees across the city.
Last night, three executives have been killed under circumstances that point to professional executioners. While authorities are hesitant to draw direct connections, the timing is raising serious concerns within the corporate world.
Adding fuel to the fire, sources close to Kang Tao’s internal security have reported a catastrophic fallout within their network infrastructure. A sophisticated worm – described as unlike anything seen before – has reportedly inflicted severe damage across Kang Tao’s global network nodes. Experts suggest this could compromise sensitive data and cripple vital operations.
When approached for comment, Kang Tao issued a terse statement denying any connection between the assassinations and the network issues. They stated that all operations are functioning normally and declined to provide further details. We’ve reached out to Kang Tao for additional clarification but have yet to receive a response.
We move to a developing situation here in Night City. The NCPD is investigating the discovery of a lifeless body found inside a van parked at a warehouse on Ingolstadt Drive in the Northside Industrial District.
Officers responded to an anonymous tip late last night and discovered the body of a female victim, who has not yet been identified. Preliminary reports indicate she sustained a single gunshot wound to the head. The NCPD is currently processing the scene for evidence and are working to determine the identity of the deceased.
While the investigation is ongoing, authorities have stated they do not rule out organized crime involvement. Given the nature of the injury and the location of the discovery, foul play is strongly suspected. We’ll continue to follow this story closely and bring you updates as they become available.
In other news… stay tuned for a report on the ongoing protests against Arasaka’s new drone surveillance program, followed by a weather update.”
The End!
Oh… that came… quite unexpected! This is the first time, a character died in my solo campaigns and I do not apply plot-armor to them. I completely failed my roll when Renee climbed over the wall and the random event Mythic spat out was clear: DOOOOOM!!!
And because this is the most Cyberpunk-esque way to end a character… I went for it! And I’m sure that there will be a drink named after Charm in The Afterlife.
Thank you for reading!
