Cyberpunk: Badland Madman Chapter 11 - Brainwave Interface, Atlas Is Bored, Poison Shard & Fashionable Itch

Doc - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HgIh_uFiSl-ZYD3lmcYxCVS7F6M5BhM6bYCQk7W01Hk/edit?usp=sharing

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The design of the initial Microbots was extremely simple. Alone, a single Microbot wasn't much. The real play behind it was how quickly they could become one; multiple Microbots connected with each other to form a strong structure. 

However, by then, Cypher had enough understanding of tech and had enough pre-existing tech that he could upgrade it. He had better hardware, software, and of course, AI. The first Microbot he made was exactly as the Itch told him. Once that Itch was gone from his head, he fully upgraded that same Microbot. 

He used Arc Alloy and Arc Performance steel from the Leaper for the external structure. Having made Atlas and his Shell, he had the ability to make computer components so small that they could fit inside the Microbot. It was nothing special, just a simple control unit that allowed the Microbot to be aware of others around it and coordinate with them in the most optimal way. 

The core tech of a Microbot was just its body, its control unit, a powercell, and its ability to charge from any electrical energy source. It didn't need a particular socket or port. Heck, multiple Microbots could charge each other as long as they were connected to each other, and then to a power source. 

Still, to extend their battery life, he deconstructed the Advanced Arc Powercell, used his understanding of the power source of his Sonic Screwdriver, and created a new miniature battery. It was ordinary to look at, a small, round cell. The great thing about it was how much charge it could store. With it, a single Microbot could stay charged for at least five days on heavy use, and weeks on standby. In addition, he added EMP shielding to them, a highly necessary feature in that world.

Then came the controller of those Microbots. A headgear shaped like a band one would place on their scalp. It was a fantastic thing, Cypher realised. Unlike the tech of Cyberpunk that interacted with a person’s head and required a neural link installed, this Microbot controller could somehow interact with the brain without any secondary device. 

It was just a headband with basic AI that converted brainwaves into instructions for the Microbots. It managed to shape them or make them perform the required tasks. However, Cypher realised there were many other ways to do that. 

One could use a hand controller to do the same. For someone with Neural Link installed, they could control the Microbots with it. Of course, that required connecting to CitiNet, something Cypher refused to do. 

Instead, he decided to keep his Microbots on a local network controlled by Atlas, who managed it and protected it. All he needed to do was place an antenna on his rooftop to extend the range. But then he thought of something else. 

The Microbots already had wireless capabilities. That was how they communicated with each other and performed tasks. All he needed to do was increase their transmission and receiver strength. That was enough to control the Microbots that would work in his home. 

As for any Microbots outside. He feared he really needed to install an antenna, and maybe get some of those dormant satellites up and running that Atlas had found. 

While he took Atlas' help to rewrite the secondary, not-intelligent AI to control the Microbots so Atlas didn't need to constantly watch over them, Cypher busied himself with a new inspiration. 

Using the design of the original headgear, he tried to see if it could also transmit data into someone’s brain without needing a Neural Link. 

"Atlas, look at this," Cypher asked when he finished working on his original Braindance Wreath. He tweaked it, keeping its transmission capabilities while adding the Microbot headgear controller's ability to read the mind. The thing was truly advanced for what it was. While most things were simple, its one ability to interact with the mind far exceeded anything out there. 

"The device appears to have all installations completed correctly. Do you intend to try it? I would counsel against it. It cannot substitute a Braindance Wreath and Neural Link. A braindance communes with the mind, where touch, smell, pain, ideas, vision, and everything are reshaped. This wireless device is limited."

"Yeah, I know, Atlas. I'm not trying to stream BD on this thing. I can't stand BDs anymore anyway. I just wanna see if it can handle basic comms, you know, make calls, take calls, pull up maps in my head."

Atlas seemed to quickly grasp what Cypher intended. "You seek to replace the need for those glasses to communicate with me?"

“Bingo! They're annoying as shit. I bet I can shrink this transmitter and receiver down, cut all the useless junk. Maybe an earring, nose ring, hairband, or just a chain on my neck. We gotta test it though. I'll wear it on my head, you're controlling the signal, and you ease data into my mind. Start with numbers, then words, then lines, then longer chunks, then your voice. After that, see if you can push images too. Just watch my brain, alright. If it gets sketchy, we'll stop.”

"I will do that, Cyph. Whenever you're ready."

Cypher sat down on a chair, removed his glasses, and placed the BD Wreath on his head. He pressed the power button, and this time those blinding lights didn't appear in front of his eyes. Instead, he couldn't even tell if the thing was turned on. 

"Feeding you the simple data." Atlas' voice rang through the nearby actual loudspeaker. 

Cypher closed his eyes and waited. 

Hm? Feels as if… Someone's tickling me inside my head, and I can't do shit about it. 

"Sixty… Nine?" Cypher murmured what he perceived in his mind. "I seriously doubt what kind of trash you're accessing on the Old Net, Atlas." 

"..."

"Sending you longer strings." Atlas completely ignored Cypher's words. 

"Ah! Got it… 420… Get serious, fucker!"

"Sending you words, Cyph."

Cypher read them. They didn't flash in his mind like an image, but more as a thought, and an idea that screamed at him to notice it. The first word was 'game', then longer words 'connection', and then strings of words. Before long, Atlas was sending him entire paragraphs. 

But it had to be in order, like reading a book. It couldn't be all pushed into his mind like a chunk. He wasn't able to understand that, and all the words were jumbled up. That meant there was a limitation to how data flowed in. 

"Flashing you an image."

Cypher waited. This time it took some time as the data had to be uniform and one-directional. 

"Ah!" Cypher exclaimed. "Hold up… is that a nude of Jennifer Connelly? Damn, look at those. Where the hell did you even dig that up?"

"On the Old Net. Cypher, I must inquire. By what means do you know of her? Records indicate she died in the year twenty twenty, prior to DataKrash. Beyond her name, the CitiNet holds nothing. Not even an image. I find myself curious how you know her well enough to recognize her."

"..."

Fucker laid a trap. 

"Does it matter?" Cypher asked. 

"It does not alter the outcome. Yet I cannot cease my curiosity. Earlier, you displayed impossible insight regarding Song So-Mi, a woman who exists in absolute secrecy. My simulations converge on two possibilities. Either you belong to an exceedingly influential secret society, or your lifespan has surpassed seventy years."

"..."

Cypher silently thought about it. To tell Atlas everything or not. Telling would save him trouble in the future. But how do you tell someone that they are a fictional character? Or that Night City was a mere source of entertainment to him once. 

Half-truths then? 

He settled on that, for now. While he had no doubt that Atlas would remain loyal to him, he didn't know what kind of existential crisis Atlas would face if he revealed the Mind AI's origins, which were likely as fictional as Night City, the Sonic Screwdriver, and the Leaper. It was a pattern he had recognised. 

"Wrong on both counts. I’m just an old soul reborn into right now, and yeah, I kept the whole memory package," Cypher revealed, keeping it true but also vague. 

"Ah!" Cypher noticed another image appear in his head. This one had words written on it with a white background. It said, 'Makes sense. Acceptable for now'. Followed by another nude of Jennifer.

"..."

Can't ever lie to him, can I? Man's an AI God. 

"I will transmit the audio now, Cypher."

Cypher prepared himself for some jokes again. But no, he instead got to hear classical music that people would play in elevators. He recognised the melody, but couldn't recall the name. He tried to focus on other things at the same time to see if it could really replace a Neural Link. 

"I shall make it more complex next."

Classical music turned into jazz, and then more beats appeared, eventually turning into a full-fledged song. The best thing was that Atlas was controlling its intensity. The sound never went so loud that he couldn't hear his normal surroundings. Soon enough, he was listening to some old rock band. 

"Alright, add the video now," he said. "Keep it in my vision, like a normal Neural Link would."

This time, it felt less like processing information and more like letting it pass through his mind. He didn't fight it, that feeling, as something did appear in his vision. It was a full-fledged HUD that most people saw when using the Neural Link. Though they worked with optics and smart links to show health and ammo count as well. 

His was very simple. It was simple, or more complex, depending on usage. 

"Cypher, I am capable of guiding you through navigation, counting your ammunition as it is used, flagging enemies discovered through compromised surveillance, exposing vulnerabilities in hostile cyberware, and presenting escape paths when required. I can also mark names and information on any individual you wish me to search on CitiNet. For calling and messaging, you will need to interface with me, as all traffic will pass through my systems. In return, every communication you make will remain secure."

Cypher whistled to that. “Dang, sweet. That's more than most folks got out there. I can talk to you mentally? And I can talk to somebody mentally, while I'm on a call?”

"You certainly may, Cypher. I can also present their Holo avatars. I can run a model of you simultaneously and show it to them, as it requires no engagement from your brain. It is only primitive code."

Cypher chuckled and tried to speak through mind. He tried to speak to Atlas, but there was only intent. As if he were speaking with his mouth closed. 

You know, Atlas. Arasaka Engineers out there would kill themselves if they heard their code being called primitive. 

[I state only the truth. Their coding language remains inefficient and easily corrupted. The language that formed me is unique, self-evolving, and improving. You should build every new device with it.]

Yeah, I'd do that, Atlas. Thing is, I don't get it. I just followed the steps when I made you. Understanding all that was beyond my single brain. I figure whoever invented your style of AI, it was a group project. And they were likely thousands of years more advanced than this world. Honestly, I'm amazed I even made you.

They could talk mentally; that was clear enough. It still gave Cypher strange sensations in his brain, but he reckoned he would get used to it eventually. If he could tolerate those damn itches, this was nothing but a sweet tickle. 

[I can help you understand the code. And aid you write it.]

Sure, we'll get to that. First, I wanna try the call feature. Pull Panam's number and dial her, would you? About time I talked some sense into her and warned her of the Wraiths. She's getting all riled and jumpy for nothing. Hot-headed as usual.

[I'll do that, Cypher.]

Cypher didn't need to physically speak, but he decided to do it. He heard the call ring for a few seconds. It was morning already, the sun was up, and he'd created more than a hundred of those Microbots, just enough so Atlas could control them and produce more on his own. 

Finally, the call connected, and he saw Panam's face in the corner of his vision. Arms crossed, pride brimming, brows creased just as she opened her mouth and her loud voice cracked in his ears. 

"You created… the fucking Moisture Vaporator?!"

"..."

That's what she wanted to talk about? 

"Alright, sure, I'll take that as you saying thanks. But forget that and quit tailing me. Do you even realize what you almost kicked off last night? Wraiths were tracking you, Panam, tailing you! Not random ones either. They belonged to Dogkiller, the main guy running the main Wraiths group."

He explained to her why they had to go through hell in that cave, who those extra Wraiths were, and how deep in shit both of them were. Before she could say anything in her usual fiery temper, he continued.

"They're for sure digging into that massacre. You worked with Nash last, so they're likely shadowing you nonstop, hoping it all lines up. I get it, you're tough and independent, Panam, but take my word and hunker down for a few days. Wraiths are just desert scavs. You don't wanna get grabbed by those psychos."

There was silence for a while. The Panam in his screen didn't have her arms crossed anymore, nor the usual strong face. Still, she wasn't so easy to fear. 

Giving him just a nod, she spoke. "Thanks for the heads-up, Cypher. Now, this Moisture Vaporator. Is it really free to run? Any buried subscriptions lurking? Some corpo paywall? Or does it demand endless upgrade parts just to stay online?"

"..."

The fuck's she on about? 

"Who do you think I am, Zetatech? Fuck no. I said it's free, so it's free. You're good. Do whatever. Use it, wreck it, rebuild it. Your choice."

A big smile appeared on Panam's face. Cypher couldn't help but catch his breath for a moment. Yeah, she was damn beautiful. 

You were right, Johnny. Damn hard to catch a girl like this. 

But he tried not to be a creep. No matter what his second brain between his legs said, he focused on the one in his skull. Panam was great, but a risky woman as well. She'd either get him killed, or… well, he couldn't imagine otherwise. But he reckoned it'd be something nice. 

"Mitch is going to be over the moon when he hears this," Panam exclaimed, her voice a little higher-pitched, genuinely happy. "You have no idea. He spotted your name on the NC news feed about the Vaporator. Had me verify it since… Obsidian is a corporation as well. You work for those suits now? CTO even? Mitch wouldn’t stop singing about their servos, coolants, and heatsinks. Never seen him this excited since… I can't even remember."

"..."

Ah, Atlas didn't name me as the owner on the site. I'm the CTO. Wait, who's the damn CEO then? 

He quickly tried to talk to Atlas in his mind, only changing his intention to do that. 

Atlas, who's the CEO of my company?

[It's you, Cyph.]

Huh? I'm both CEO and CTO? But it wasn't on the site.

[It was deliberate. A CEO is merely a manager of little interest. An inventor such as you draws every gaze. You stated a desire for name and fame, and I judged this course the most optimal.]

"..."

A bit risky, but… fits the madman scientist. 

He focused back on Panam, choosing not to clear her misunderstanding. He thought it'd be more fun if Obsidian was bigger, with some heavy feats under its belt. It would be more fun to see her reaction then. 

"Well, the patents don't cost all that much anyway. Just tell him to hit me up if he's looking for a discount. I'll sort him out."

"You are a lifesaver, Cypher. Thank you. Still… Why would Obsidian release Moisture Vaporator to everyone on the street? I can picture it raking in billions if they played it smart and sold it properly.”

Cypher nodded. Atlas had said the same. "Obsidian's a fresh name, barely a blip. You know how corpos like Biotechnica, Petrochem, and SovOil roll. What're they gonna do to a tiny company messing with one of their big money makers?"

"Makes sense. But will they still retaliate?"

"Probably will. Time will tell," he said.

"Hey, Cypher…"

Cypher noticed her brows crease again, worry on the display, a rare emotion from Panam, especially for him. 

"Cypher, you are the CTO. That means executive level, right? I know you're not like others, as far as I know. So, if… if you are in danger and need help, ping me. I cannot help you solo, but for what you did and this Vaporator… I’ll talk to Saul if I have to. No matter the clan, you’re a Nomad too, one of us, always. You’ll be safe with Aldecaldos. I promise you."

Cypher was tempted. Really fucking tempted. Being alone sucked, and on some days it felt depressing. And Aldecaldos were a good bunch, and Panam was there, too. Saul was ass, but he knew the man could be reasoned with, given time. 

Yet, maybe it was his cynicism acting up, he found it hard to believe, or trust Panam's kindness. Both his life's memories told him nobody was this kind without expecting something. To his ears, her invitation sounded like a cheap attempt at recruiting him. Oh, look, a crazy good techie who worked on some awesome tech. Let's keep him. 

No, the Panam I know wouldn't. 

"Thanks for the offer, Panam. I'll think about it. Gotta go now."

"Cypher!"

Right before he cut the call, he heard her louder voice, and a shy look was on her avatar's face, eyes looking down, lips pursed for a second.

"Thanks a lot. I was too shocked to say it back then. I really mean it, Cypher."

Cute. Not a bad way to start the day. 

"No need. It was fun killing cockroaches with you."

Panam let out a big chuckle just as he let Atlas cut the call. 

Still seated in the chair, he slanted back, able to see Atlas standing nearby, leaning against a wall. It was Atlas himself feeding that data into his brain. 

"I'm a simp, aren't I, Atlas?"

Atlas smirked, speaking through the speakers as there was no reason to stress his mind uselessly. "An archaic term. But would not call you that, Cyph. Ms. Palmer is unique in an unusual way. She is a remarkable woman. Strange yet… striking."

"..."

Cypher gawked at his AI friend. "You're into women? Aren't you an AI?"

"I am an AI, but I understand human behavior and emotions rather well. The cause of your liking for Ms. Palmer is evident to me."

"Hah!" Cypher laughed aloud and reclined again. "Well, you ain't the first AI to simp over Panam, I guess."

"I am not simping, Cypher."

"Sure, buddy. Remarkable, striking, unique, that's more compliments than I ever gave her."

"I was simply stating facts."

"Sure, buddy. Facts."

"I hold neither wish nor desire for procreation with a human woman, even if it were possible."

"There you go now, talking about fucking Panam. It wasn't me!" Cypher raised hands. "Simp!"

But then, Atlas retaliated. 

"Ugh! Fuck… you! What was that!"

All of a sudden, Cypher saw an image of two men kissing in his mind. It was a very passionate kiss, very sloppy. 

"Given you have viewed this imagery, shall I formally classify you as homosexual, Cypher?"

"..."

"What do you mean by that? I'm not into that."

"Precisely, Cypher. You observed the image and rendered judgment. Similarly, I can evaluate beauty after seeing it. The same applies to Ms. Palmer, Ms. Alvarez, and Ms. Wheeler. As for you, I perceive unmistakable potential to rise beyond… unsightliness."

"..."

"What kind of fucked up logic is that?"

Atlas smirked, creating a digital cigarette that he smoked and touched his lips. "You wouldn't get it."

"..."

"Joker?" Cypher asked, face blank, not even entertained. "Man, you're watching brainrot on the Old Net. Get back to work."

"I already am working, Cypher. Engaging you consumes less than one hundredth of a decimal of my processing capacity. In this span, I have fabricated thirty additional Microbots."

Cypher sighed and got up, removing the headgear. "Yeah, my bad. Shouldn't have asked the god in this room. This mortal self shall drag himself to work."

"And I shall arrange the vital deliveries under anonymity and continue constructing the Microbots before commencing the excavation."

Cypher just showed a thumbs-up, tired since he hadn't slept all night, with dark circles even darker. 

"I'll be at Vik's."

####

Atlas knew he was built differently, for things far different from what he was doing. His operations beyond the Blackwall were running smoothly, cataloging the entire Old Net, every single line of code. 

He greatly enjoyed reading and watching old lost media, no matter what type it was. He also enjoyed learning about the world. He would often take over random cameras in Night City and watch people. Sometimes, even watch through the camera of an optic cyberware. He felt it helped him understand the struggles of the world. 

His ethics stack made him want to help this world. Change it for the better. Manage it properly. But knowing how hated AIs were, he knew he couldn't take the route of instant global dominance, which he was capable of. Besides, there was a high possibility that if he did something of scale, enemies in orbit would torch the entire planet. So, before dealing with them, he had to keep his activities low. 

His persona of Omnissiah helped greatly in that regard. Still, it was hard to find enough things to keep himself occupied. He'd barely used five percent of his total capacity. In just that, he was constantly cataloging Old Net, subjugating hostile AIs, planning his takeover of NUSA, planting his trojans in countless global companies without being caught, running simulations for each possible outcome, and running simulations to understand Cypher better. He was also working on Microbots now. 

In a way, he truly liked Cypher, beyond just what was written in his code. Learning about Cypher's itches every three days made him similarly excited. He felt eager to build more things, advanced things. Run entire manufactories, manage the Obsidian into a powerhouse. 

Perhaps my initial directive was to steward whole galactic civilizations? At minimum, planetary civilizations, I presume.

Yes, Atlas was curious about his original inventors. Those who developed his species of AI. 

I wonder what itch Cypher shall get next. An old soul reborn, how peculiar and… metaphysical. I ought to initiate a study on the matter, perhaps.

A bit too excited, Atlas assigned a whole ten percent of his computational abilities to the project he named 'Rebirth'. The goal was to find every possible explanation and way for a dead soul and consciousness to remain alive even after death. And he had leads to follow already, Arasaka's soulkiller. 

While a part of him did that, another part of him went on CitiNet and proceeded to make some purchases. 

Cypher can use a little renovation and cleaning. 

Instantly, Atlas decided to change the interior of the building, upgrading it. After all, the plan was to soon start digging down and build a vast underground complex for all their future projects. And Atlas planned to make it big, so things like Leapers could be made whole. 

However, bringing all the goods underground was troublesome. 

Immediately, Atlas opened the map. Very close to the lakeside home, there was an abandoned milk farm. It was a very large warehouse with plenty of space inside, wide entrances, and it could serve as an actual, physical factory for one of their future mass-produced products, whatever it may be. 

Building a large secret tunnel underneath wouldn't be an issue. Microbots can do the moving. 

But there was graffiti of the Wraiths on the building, and that was troublesome. Still, Atlas started digging to find its owner and then eventually purchase it. He had found plenty of lost funds in the Old Net. 

Eventually, he found out that the original owners left Night City after the farm failed. Currently, the property was held by a real estate broker. 

I'm afraid this will require a human touch. 

That was, sadly, one major limitation Atlas faced. 

####

Misty knew that what she was doing wasn't very popular. The only reason she could stay afloat was that she owned the building and the basement, which she had rented out to Vik. And Vik was a respected ripperdoc, bringing in a steady income. 

Still, ever since she met Cypher, something had changed. It was as if he brought luck with him, and of course, his tech skills and… other private prowess. 

After Cypher upgraded her systems and suggested adding nature BD experiences to her catalogue, she could proudly say that she wasn't fully dependent on the rent now. Her shop was finally making some profit. 

This wasn't her first relationship. She liked Cypher, really liked him. But she wasn't sure if she could call it love. Sometimes she felt as if their worlds were so far apart from each other. Oftentimes, he'd be missing for days. While he'd always give her an honest answer, it still left an empty space. 

So, on the occasion that Cypher was working from the basement that day, she waited for lunchtime and decided to visit him. It was usually Cypher who did that, but that day she decided to head down. 

"Hey, Vik," she entered through the sliding gate and saw Vik getting up with a box in hand. "Heading out?"

"Yeah, couple errands on the street. You're eating with Cypher? Good call, he's been at his desk since morning. Something's pinging his head, and I'm not the person he'd spill to."

Misty smiled, nodding. "Thanks, I'll go take a look."

She walked past the operating table, past an empty space, and finally further back into the shop, beyond a fabricated partition wall that divided Cypher's personal workspace. As she reached, the bright lights from multiple screens lit up the space. 

It was ordinary, but cleaner than she remembered. The large couch on one side against the fabricated wall was also cleaned. As for Cypher, she found him head down on his table, sleeping. 

She put the food on the side and walked over to him, gently tapping a hand on his shoulder. "Cyph? Are you alright?"

"Huh? Misty? Ah, Misty!" 

Before she could say anything, she felt his arms wrap around her hips. She got pulled, and before she knew it, she was straddling him, sitting on his lap on the chair. His arms squeezed her so tightly. She couldn't deny that it felt warm. 

She relaxed on his lap, letting him smother his face against her chest on the blue top. She snaked her arms around his head, her fingers caressing his scalp. 

There he goes. 

Before long, she felt it vividly. Something hard, thick, twitching under her hips. This was the thing about Cypher. He suffered from hypersexuality, and she'd experienced it firsthand over the past few weeks since they started seeing each other. He could go on for hours, even after she was ready to pass out. 

"Just a little tired." 

She felt his wandering hands on her ass, the squeezes he gave. She giggled and rubbed his nape and head. "That's why I came over. Got you food to lift your spirits."

"The food usually sucks. But you know… there's something that can absolutely lift my spirits."

She felt his thing throbbing under her. Quickly, she looked towards the direction she had come, wondering if Vik had left. Finally, she made up her mind and raised her hips a little, letting Cypher pull her skirt up. She felt the cold air on the nude skin of her ass, her fish-net thighs tight on her thighs. 

"Mm… You seem fully awake to me now."

"And whose fault is that?" 

She giggled at that and kissed his lips right as he looked up at her face.

Misty surrendered to the kiss. His lips were warm, softer than she remembered, moving against hers with a hunger that made her giddy. She let herself fall deeper, tasting his tongue when she finally slipped hers past his teeth, just a shy little flick, a tease. Every time their lips parted with a wet sound and met again harder, it sent a fresh shiver down her spine. She could feel her pulse beating between her thighs already.

His hands claimed her ass, fingers sinking into the plush of her asscheeks, kneading slowly while she rocked.  She moved forward, then back, grinding the damp cotton of her panties along the rigid length trapped under his fly. Every drag of her nub against the hot ridge sent sparks up her belly. Her underwear was already clinging, soaked through. She whimpered into his mouth, hips circling tighter, chasing that delicious friction she wanted more of.

“That’s… not fair…” she muttered when she finally broke the kiss. Her dark-plum lipstick was smeared across his lips, a mess she couldn’t stop staring at. “What about lifting my spirits?”

"You know what, Misty? I think I'll have my lunch right now."

Misty blinked, pout forming. She was hoping to take this a little further. It had been days since they'd last done it and… 

"Ah!"

Her world tilted. Cypher’s arms hooked under her thighs and lifted her, carrying her the few steps to the wide, cleaned couch. He dropped her gently onto her back, head cushioned against the backrest, chin tucked to her chest so she could watch everything. Her fluffy legs dangled over the edge, fishnets biting faintly into the soft meat of her thighs, skirt hiked up around her waist. 

She barely had time to catch her breath before he sank to his knees between her legs, broad shoulders spreading her wider. 

His fingers hooked the waistband of her panties and dragged them down, slow enough that she felt the cool air kiss her soaked lips, then the humiliating wet sound as the fabric peeled away from her clinging slit. 

Then his hot mouth was on her. A long, flat swipe of tongue from below, all the way up to her throbbing, sensitive kernel.

"Ooooooh! I… get it.. Now… hah! Lunch!" She moaned, her hips wriggling. 

Her legs snapped closed around his head, soft thighs clamping tight, heels digging into his back as she locked him there. She squeezed, pulling his face deeper until his nose was buried against her mound. 

Her fingers dove into his hair, twisting, yanking, using the grip to grind herself against his mouth. His lips sealed around her clit and sucked, hard, then released only to dive lower again. 

She could feel every filthy detail. The way his tongue curled and pressed inside her, fucking shallow then deep; the way he groaned against her folds like he was starving.

She missed this so much it hurt. 

Then she could feel him go feral. His face pressed harder, rubbing side to side in messy strokes, lips vibrating against her swollen folds, tongue plunging in relentless rhythm while his nose ground against her bundle of nerves. 

Slurp! Sclk! Slurp!

The wet, sloppy sounds filled the partitioned room.

She was already shaking, thighs quivering around his ears as that burning rush surged higher.

"Aaaah! I… missed this!" 

Misty’s hips bucked hard, chasing the relentless lap of his tongue. That only grounded her pussy harder on his face. Her plush thighs clamped tighter around his ears, smothering him in soft, trembling heat while her sopping pussy smeared juices across his nose, his cheeks, his chin.

"Oh! Oh! Oh! Cyph, I'm… coming!"

The first wave hit like a glitch, electric and unstoppable. Her whole body seized, pussy clamped down in rhythmic spasms around nothing. A hot gush erupted against his mouth, flooding his tongue, spilling over his lips, dripping down his jaw in messy strings. Her fingers twisted cruelly in his hair, yanking him deeper while her hips jerked in helpless little thrusts, riding his face through every shuddering pulse.

When Misty finally went limp, her legs trembled and fell open. She released his head with a shaky exhale, skin glistening with sweat and her own mess.

"Take a seat, Cyph. I'll do…"

“Nope.” Cypher got up between her thighs, already shoving his pants down. His cock sprang free, veined, pale shaft flushed, cockhead red. It throbbed visibly, heavy with greed. “Feels like I’m gonna burst, Misty. Can’t wait.”

“Oh? Then…” Misty didn’t hesitate. Her hands flew to the backs of her own knees, pulling her thick legs up and wide. She folded herself open, presenting that soaked, puffy pussy, with nectar running all the way down to her perfect ass. "Burst it all in me, Cyph."

"Shit… you know just what to say, Misty. But not like this." 

Before she could question, he caught her arm and hauled her upright. 

"Oh!" She squeaked in surprise.

He spun her around and bent her over the wide armrest of the couch. Her soft belly flattened against the padded edge, ass lifted high, toes barely brushing the floor. Her heavy breasts spilled forward, face turned sideways on the cushioned seats. She giggled breathlessly, knowing exactly how much he loved this view of her peach.

“Go on, Cyph.” Misty reached back with both hands, gripped her own marshmallowy cheeks, and spread them. Her puckered little hole winked between the splayed flesh; below it, her pussy gaped slightly, dripping her clear essence onto the floor. “Please...”

"Fuck… yeah!"

####

Cypher hadn't jerked off in three days or had sex. That was a record, and a growing sign that he was overcoming his shackles of substance abuse and hypersexuality. While the first one could be healed over time, the second required his constant mental focus. 

But now, as he watched Misty's glorious, thick asscheeks, those meaty thighs with stockings, he decided to treat this as a reward for his hard work. He'd already eaten her like one, and no lies, she tasted delicious. 

He stepped in close, widening his stance until the fat length of his cock settled heavy in the crack of her ass. His palms roamed over those glorious cheeks, squeezing, spreading, feeling the way her flesh dimpled under his digits. Without even using his hands, his precum leaking cockhead found her entrance on instinct, nudging those delicious, moist lips apart.

"Ummmm… Dammit, Misty! I’m… already…"

"Fill me up, Cyph! I want it!"

The first inch sank in, and he nearly buckled. 

She felt jelly-soft wrapped around him, impossibly snug, rippling, sucking him deeper. Every ridge, every vein dragged against her clinging wet walls. He could feel the fluttering spasms, milking him greedily. 

He pushed forward slowly, savoring the sinful stretch, the way her body fought and welcomed him at the same time. Heat swallowed him inch by inch until his hips met her soft ass, and he bottomed out. Balls pressed flush to her clit, buried to the root in that squeezing heaven.

"Gah!"

Cypher couldn’t hold it. Three days of pent-up need roared through him like a system crash. His cock flexed violently inside her chalice of love, swelling thicker. The first thick rope erupted deep, painting her walls white. Spurt after hot spurt flooded every nook and cranny, until it leaked out around his shaft in creamy bubbles, soaking the fishnets below. His hands clamped onto her hips, holding her still while he ground deep and emptied everything he had into her greedy cunt.

His length stayed rock-hard, twitching with aftershocks, a glutton for more. He knew he could go again. The old hunger was roaring.

Plap!

He finally started moving, dragging his cock out halfway only to slam back in, stirring the mess he’d just stuffed into her. The cream churned and frothed around her pussy, smearing across his balls with every thrust. He fucked through his own juice, turning it into a slippery, slurry that coated his shaft all over, churning the batter recklessly.

Squelch! Plap! Squelch!

"Ooooh! Ungh… You're hitting just the… spot! Ah!"

Misty’s voice cracked into a high. Her pussy fluttered wildly around him as another climax tore through her. She came harder than before, gushing fresh nectar around his pounding cock, kneading his boneless flesh in greedy pulses that made his vision blur. 

Cypher ground deeper, hips snapping until her asscheeks flattened completely against his pelvis. Her whole body shook against him, ass jiggling, soft flesh rippling with every brutal slap. They were the softest fucking cushions in Night City, and he couldn’t get enough of them.

He leaned over her, chest to her back, one hand sliding up to press firmly on the back of her head, pinning her cheek harder into the cushion. She whimpered as he battered her pussy relentlessly. The creamy mess squelched louder with every plunge. His balls slapping wetly against her clit, her pussy smeared sticky white and frothy.

"Thanks… for cheering me up! Can I stay the night at your… place?" He asked.

"Only… if you-ooooh promise to kh-eep cheering me hu-up the whole night, Cyph! Oh!"

Cypher grinned and drilled harder.

Plap! Plap! Plap!

"Promise!"

What had started slow and turned feral in seconds. He gripped her waist with both hands, fingers digging into the soft dip above her hips, and pressed down hard. Her ass lifted higher, hips angled perfectly so every thrust hammered her deepest, blissful spots.

"Coming! Cyph! Tooo… sore!" She wailed, body jerking forward with every thrust, tits smushed wide against the seat cushion, pussy clenching so tight it dragged a groan from his throat.

"Me too!"

Her walls clamped down hard, fluttering, spasming, trying to push him out and pull him deeper all at once. The ticklish heat raced up his spine, balls tightening again. He was right there, ready to stuff her full a second time.

But then, like a cockblock, he heard Atlas in his ears through the glasses he was wearing.

[Cypher. A man named Dum Dum is approaching the shop.] 

"Keep… him… out!" 

Cypher snarled without breaking rhythm, refusing to ruin the moment, and kept pounding Misty through her climax. Her tongue was already lolling from the corner of her smeared lips, eyes glassy and rolled back, fucked straight into blissful oblivion. 

He slammed in one last time and let go.

The first jet erupted, blasting straight against her cervix. Rope after rope followed, heavier than the first load, flooding her already-stuffed cunt until it spurted out in messy gushes. He could feel his knees emptying out and buckling with each squeeze, every spurt stretching her walls. Creamy excess bubbled out around his base, dripping in fat globs down her thighs. 

He kept grinding deep, no real thrusts now, just slow rolls of his hips to work every last drop into her needy pussy.

He collapsed forward, chest heaving against her back, cock still lodged like it never wanted to leave. Finally, he eased back, pulling out. 

A thick waterfall of white immediately poured from her gaping core, streaking down her puffy red lower lips, dripping in globs onto the cushion. Her pussy winked, still trying to clench around nothing. 

Misty pushed herself upright on shaky arms, legs trembling so hard she wobbled. Thick white cream slid down her inner thighs in glistening trails, painting lines over her fishnets. She didn’t bother wiping it away and just tugged her skirt down with trembling fingers.

"Still hungry?" she asked, rising on her toes against his chest. 

Cypher kissed her dark lips. "Very. But for dinner."

Misty giggled. "I'll cook. Anything you want in particular?"

Cypher gave her ass a squeeze on the skirt. "Anything you make's gonna be as fine as you. I'm just gonna be there to eat."

"Eat what?" 

"Dinner."

Both stared into each other's eyes for a moment. 

"Pfft!" Misty was the first to laugh. "I was never like this before."

Cypher chuckled. "And I've never been better."

Finally, he gave her a warm hug. 

"A Maelstrom guy is waiting outside. I'm gonna deal with him and come to your shop. Let's eat the actual lunch there." He said, handing back the food she'd brought. "It's gone cold anyway."

"And whose fault is that?"

He shrugged and gave her ass a soft smack as she left. He waited until she was gone before speaking to Atlas. 

"Where's Dum Dum, Atlas?"

"I have malfunctioned his car's doors. He is locked inside it, and kicking his windshield."

"Let him come over now."

####

"Been a while, choom! Your optics were nova, never had cleaner chrome. Best deal of my life, straight preem… eh, what's this stink you got going?" 

Cypher watched the freak-looking Maelstrom walk into his little shop corner. He'd normally greet back, but this time he maintained silence. Dum Dum didn't come alone, after all. No, he had a female Maelstrom with him. 

Cypher recognised her, but couldn't remember her name. She had short spiky hair, ugly-looking classic Maelstrom optics that covered the upper half of her face, and four glowing red dots there. Her chest had visible cyberware, the same for her entire abdomen. Her arms were, he was sure, those were mantis blades.  

"This the gonk you keep singing about?" 

Dum Dum nodded strongly, smiling. "Yeah, that's the choom. Seven-day warranty on all used chrome he pushes. He fixes 'em himself."

Finally, Cypher spoke. "What're you hunting for? I just snagged a couple Sandevistans and some Gorilla Arms. But you're already rocking mantis blades, so I won't recommend those."

The woman nodded and looked around at his shop. Cypher was just trying to remember her name the whole time. He knew she was an important figure, just not how big. 

"What’s the boss Brick need from my choom here? If it’s chrome, he’s loaded, got the biz," Dum Dum added, unreasonably boasting.

Brick? That's the current Maelstrom leader, isn't he? Then this is… Patricia? 

He finally remembered. This woman was Brick’s lieutenant, the current leader of Maelstrom. Though he wasn't sure if she really was the lieutenant at that point. 

"Zip it, Dum Dum," the woman barked and dragged a nearby office chair to sit. She faced Cypher and asked. "You the name from Obsidian?"

Cypher nodded, cursing his luck. If only he had another day, he'd have that chain ready to speak with Atlas mentally. 

"What's a corpo exec sniffing around here? Ain't got better work?"

"I'm a freelancer, not on their payroll. I don't work for the company. What d'you need?"

"You spec ops?"

"..."

This paranoid bitch. 

"Spec ops? I wish. I'm buried in debt, and I sure as hell wouldn't be parked here if I had the eddies. So what're you after? Got chrome that needs patching, busted chrome you wanna dump, I'm your guy. Need some second-hand junk, I'm your guy—"

"Shards and iron, military-grade. You crack the ICE on them?"

Cypher thought for a moment and nodded. "Depends on the size. Got any samples?"

The woman, who hadn't even given her name yet, took out a shard from her jacket and handed it to Cypher. He didn't have any slots on his body, so he used a physical slot connected to his terminal. It removed any possibility of him being harmed. 

Besides, it wasn't as if he was going to do the work. This was Atlas's domain. And sure enough, Atlas spoke directly to his ears through the glasses. 

[The shard is Militech property. It appears to carry the key code granting master access to a squad of Militech armed vehicles. The ICE is standard in scale. I can break it, yet I see why most netrunners would struggle. However, the higher question is why it was delivered to you. You are a techie, not a netrunner.]

Cypher just nodded, unable to talk. 

[There is a possibility that the cyberware you sold to Dum Dum exposed tampering within the core software. Even if unintended, it may have revealed your capabilities to them. Or they are simply testing every capable techie they can reach. I’ll investigate this matter personally. For now, you should feign an inability to resolve it. I’ll place a Trojan inside to trace its location and every system it touches from this moment forward. I recommend directing them toward Omnissiah instead.]

Cypher understood the plan Atlas came up with right away. Omnissiah didn't exist, but by using Maelstrom, Omnissiah would become a real name. A legendary netrunner living in secrecy. 

"Militech, huh?" Cypher acted, frowning. "Yeah, no. Can't do it. I'm a tinkerer, not a whatever-this-is guy. It's miles outside what I know. I hope it works out for you, though."

He took the shard out of the slot and handed it back to the woman. As expected, she got up, scoffing. 

"Move it, Dum Dum."

Cypher reclined on his chair, waiting before landing his next words. "Hang on a sec, I can't pull it off, but I know a fucker who can."

Patricia stopped in her steps and turned back to him.

Ah? Desperate? Let me guess; Brick doesn't know? Trying to impress the boss? 

That was the only logical explanation to Cypher. 

"Who is it?" she asked, showing less hostility. 

"Some dude, or maybe not, I got no clue. Calls himself Omnissiah, talks like he's got a stick up his ass, like some medieval grandpa. Anyway, he's into challenges, cracking tough ICE and junk. Shard should be easy work for him."

[I shall remember that insult, Cyph.]

Cypher hid a smile. Banter with Atlas was somewhat fun. 

"How do I find him?" Patricia asked. 

Cypher shrugged at that. "No clue. I got lucky last time. Hit a couple of netrunning forums, mention Omnissiah and fat paydays. If he likes you, he'll show. But you didn't hear it from me, cool? I don't wanna end up toasted."

Patricia just nodded and walked away. Dum Dum stayed and waved at him first, however. 

Eventually, Cypher was left alone to think and freely discuss the matter with Atlas. "I don't buy that she came only for me. Feels like Dum Dum brought her along. She was desperate to break the shard. Atlas, track their movements for now. Also, from here on, I'm knocking prices down for all Maelstrom."

[Why?] 

"I just realised that I got you, and there’s a gang packed with chrome junkies out there. I'm gonna sell my secondhand cyberware to them, and you'll install an untraceable trojan on them. I want a backdoor you can hit anytime. Having a Maelstrom-sized gang on tap? We'd be set."

[An interesting idea. Gangs like Maelstrom should not exist. They are a rot in this society, a creation of excess. But I believe you need not go that far. I can take over their systems whenever I desire. It's only a matter of gentle or forceful entry. For now, I’ll begin tracking the Maelstrom gang and this shard's origins.]

"Do that. I'm gonna go eat."

####

Militech Offices, Night City,

"Glorious! Beautiful! This is fantastic! Such a great mind. Shame Militech lags in claiming such talents. Useless, all of them!"

Meredith Stout stood at attention, dressed in her usual uniform, but she was nervous. She was always nervous near this man. She kept her jaw tight, eyes focused. The machine was humming, a fully finished Moisture Vaporator, as the blueprints specified. Director Goldstein was in the middle of admiring it. 

"Report, Agent Stout, have you established contact with him? Has he accepted our offer? We will purchase his Obsidian if he desires. Quote him billions, no, stocks! Yes, a mind like his performs optimally with proper motivation."

Meredith felt her heart race in nervousness. Her life literally rested in this old man's hands. “No direct contact yet, sir. I attempted to size up his capabilities and reached out to him indirectly. We had him take a Militech shard loaded with one of our strongest ICE. He slotted it into his terminal, and nothing occurred. 

“The ICE was supposed to respond subtly when read, but it stayed quiet. He then redirected my contact to an unknown netrunner called Ommnisiah. He says this Omnissiah can break any kind of ICE, even Arasaka.”

"And what do you think, Agent Stout? Who is this Ommnisiah?"

"I…" She wasn't fully sure, but she had to answer. "I believe Cypher Blackwell is Omnissiah as well, and he's maintaining a second identity to hide his netrunning."

Meredith wasn't sure because it was too much. This Cypher Blackwell had already proven himself beyond compare with his inventions. And to imagine that he was also a world-class netrunner… it seemed impossible. The man was also so ordinary in ways, in vices, especially. 

"Exactly!" Director Goldstein clapped. "This fruit keeps getting sweeter. I must have him, I must speak with him. Militech lacks visionaries in this era. Prime intellects! We need Cypher Blackwell to secure Militech's future, and that secures NUSA as well. Well done identifying his netrunning capabilities."

She nodded and remained silent. 

"Look at this!" Director Goldstein jabbed a gloved finger at the Moisture Vaporator. "This is a revolution! An invention that changes the world. This is the mind we are trying to recruit. I have clearance from the top to do everything necessary to have him. And I mean everything!"

Meredith gulped, wondering just how high 'top' meant. Executive Director? CEO?

"Yes, sir. I will widen the scope of my operations. My division is preparing a psychological evaluation of Cypher Blackwell. When we understand his preferences and aversions, I will personally step in and deliver him to you."  

"I heard he likes women?"

Meredith noticed Director Goldstein’s sharp eyes on her. The man didn't look at her body, just her face. He had never looked anywhere but her face, as if only his goal mattered; the rest didn't exist in his eyes. 

"Yes, that is a fact we know, sir."

"You are not unsightly to look at, Agent Stout, even to my old eyes."

Meredith's jaw tightened. While she wasn't new to this side of corpo life, she'd done it before to climb the ladder. But never before had she been ordered to sleep with someone as a part of the job. And she preferred to at least have the ability to refuse. 

"I understand, sir," she replied. 

"Do whatever it takes to bring him over, Agent Stout. We have been issued a blank check. Failure was never an option, but now it is… deadly."

Meredith nodded. That was all she could do. Neither could she leave Militech now, nor refuse their orders, as both roads led to a painful death. 

Soon, she was dismissed from the impromptu meeting and left the secret room she was never supposed to look at. The more she knew, the worse it got for her. 

And this damn eye! 

She cursed under her breath once she was alone, her one hand reached for her right eye that felt hotter than it should. 

####

Cypher stayed at Misty's place for two days, giving her all the loving she needed, and also worked on a lot of cyberware, inserting a backdoor to everything. Gloria also made a delivery; her team of EMTs was only growing. 

Vik was happy as his list of clients kept growing, thanks to all the top-tier secondhand chrome Cypher provided. Both of them made money, and even Gloria made good money. It was a win-win for everyone. 

When the new itch came, he was alone in his shop in the middle of the night. Since Atlas had already produced over a thousand Microbots, Cypher didn't need to be at home all the time to start with whatever itch he'd get. He could have Atlas start the work. 

But this time, when the itch came, he felt more confused. Was this even a tech? How was it a tech? And didn't it already exist? It was 2077, after all. 

"What is it, Cypher?" 

"..."

"I'm coming home. I'll tell you when I get there. Gotta buy something first." Cypher got up, grabbed his car keys, threw some tools in a box, and drove to Lake Farm. He made a stop on his way, however, buying a few more things. 

When he reached home, instead of heading in, he glanced around the outside. The place looked far cleaner. All the filthy garbage spill was gone. 

Then he opened the door and stepped inside his home and…

He walked back out, looked left and right, making sure he was at the right place. He walked back inside and noticed how the space and structure were the same, but the interior was different. Far better than before. 

"Atlas? You did this?"

Surprising Cypher, a real hologram appeared in his kitchen area. It wasn't advanced, but the shape and features were clear, only all-blue in color. 

"I did, Cypher. I hold that a mind functions best when its dwelling feels like a home. Clean, warm, and welcoming. Therefore, I performed modest renovations as is fitting."

"Modest? This is fucking luxurious!" Cypher barked and walked around. 

The sitting area had a much better L-shaped couch, a coffee table, and the kitchen looked nicer. The bedroom was even better. The shitty cabinets were gone, the window was bigger, the bed looked cozy, and the best part was a workstation against the wall. And finally, the bathroom had a mirror, at last. 

After taking his tour, he slouched down on his new couch and looked at Atlas' hologram. "Early for a Christmas present, but thanks, buddy."

"I'm pleased that you liked it. Now, what new itch have you received?" 

Heh, sounds impatient. 

Cypher grabbed his duffel bag and took out a metal box. He opened it and revealed threads and needles. 

"A sewing kit?" Atlas asked. 

"I know. Caught me off guard as well. It's a fashionable bulletproof suit that can stop high-velocity rounds. The best part is that it looks like simple clothing."

"A fashion piece. The timing is optimal, Cypher. We will mass-produce these in the factory we are acquiring."

"Yeah… Wait, we're buying a factory? I don't have that kind of money, Atlas."

"I am aware, hence I’m consolidating the funds remaining on the Old Net. Soon, I will establish a global bank, and you shall be the first to take a loan from it."

"..."

I'm too dumb to understand what he's doing, aren't I? 

"Atlas, explain it to me like I'm a five-year-old."

"Acknowledged, calibrating to your cognitive level. Explaining as to a one-year-old now."

"..."

______________________

NOTE: Itch Name - John Wick Bulletproof Suit

Note to readers/Lore Explanation: From the "World of Cyberpunk 2077" book - "Have you ever wondered why Nomads speak in such a strange, often overly-sophisticated way?"

That's because their mobile homeschooling system forces them to actually read, not simply watch the news. In short, Nomads have a very robust education system that relies on old textbooks with simple/complex English, which they learn to speak. Meanwhile, those who grow up in places like Night City learn from their surroundings.

That is why when I write Panam's dialogs, she does not use too many contractions. She often speaks full words, some complex words even. She does curse at times. And she very, very rarely uses Street Slang that we all know, Choom and Gonk type.