Cyberpunk: Ultimate Cyborg System

Chapter 690: A First For Everything.

Due to the nature of his job, Larry Swanson was more used to removing implants from people than actually implanting them. He had deals with many gangs around Neo-Vatra where they would bring him cyborgs to rip implants from, which he would then sell to other gangs and split the price with the first client.

He had made similar deals with Dante on more than one occasion, too. Because of that, it could be said that he knew the best ways to cleanly remove the implants without damaging them. There was one problem, however.

"By the way, how did things go with you acquaintance?"

Larry was not used to removing the implants from a living body.

"Nothing," He replied. "She hadn’t contacted me since."

"I was a little disappointed when it turned out they just want to recruit me." Dante said.

"Believe me or not, I had no idea."

The one lying in front of him right now was probably one of the most dangerous villains to ever exist, though he somehow managed to hide it from almost everyone. When Victoria asked for a meeting with him, Larry was convinced that the cult was seeking to make a connection with said villain through the one posing as his underling, so imagine his surprise when they just tried to recruit him into their rank.

Larry was sane—compared to the cultists, at the very last. He refused their offer more than once, not wanting to be involved with them more than necessary, so he always knew that the red haired youth would never join the cult.

"I thought they would try to scout me for their alliance with the Catalyst gang."

"The Catalyst gang?"

"The faction creating the drug." Dante replied. "You know how they attacked the BEO a while back?"

"Yes."

"Well, I thought they were looking for more allies for the next raid. The other faction already sent someone, so..."

"I see."

Done peeling off the patch of skin still covering the youth’s back, Larry commanded DAEDALUS to hold the muscles underneath as he moved them aside. Now to the most stressful part.

"So, what made you think they would try to recruit you twice?" He asked. "Did you reject the first one?"

"No, not really." Dante replied. "They only sent his to test the waters. I get the feeling that they aren’t taking me seriously."

"Well, if I had to guess, it’s more like they have no idea who you are and what you’re capable of."

To this day, the operation where he installed the Overmind MLP and SRE were the most memorable surgeries Larry had performed. The implants were already a work of art, but seeing them undergo an evolution brought forth by a force his mind couldn’t understand, Larry couldn’t get over it.

He was about to witness the same thing once more. He carefully removed the Neorosteel nerves one after the other before releasing the [ ] holding the SRE in place. Commanding a two mechanical arms to carry it away and place it in a cleansing solution, the had two more grab the new implant that was on the workbench and place it above the spot where it should go.

In addition to their brain, the spine was another part cyborgs wouldn’t replace. During the operation where they installed the Ares frame that supports the weight of the other implants, they had reinforced to the point where they no longer had to worry about the heat from what Dante calls the upgrade process.

"C’mon doc, elabrate."

Pausing to catch his breath, Larry thought for a moment.

"You are way too good at cleaning after yourself." He said. "The only times you have made an appearance was when facing against one of the heroes. Other than that, there isn’t much to find about you. There is no way to know the size of the force you command, if you have an organization backing you, or if you’re just a lone individual. Your only follower is also yourself. Basically, you’re too big of a mystery. Too wild of a card to use or deal with."

"Damn."

No one wants to make deals with someone they know nothing about, especially not on such a high level.

"I guess I overdid it." Dante said.

"Considering your situation, overdoing it was better than risking getting caught." Said Larry. "You can always start building your reputation once you’re comfortable with walking in the light."

With the implant fixed in place, Larry went about connecting the Neotosteel nerves. From what he heard, this specific SRE was meant for one of his underlings from the Inferno gang. An Ares SRE was already a very generous reward, but he was about to elevate it to an entirely new height, turning it into something that was once only meant for himself.

"It’s done." Larry said, taking a step back.

"Got it."

A moment after the red haired youth gave his reply, threads of light emerged from his body, coiling around the Neorosteel nerves before connecting with the implant. Lines formed over its surface, and little by little, the SRE itself began to glow, its silhouette changing as it seemed to morph into an entirely new shape.

Minutes passed, and the light finally began to subside, revealing a new implant, one that only vaguely resembled the original. It had something of an alien feel to it, as if it weren’t created by humans. Larry felt that that was closer to the truth than he would’ve liked to admit. Whatever was the force responsible for the evolution, it couldn’t possibly be human.

"You sure you don’t want to take it for a test run first?" The surgeon asked.

"No need." The youth replied. "I would rather have my own SRE back. This one feels like a shoe that’s one size too small."

"You could say its exactly that. Your SRE is a model that’s never making it to any markets."

Never before did Larry install an implant only to remove it minutes later, but here he was doing exactly that. What made it stranger was the fact that the one he was operating on was still alive. There was always a first for everything, but with how things are going, Larry doubted it would be the last.