Smoke

*Feelin' like a psychofreak sometimes*

*Tryna get connected, no Wi-Fi*

*Tell me that you love me, are you lying?*

*Give me lemonade, I give you limes*

*House in the hills is a house of cards*

*Blink and the fairytale falls apart*

*Sorry, didn't mean to get so dark*

*Maybe I'm an alien, Earth is hard*

*Sometimes, I don't trust the way I feel*

*On my Instagram talkin' 'bout "I'm healed"*

*Worryin' if I still got sex appeal*

*Hopin' that I don't drive off this hill*

*When we're makin' love, I wanna be there*

*And I wanna feel you pullin' my hair*

*And believe the words you say in my ear*

*Gotta go outside, I need some air*

*I want to, want to, want to touch you*

*Want to touch you, but my fingertips are numb*

*I want to, want to, want to love you*

*Want to love you, but my chest is tightenin' up*

***Psychofreak - Rain Paris***

## Dossier

A Covert Ops Specialist turned Netrunner, Smoke is a merc last active in 2013 when rolling with a crew known as The Runaways. Snarky, playful, loyal to a fault; Smoke prides herself on her word, her reputation and her skill. Brutal and efficient with a vengeful streak that flares whenever those he considers his are attacked. Though it takes the right circumstances for them to open up, Smoke has a depth of emotion she tends to play close to her chest but she has a sentimental side as seen by her handle; going by a favorite song of her late *Dati*, Smoke on the Water.

## Physical Appearance

Smoke stands at 5'6" and is visibly plus sized and curvy. Their skin is exceptionally fair that burns rather than tans with a smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose and wide cheekbones and across his shoulders. Their lips are full, nose small and pert with internal nasal filters, with large eyes that have since been replaced with Kiroshi MK II that can change to any natural hue on a whim but he defaults to their usual silvery blue tech. Her tech hair is waist length with a slight wave texture that she leaves on purpose, despite it being able to shift in texture or color and length, to mimic how her old 'ganic looked though they've taken to leave the pale opalescent holo color unless needed for a mission to blend. A clever eye can notice her mixed features, though it's their mother's Irish that is most apparent.

He has numerous piercings, four in his left ear including his cartilage and three in his right though she often forgets to put them in after different jobs. Their right arm is cybernetic to halfway up her bicep and stylized into a porcelain with golden joints and ornate designs akin to delicate wedgwood china that houses her cyberdeck and extra memory chip, her left arm complete with interface plug at her wrist. They have multiple ink and light tattoos across their body; on their back on their spine between their shoulder blades is a blue and purple watercolor fibonacci code spiral, their left arm has a pattern of cracks with barely there watercolor emphasizing their depth from forearm to wrist in a half sleeve, their right thigh has a series of black and grey hexagonal tiles trailing down to their knee, their left thigh has computer code falling down to their knee ever changing undecipherable to anyone but fellow coders and Netrunners, a blue and purple watercolor splash to match their spine along their right ribcage that says *"A moment of pain worth a lifetime of glory"* written in script, and various stretch marks along their stomach, chest, and glutes inked over in glowing rainbow gradient. Their makeup is avant-garde when he's allowed to wear whatever he wants and her style leans towards a blend of post-apocalyptic cyberthot goth assassin in leather, light reactive and utilitarian.

## History

**Welcome to Night City**

Born May 9th, 1989 in New Angeles, NY she left the East Coast at the age of thirteen in the company of the Aldecaldo Nomads on a cross-country trek to eventually settle in Night City. They spent their formative years as an unaligned street kid before finding work with a fixer named Red Eye. At the age of 24 they joined a group of fellow Edgerunners after the death of one of their own, a corpo named Adrianna Diedrich (Handle: Drea) with connections to IEM. The group were thrown together in desperation and grief though they became close due to similar tragedy and beliefs. Through Red Eye the crew had a few high profile gigs, including one for Samurai involving a dangerous stalker. Presumed dead after a run-in in the Badlands on April 29th, 2013 with Biotechnica, they were last seen being struck by an Aie-Vee that shattered her spine and mangled her right arm beyond saving. The Runaways had to flee, leaving their body behind though a doll modeled partly after her appearance has been seen over the last thirty years as a proxy for *[revealed during Episode: 008]* the Arasaka Corporation and on the arm of *[revealed during Episode: 008]* Yorinobu Arasaka, the depth of said relationship unknown at this time*.* During this time she was given a new SID: Arasaka Chiyo, complete with a platinum Trauma Team account and a close personal relationship with Goro Takemura. Currently Smoke feels extreme guilt about having no idea about the three decades she lost or that she's connected to the corporation her nearest and dearest went out of their way to try and destroy.

At some point in late December 2044, Smoke was seen again in City Center in extremely revealing clothing desperately trying to get onto public transit towards North Oak on her Agent with someone before disappearing again, laying low until New Year's Day dressed in a leather jacket that was distinctly not his own heading into Night City by his onesie as if on a mission...

#### **001: Chippin' In**

* After a message from Fagin to meet up at 10AM exactly, the party filtered in with K2 and Smoke (presenting masc) last. There was some light banter about K2's axe before the meeting officially began and all present agreed to the contract (Bit Chaos, Fridge, K2, Nova, and Smoke) to deliver a heifer to a corpo up on North Oak after the transport got waylaid. After being the first to accept the gig ("I've done worse for less") Smoke began researching the Mercury Courier Services and the driver Blaine Lowell.
* Fridge got a bottle of aged tequila to do shots; everyone was fine save Bit Chaos who got seriously drunk and Smoke (who got tipsy), for some reason the sight of the tequila made him visibly sad and after throwing back his first shot with a "Sláinte." he poured another with a quieter "...and for someone who should still be here to have this..." before shifting his opalescent holographic hair to a natural black.
* The party spent some time planning their next move deciding to go in through Heywood to Rancho Coronado, Nova calling her brother Sonny to get a car that when mentioned it needed to have the engine watered to avoid overheating Smoke teased that it was a "Santiago special" before confirming he knew the Nomad who helped him get from New Angeles to Night City years ago through the Texas route.
* As they drove, Smoke first scrubbed his makeup off before making sure to fake documentation for their wheels to pass security as Mercury employees and when they got to the checkpoint he subtly hacked the retinal scan to cover mostly his tracks but the party as a whole as well.
* Once they got to the parked truck the party split; K2 and Smoke heading to the vehicle directly with the others staying by the car that Nova left running. It was when Smoke was doing net reconnaissance that K2 found Lowell blacked out in a bathroom with a wreath on. It was when they tried to remove the wreath and stop the BD that K2 was attacked (something that absolutely shouldn't happen) by Lowell with very disciplines and honed martial arts. However as he was technically focused on the CCTV footage and the first digital fingerprints of a Netrunner named AJ4X being involved, Smoke had no idea what was going on.
* Eventually the entire party got into combat, with Lil Bit establishing a grapple and the others incapacitating Lowell with repeated boxing of his ears and cranial trauma. Smoke attempted to hack the wreath to shut down the BD but it failed so as a meat action, Smoke took aim with his heavy pistol and with a critical strike to the solar plexus from a nonlethal round Lowell lost most of his fight. Thanks to the others, Lowell was eventually knocked unconscious and Smoke jacked in to his neural port to see what the hell was going on. The BD was a simple meditative one except for an undercurrent mantra in Latin "Vos Postal Ut Mihi" that with a Daddy he was able to translate to "You need to find me." from none other than AJ4X again. With a chill running down his spine, Smoke took the wreath and the eddies out of Lowell's wallet and directed the party to focus on the cow hijacked by some red white and blue 6ers in a matching obnoxious house for who knows what purpose.

#### **002: National Myth**

* The showdown in Rancho Coronado against the 6th Streeters was worthy of Night City; from Bit dodging bullets and K2 braining a gonk with a nearby pipe, to Nova somersaulting in through a window shot out by Fridge from his sniper spot in a cherry picker. And while the gang managed to rescue the heifer, it wasn't without some injuries that some quick neurolink hacks from Smoke couldn't keep the squad in one piece until they delivered the heifer up the hill to a six year old's birthday dinner.
* Thanks to a tip from Fagin, Smoke directed Nova to Doc Hazzard and the two played poker for secrets while Fridge napped waiting for the others to make it out the ripper's chair.
* 1500 eddies richer with an invite to List at Afterlife, Herself, the party split up to get dolled up for their debut with the legit edgerunner's of NC Proper. Shifting to her more femme presenting aesthetic in homage to the last time she had been back with her old nearest and dearest before the job in the Badlands went sour.
* It was when they all met up outside the doors of the club that shit once again ran downhill to stop at their feet as all the feeds in the city went black before all broadcasted an image of Johnny Silverhand. Seeing one of those she had lost and had no time to mourn was too much for Smoke to bear for reasons not yet disclosed. Despite her training back home with her *Ruska Kumpania*, it was clear as day on her face how devastating it was to see Johnny used like this and collapsed into Bit's arms with a sob as an EMP shut downtown down.
* Angry, Smoke began to hack, furiously trying to find out who had the goddamn audacity to use Johnny's voice and face like that, recognizing a series of code with AJ4X written literally all over it. Fueled by the rage of hearing a voice that to her last spoke to her hours before that was in truth thirty years dead sent her carelessly ripping into AJ4X's defenses and it tripled when the eyes of Alt Cunningham looked back at her. The woman that caused so much pain and suffering in so many of her loved ones, who manipulated Johnny and shattered a part of him when he lost her had somehow made it onto the 'Net just like the Voodoo Boys had suggested to her was possible and proven in one bitter moment. She only had a moment to process what she saw, commenting that "The fucking bitch couldn't even let him Rest in Peace." before Alt lashed out at her with a program. Rezzing her defenses and were it not for her draga cyberware would have lit her on fire in the Fleshlands. Choosing to unsafely jack out to save her life, Smoke snarled out a promise to put Cunningham in the ground once and for all "You're fucking ***dead***, Bitch," before the damage directly to her brain caused a severe hemorrhage and she collapsed into unconsciousness.
* With Fridge carrying her and her friends quick thinking and extreme luck they caught the eye of Rogue Amendiares, who upon seeing her old friend not only raised from the dead but bleeding out on the street the Queen of Night City ordered the party inside Afterlife and to stay put for now before she headed out into the chaos.

#### **003: Runaways**

* While she was unconscious with dreams that were frankly too painful to rightly focus on, Smoke came to as K2 dabbed blood and CSF from her nose and ears. It meant everything to Smoke that the edgerunners she had rolled with for the previous job genuinely seemed to care and she made a promise to herself that if she was going to let herself care again that these ones she'd die to protect. And it would fucking work this time, damnit. They began to fill her in before the sound of someone attempting to break the door down with his fists drew her attention to Fridge manning the only way in from the streets. It was his voice that Smoke recognized immediately and she asked that her friend be allowed to come inside. It was at this point Smoke introduced Kerry Eurodyne to the party as a whole, telling them this was the roommate she kept referencing in her "living in a bathtub" jokes before vouching to Ker for the assembled saying they saved her life now a few times. Ker began passing out drinks for the party at large, giving her a generous pour of mead to help ease the ache in her skull. She also informed him what happened, and exactly who it was that tried to kill her without yet saying her name and Kerry coldly furious himself left to call Rogue.
* Nova decided that they should get her over to Doc Hazzard's to get patched up as well as get some upgrades herself and the party began to plan what their next moves were. Smoke informed the party that she wanted to make an algorithm to prove Johnny's posthumous innocence as "AJ4X" had created a deep fake from different moments in the past some of which were times Smoke was present when he actually spoke the words decades ago. They would then give a copy to Kerry of the evidence they were collecting as well as connect with Potion who was known for being a legit media and would give a damn about clearing Silverhand's reputation. As she began running the program in the background Nova said what they had all unspoken agreed to, that all she needed was a name. And with that, Smoke named Alt Cunningham as the thing behind this, recognizing the eyes that even in nothing more than 1s and 0s of code almost better than her own.
* Rogue and Dodger returned shortly after Smoke had spent a bit focusing on simply running the program and not leaking more CSF all over the bar and hearing that the Fixer Queen agreed with her that this should be looked into and opened the private gig on behalf of Kerry since it would make sense if anyone began to dig into what they were doing. Rogue asked how they should be listed in regards to who was taking the gig and Smoke quietly spoke up, voice tight with unspent tears, again for those she hadn't had the time to say goodbye to yet, before simply saying that they were The Runaways and the pair shared a look before Rogue quietly agreed as the years between them and old memories stretched.
* Once more The Runaways headed to Doc's and the poor man seemed shocked to see them so soon though this time it was two new members of the squad he'd be plying his trade on. Before he began Rogue informed the party that Potion would be waiting at Club Eden, and the others spent their time playing Go Fish with the same rules Smoke and Nova had played by. Just like Mickey had taught her all those years ago, another bit of life breathed back into the legacy of those she loved and lost. Knowing full well the old squad would have loved the new crew. And after getting worked on, the crew continued to burn some time as the algorithm did it's job playing with Smoke's adopted Bubbie's playing cards before eventually heading up to Kerry's to get some sleep. After a bit of polite pushback, Smoke eventually got everyone onto a soft flat surface, be it couch or in nova's case the other half of the massive bed Kerry let her borrow before they all blacked out for a bit to let her program do it's thing.
* Right as the last of the program ran it's final once-over, Smoke got a text on her Agent from Potion saying he was heading to Lizzie's Bar instead and the Runaways changed their destination with a quick U-Turn in Bit Chaos's van. But as it was 8AM, Lizzie's was closed to all but VIPs; and a VIP is what Nova proved to be as she batted her eyes at a woman named Foxy (her input? at least as far as Smoke could assume about the energy between them) and Bit headed over to the other bouncer with a whispered few words between them as well. With a little of Foxy flirting and Nova vouching for her and Fridge (as K2 also seemed to be known at this glorious queer safe haven) the party was let into Lizzie's proper. And Smoke couldn't help the stars in her eyes as a place like this was something back in the day she had wished night City had like back home in New Angeles. A thought she echoed aloud and the others that had a place here all seemed quite proud of what they were a part of.
* Seeing Potion eating breakfast at the bar, the Runaways finally met the man in person before heading to a backroom where they could talk without fear of being spied upon. After hearing everything they had to say (though Smoke distinctly did not mention any word of Cunningham) Smoke sent a digital copy of what they had over to Potion including the wreath they had taken off of Lowell for him to give over to his own contacts to verify. But before they could continue the discussion of how they would clear Johnny's memory, Potion brusquely excused himself in a way that reminded Smoke of something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Fridge pointed out it was rude and out of character, especially since Kerry considered him one of the few media he liked being around, and the group decided they would stay at Lizzie's until Potion returned in a few hours.
* It was a short time later that Smoke's Agent rang, and a one Detective Kit Samson of the Night City Police Department began interrogating her about the disappearance of a one Noah Ṥlusarska, and as she didn't recognize the name Smoke explained she didn't know a damn thing before he pressed that it was the identity of a media personnel that went by the handle PotionNumberNine. Her hackles went up instantly and Smoke feigned all but the basic ignorance yet Samson continued to press. He claimed that 'Noah's' next of kin had reported him missing 26 hours ago and that she was his last listed contact. The fact raised yet another series of red flags as Smoke and Potion both had various anti tracking programs on their agents for both practical and paranoia reasons. Smoke claimed that she merely wanted to request some Samurai for the retro hour and refused to come down as she didn't know anything. When pressed for a name, Smoke gave the first off the top of her head, 'Amy', before hanging up.
* It was a heartbeat after hanging up with Samson that Smoke's agent once more began to ring and a much more himself Potion began to speak, saying he wasn't sure who she was but that she was his last called number and he was kidnapped though he couldn't see or hear anything. With him still on the phone she began to hack into his phone, finding it's location before trying to follow the code to Potion himself before coming up against yet another of AJ4X's firewalls. With another snarled out promise that she'd put the other Netrunner into the ground once and for all, she swore to Potion that they were coming to rescue him.

#### **004: Operation Rescue**

* As soon as they got off the phone, Smoke informed everyone that Potion had been kidnapped and that the NCPD were stopping around. They all began to wrack their brains as to their next moves, with the others offering valuable insight and perspective and K2 providing some quality music to ease their troubled minds. Offhandedly, Smoke mentioned that Cunningham had to have someone working for her in the Fleshlands and posited that back in the day she seemed to have some kind of sway over a media named Lyle Thompson and how sus it was he was not only involved the day Alt was taken at the Hammer Club but also the day Johnny died. Distinctly not mentioning the word Arasaka despite the corporation also having a direct tie to both the situation with Cunningham's creation of Soulkiller and the death of Johnny during the assault on Arasaka Tower (presumably in grief born rage over losing his former input and dealer in said previously mentioned situation at the Hammer.) They also mentioned that sooner rather than later they needed to get to Pacifica to purchase some new Black ICE from the Voodoo Boys.
* As they continued their Netrunning prep by shifting out their deck's programs, K2's music, and Bit Chaos working on Nova's rifle, Smoke made sure to verbally thank K2 for their genius, as it was something the clever rockerbabe had said offhandedly that clicked the right gear in their own genius but overclocked brain to start getting back into a progressive mindset. But with time working against them the crew decided to head to the last ping of Potion's phone. Though not without warning Foxy that trouble may follow them both in the form of Samson but also potentially The Watson Widowmaker, though Smoke promised that should he poke his head out of whatever hideyhole he had managed to hunker down into they would be sure to blow off his shoulders with extreme prejudice for what he did to the innocents of NC. And at the soft moment between Foxy and Nova, Smoke felt her protectiveness and affection for this new makeshift family grow in not only number but depth. They also made sure to make it clear to Foxy that should any of the 'sworkers need sanctuary but were too far from The Mox or any safe house to go to the Valentinos and drop their name.
* When they made it to Club Eden, they confirmed it was already under NCPD lockdown after hacking into the CCTV and the plan began to evolve out of necessity. The crew attempted to question the bouncer, Mikels, hoping to be let inside to try and not only get off the street and away from police perception but most importantly for a lead on Potion. Feigning that they needed to find their friend's agent and wallet, Smoke tried to convince him to let them inside but when that failed the rest of the crew provided the perfect distraction for her to hack into the club's CCTV and recorded surveillance.
* It seemed the Devil continued to take care of his own; as luck would have it Smoke managed to find footage of Potion leaving the club followed by a young man. After asking Nova for confirmation, it turned out to be the son of their friend Santiago Aldecaldo. A young man the same age Santiago was when they met him; a free press media named Trace Aldecaldo that Smoke quickly typed up a message to saying that he needed to get in touch with them ASAP and that they knew his dad.
* Considering they hadn't stopped for more than surgery and a quick nap at Kerry's, Smoke suggested they head to Captain Caliente so they could at least chunk while they waited for a response. However as they began to head out, one of the NCPD black vans began to pull out behind them and follow them through downtown Night City though evasive driving and all attempts to lose the tail. It was hacking a red light and speeding through *just* as it was about to turn red that bought them enough of a lead to get to Caliente's.
* As they all sat down at the counter to get their breakfast, Detective Samson walked into the restaurant behind them, deliberately attempting to intimidate The Runaways by sitting near them along the wall. Smoke managed to catch their waitress and after explaining that they needed to get their order to go because a 'creepy guy keeps following them everywhere' and it was making her anxious, the crew headed out to the parking lot. But not before they were once more followed.
* In the parking lot, Smoke turned around and making sure to be loud enough to cause a scene accused Samson of stalking them with a "Look, I am ***just not*** that into you, my dude. Lay off, you absolute stalker, No Means No!" doing the only thing they had available to them with the situation he had put her in. It was enough to have the locals begin to move to protect the crew as a whole and Samson was forced to back off for now, but not before telling them "I'll be seeing you real soon, Amy." not disproving the stalker behavior and if anything confirming it to the gathered onlookers that the NCPD was being a creep.
* Breakfast in hand, The Runaways headed into the van and after checking their email to see Trace's response they gave the Nomad turned Media a quick call to explain that they needed to meet in person and it was about Potion. Trace hurriedly gave them the location of a Nomad safe house and they all made quick work of their food as Bit drove to the new location.
* As soon as they made it to the safe house and Trace let them inside they all put their cards on the table (still with the exception of Alt's involvement) and Trace cleared the air about why he was with Potion as the pair was trying to crack the AJ4X's case wide open but he believed that their group had been compromised. In exchange for talking to Kerry about Samurai's lost Black Dog track, Trace gave Smoke the encryption for Potion's actual personal agent as opposed to the burner they had (further damning Samson's obsession with them as it was clear he was stalking Smoke rather than Potion, what with him claiming it was Potion's personal agent for the reason he called her in the first place) and after a bit of clever hacking they were able to reveal Potion's location on the northern border of the Reclaimed Zone and the Badlands. Trace also mentioned that Potion had been contacted by "Nomads" who Trace confirmed were in fact Wraiths and Smoke voiced that they believed that was who had kidnapped him on behalf of AJ4X.
* However they still needed to make sure that they had shaken Samson from their collective tail if they were going to safely rescue Potion. Smoke put in a call to Kerry, pleading that he put in a protective order to keep the detective as far away from them as possible before Trace MacGuyvered up an explosion, caltrop, and spike strip trap for the van that was one of his Old Man's moves that brought a nostalgic smile to Smoke's face before all the assembled escaped the NCPD for now.
* Driving into the Badlands, Smoke swallowed down the rising PTSD anxiety from the last time they were out there when their spine was shattered and right arm torn off by an Aie-Vee. Thankfully as the sun set on the desert, the nerves were buried under the cold calm static that always settled on her when on a job. Once the RV was within sights with it's spider hole and generator, Smoke hopped on the 'Net to detonate the generator and plunge the Wraiths into darkness.
* The subsequent fight was brutal and bloody; Fridge nearly lost an arm to a mantis blade, Nova flatlined one of the Wraiths with her jeep, and Smoke took a few bad hits from a bullet in their gut that would have been fatal were it not for their kevlar. The Runaways managed to kill all of the Wraiths and while Bit Chaos and K2 went into the spider hole to rescue Potion, Smoke focused on keeping Fridge stable which he immediately put to the test when he climbed out of the Jeep to punch a cactus in a blind rage.
* Once safely in the Jeep, Potion began to fill them in on how he was drugged and barely remembered meeting them thanks to a virus that his neurolink picked up. He was able to inform them that the laptop that Bit Chaos had also brought back to the van had a fragged copy of Soulkiller on it and that they planned to use it on him when "their Netrunner arrived in the morning" which Smoke immediately took into their custody and confirmed that Alt had a Netrunner on her side in the Meat as well as a bunch of breetva Wraiths with some serious chrome on them. Smoke thanked him for still being willing to help them after apologizing how late the rescue was. Something Potion corrected instantly as it was in fact the quickest he'd been rescued before. Smoke then promised that they would get him back to his output, which made Potion quietly squeak and gawk at them with his cheeks blushing and confirming a suspicion they had since they met Trace earlier.
* After dropping Potion back off at the safe house, Potion assured them that he would clear Johnny's name to which after he mentioned that Johnny was important to people Smoke responded that "You have no idea. Thank you, truly. He is... *was*... someone important. More than I could ever explain." before parting ways with The Runaways. Trace sent 500 eddies their way as well as his personal agent deets and Bit turned the van back towards Doc Hazzard's knowing the ripperdoc was going to have something to say about how often they seemed to darken his proverbial door.

#### **005: Baby You're a Haunted House**

* Smoke and Fridge admitted themselves into Doc Hazzard's care for bullet wounds and a mantis blade upgrade respectively. While Smoke was patched up quickly, Fridge needed to stay behind to recover and the Runaways decided to kill some time while waiting for their solo to be discharged.
* Smoke mentioned she wanted to head to Pacifica to pick up some new Black Ice and the crew figured now was as good a time as any to get some supplies. However the massive multiple stop original plan was quickly reduced to a single location right next door to the ripperdoc's thanks to CHAPEL being so accommodating and well-stocked. Fine rum, cigar, and some AP bullets later, the Runaways all secured their CHAPEL accounts and began the trek to Pacifica with fresh fortunes told.
* Smoke gathered the group at the old bus stop outside the 'bounds of 'Cifica and waited for someone to come by. Once Remy cleared them wth a series of teasing info gathering questions, the young kid brought them deep into Pacifica territory to Papa Felipe's old place, a church that functioned as a hub for the Voodoo Boys.
* Once the party assembled, the group were introduced to Gaspard, the intermediary to Yemalla, Smoke's old friend's niece. Gaspard was standoffish, taking swipes at the party even after accepting the offerings from Smoke and leaving the netrunner on edge from the distinct change three decades had wrought. What made her exceptionally angry was the flippant and mocking way they treated her speaking on Alt and AJ4X's current machinations, but Smoke bit her tongue out of respect.
* The Runaways were given a job to do while her Dragon was crafted; to exorcise out a "haunted" safe house that had gone into lockdown. Despite her usual pragmatism, the warnings and beliefs Smoke's *dati* had taught her had the 'runner on edge more than normal and the salt she always kept with her was clutched a touch closer. The spectral figure in the window disappearing as soon as they arrived not helping the unease any.
* They began examining the house, eventually crawling through a closet and into the walls, but despite their best efforts Bit Chaos ended up cut off from the others when they tried to exit into another of the abandoned bedrooms. It was as they tried to get back to Bit that the party discovered their enemy was not of the ephemeral preternatural but instead was a cyberpsycho zipping through the walls on a series of gears and pulleys. "Not enough." being the only thing they got out; thankfully before anything had a chance to turn into a brawl, Nova took out the threat in an instant.
* K2 and Smoke descended into the walls to see what else they could find and discovered a hidden bunker that Eve Fisher, former Night Corp employee (**yet another connection** to Night Corp) had made into her own little trap door spider hidey-hole. Inside they also found personal belongings of those the VB had lost and the party contacted Gaspard to ensure the job was cleared out.

#### **006: Alors on Danse**

* Having some downtime was the strangest thing for the edgerunner that required singular focus to dodge her grief and pain. But downtime nonetheless was the only option and Smoke tried to do everything in her power to actually engage in it. Between fixing up Kerry's 'robits' with Bit and tinker with his security system, to gathering up for dinner with the crew and Ker. Fridge ended up returning to the party, albeit with a morphine pack attached to his side. Pizza and 'wolf crazy tornado drinks' later, the small dinner turned into a house party that ended for Smoke in calling over some other Valentinos to come by and play cards. And for Smoke, leaving to have a one night stand with an older man that looked suspiciously like Johnny, a fact she denied and played oblivious to when Kerry gently teased her about it.
* The next morning the group gathered, hung over, for breakfast that Smoke made before the group decided to help Bit gather supplies for her tinkering at the local landfill. While scavenging for parts and goodies, Smoke and Fridge followed the sound of Russian classical music (a specific lullaby Smoke remembered from childhood) to a section of the landfill it originated from. Bit ended up falling down through a collapsed section to a hidden hatch that opened into a small bunker.
* Once they breached the bunker, the Runaways stumbled into a crime scene of the once distinctly Russian survival shelter. When they headed deeper into the bunker, the group found an unconscious person on the ground who visibly resembled what Smoke had gone through back at Afterlife. Recognizing it as an attack from the .net, Smoke (as careful as possible) risked jacking into the unconscious person's brain and began trying to help patch them back together and stabilize them while hooking their own arm up to a speaker so the others could help from outside in the Meatlands.
* Once they were able to stabilize Pusik, Smoke from inside the .net and K2 and Nova outside coming together to save her life, questions arose. It was clear AJ4X had attacked Pusik while she was not connected to the .net, a theory Smoke had but hadn't confirmed yet (and gaining Pusik's real name and identity). Pusik was able to line up key details including that she was investigating Night Corp and Smoke leaned into the 'enemy of my enemy is my friend' belief, insisting that they get Pusik cleared by Doc Hazzard they would all need to talk to her superiors up in space in the hopes of taking out AJ4X and most importantly Alt for good. After they were all clear, Pusik blew the bunker and the party left with a fiery explosion in their taillights.

#### **007: Old Friends / Bookends**

* This time it was Bit that couldn't be with the crew instead of Fridge, needing to fix the van after they left the landfill. Getting Pusik to Doc's was easy enough, but paying for her care was more than the party had in eddies. So they hatched a plan to pay a portion first and gain the rest later on. It was decided that K2 would play a gig at Hammer with Kerry at Smoke's suggestion. And a call went out to organize it all up; ending in not only getting Ghost to collab but also someone who agreed to meet them in person to be pitched the idea.
* When they arrived to Kerry's neighbor, it was revealed Denny was the contact and Smoke was immediately crippled with grateful relief and emotion. She hadn't seen this member of Samurai since her return and with a tearful "Dee?" the pair embraced in a tight hug. It was such a comfort to have another of her lost loved ones returned to her and Smoke didn't pay attention to much after, lost in the happiness that one of her friends was alive and well with her again.
* The gig went together well, Smoke helping to organize (while "cosplaying as Rogue") as well as roadie again, something she found herself quite enjoying back when it was her cover on the first job with Samurai back in the day. Getting in contact with Potion, Smoke made sure to lifestream the gig; proud of all of her friends both new and old and seeing Kerry heal a bit in real time.
* While she didn't catch it as it happened, K2 recognized someone in the crowd, but for reasons hereto unknown kept it to themself.
* After the gig, people decided to take the party backstage, but being backstage at Hammer immediately returned Smoke to her memories (for her again only about a few weeks back despite the decades that truly separated them) to the last time she was there and the things that occurred that broke her heart. And Kerry, who recognized this immediately and also had his own sour memories there recommended that they take the party and pancakes to Club Eden.
* Outside the Runaways were confronted by Ink, K2's old 'friend' who on the .net looked like some kind of Ringwraith. K2 was cagey and dodgy with information and Smoke made the executive decision for the party to flee into the city.
* She did her best, a combination of parkour and hacking to try and shake Ink from their collective tails; however Ink was shown to be wielding the AJ4X code and hit Smoke hard causing her to once more leak bloody CSF from the trauma and a brain bleed. Nearly taking her out and definitely making her need to see Doc again. K2 tried to talk Ink down, Nova took shots, and Fridge tried to act as a shield even as his mantis blade was disabled. It was through a parking garage that they finally managed to lose Ink, them going to the roof and the party feeling to the street proper. Enraged, Ink let out an EMP that chilled and infuriated Smoke to her core. Not only did Ink have a connection to AJ4X and Alt but this was the person that tried to frame Johnny... a crime Smoke would not forgive.

#### **008: Ballroom Blitz**

* Collapsing against a wall after the altercation with Ink, K2 tried to once more tend to Smoke leaking blood and spinal fluid from the nose. A far too common occurrence as this was now the third time within the week they had suffered a Netrunner induced brain bleed. And unfortunately an expensive habit, as Smoke started mentally counting down to the ennies how much further this would push them back from being able to achieve their vengeance. K2 tried to reassure them that they would take care of the bill and the group began heading back towards Doc Hazzard's.
* Their trip was interrupted by the arrival of Trauma Team and Smoke immediately felt the beginnings of a panic attack rise at the sight of an Aivee. Only getting worse when the Team went over to Smoke and began calling her Miss Arasaka, voicing their fear of brain trauma when all Smoke could manage to get out was a 'huh' and 'who?' in response. Giving themself a shake and desperately trying to cling onto their well crafted nonchalant armor, Smoke asked how hard they must have hit their head to which Nova replied that it had to be pretty hard if it was effecting all of them. All the while with Trauma Team *insisting* they be allowed to do their job and take her in. And knowing it would only end in a Grippy Sock Vacation if they argued, Smoke relented into their care. But not before sending off a text to Kerry that they were scared.
* On the trip to the hospital they continued to ask her questions and Smoke felt her CPTSD begin to takeover, confessing to one of the medics that she had amnesia of large portions of time and she was afraid for her safety. They offered her medication to help with her building anxiety and Smoke took them up on the offer before letting them put her under for imaging and to begin repairing the damage done to her brain.
* When she awoke, Smoke was grateful to see her friends there with her. Though it was through a cloud of "canpakes and diazepam", she tried to put on a brave face despite her terror that she would have her freedom taken away again. A rush of fear that returned when it was brought to their attention that Goro Takemura was on his way as he was the primary contact on her Trauma Team account.
* Another panic attack rose and when questioned what they should do next Smoke found herself in a terrifying place where she didn't know what to do. Panic clawing it's way up her throat as fear soaked into her bones, she dimly heard the party go through the options before agreeing to stay there and see what would happen when he got there and plead innocence.
* When he seemed to recognize her, Smoke immediately began apologizing in Japanese, trying to explain that she had no idea what was going on, why people were calling her 'Chiyo', especially him calling her Chiyochan, and that she felt awful that she couldn't remember him. There was a micro expression that she caught of grief and it was like a lance in her heart because there was a strong sense that she could trust this man. So she told him the truth and risked throwing caution to the wind. The brave edgerunner facade was cast to the side and even she could hear the scared young woman in her voice, a way she hadn't remembered sounding since her time serving The Director back in New Angeles. As he locked the door and sat down next to her and asked if she remembered "sitting down in a garden, playing go with a man slowly losing a battle with age?" Smoke fought back tears she couldn't understand the source of as broken glass shards of memories clanged in her head, the feel of the *yukata* against her skin and the scent of *sakura* in her nose. Immediately another shard of a memory teased at the edges of her consciousness, of feeling sick and this man bringing her *miso ramen* and keeping her company while her pain stole her ability to move or stand.
* Smoke was told that Yorinobu was worried about her, a name that while she didn't understand her own connection to was not unknown to her. The heir apparent to the Arasaka Corporation, Saburo's son and his reputation were notorious in the city and Smoke felt the locks and chains begin to click around her as it was confirmed she had been in Arasaka's possession for the last thirty years. Goro informed her that he was to take her back to the Tower and that he came instead of Adam Smasher. That word, that murderous bastard that took her world from her was enough to spark Smoke back from the sheltered terror of Chiyo and they could hear to promise of slow, agonizing death in their words: "That would have been a mistake..."
* It was at this point Smoke tried everything she could think of to maintain her freedom and then it dawned on her. The respect and familial ties she felt to Goro felt like her ties to The Director beneath The High Table back home and a desperate plan sparked in her mind. It would cost her tipping her hand but if she could convince Goro and through him Yorinobu to let her still work on the AJ4X case it would benefit Arasaka interests. It was desperate, but honest and Smoke could have wept when he agreed it was a good idea.
* It was then the nurse interrupted on the comm that Kerry was on his way up and Goro didn't hide the look of irritation on his face upon hearing that. And after making sure everyone swore to protect her, a promise that Smoke knew carried weighty consequences that he would insist on being paid, Goro agreed to leave her in their care temporarily until the AJ4X business was finished and then she would go Home to Arasaka Tower. Passing out business cards, Goro left but not before he and Kerry gave each other pointed eye contact.
* After Kerry told them that they could check themself out and that he had their paperwork, Smoke said they wanted to head to Afterlife. The group headed to the bar and Rogue immediately brought them back into her own apartment deep inside the once morgue and the group scattered about to get some sleep after the realization they'd been going for 48 hours straight. Smoke took the bed and barely remembered their head hitting the pillow before unconsciousness took them.
* After they woke up the crew gathered up for food with Kerry and his dozens of takeout menus and Smoke requested veggie burgers with fried pickles. It was then Fridge insisted that they needed to talk and he headed out into the bar proper with the rest of the assembled Runaways following behind like ducklings. Fridge led them over to the old Runaways booth and an ache of nostalgic loss pierced at her heart seeing the carrion crew had painted over her loved ones tags and doodles. Just more proof that hers were dead and gone and immediately the urge to cause these 'Dukes' some serious pain was all she could think about.
* A dead broken part of her came back to life as her crew rallied around the ghosts of The Runaways, declaring these squatters were in their booth and to get out. They each lashed out with precision from Fridge pistol whipping the leader, her cracking both temples and ocular cavities, Nova pinning one's hand to the table with her knife and K2 shattering the saddle joints of another with her bat like a nun with a ruler. The sadism helped ease the ache in her chest that the panic had hollowed out earlier and she leaned in, voice dangerous and viper sweet for the leader "Now, apologize." The group limped off with their tail tucked firmly between their legs and when Rogue came over to christen the booth as theirs once more with wine, brandy, and champagne Smoke felt a little of the heartbroken ice in her heart chip off and melt away.
* Immediately Smoke and K2 began fixing up the graffiti on the wall, repainting the old Runaways tag as best she could from memory to replicate Mickey's style while leaving the bullet in the Duke's crown and putting sealant to make sure no one pried it out. But then Fridge turned the conversation back to why he did this in the first place, starting it off with his fear he may be a werewolf because "some of us aren't okay." They went bak and forth spilling their heartaches to one another, further strengthening the bonds of their little family. And while Smoke got nervous about how much K2's story sounded like what happened with Johnny and Alt she was comforted with K2's ability to understand that his particular demon was very much unwanted and that K2 understood that Ink was bad news.
* When the conversation turned to her, Smoke took the opportunity to finally let someone know her greatest secret. And while she tried to play it off as something that she had under control Smoke confessed that she, like so many others, also was in love with Johnny. But it was her love for Kerry and Rogue that meant she kept it to herself and never said a word. And that while there was a night where something seemed... different and Johnny had then asked to see her the next night after Samurai's show at Hammer because he had something important she needed to hear, Smoke showed up in time to hear that he had taken a few swipes at Kerry. When she went to the green room where Johnny said he'd met her, Smoke could clearly hear through the door that he and Alt were having sex and it shattered her heart into a thousand pieces. It was a message received loud and clear, after all what would he want with someone that looked like her at her size when he was actively sleeping with Night City's most desired? And while she left immediately to join the Runaways on a mission into the Badlands that would end in her losing her arm and falling into Arasaka's possession while presumed dead, Johnny would end up shot and Alt captured and eventually killed. This vulnerability however was too much for her at the moment, especially since there wasn't exactly anyone else with her lived experience as a plus sized at the time mostly femme person, Smoke steered the conversation to them open for "more stabby time." And extremely grateful to Nova when the conversation turned to her, reassuring her partner in crime that the sins of her family were not her own despite their attempts at blackmail and framing.
* Eventually the conversation turned towards what they would do next and the consensus was to go after the Widowmaker. They went over marcus Collins and his profile with a fine toothed comb, from his methods and background to his vic prof. It was as they were dissecting his favored prey and hunting techniques to see if they could maybe bait him out a creeping dread settled into Smoke's stomach and they blurted out that Pusik would be far too perfect prey for Collins and they had left her alone with Doc. Throwing back the rest of her drink, the crew scrambled onto their feet and out into the city proper and of course they passed one of the dozens of porn ads modeled after the Bitch Herself. Considering it worth the eddies, Smoke took aim and shot the vidscreen right between her eyes. Shorting out the billboard display of Alt and easing a little of the now risen reminder of how her and Johnny took great delight in putting her in her place for daring to think he would ever see her let alone a fantasy world where he would consider looking at her as anything other than his pet merc.
* Once they got to Doc's, seeing his lights off and door locked was enough proof they were right. The party split in half to pincer attack Collins and Smoke and K2 headed to the back at a sprint. After K2 got them inside, the office was in disarray with saline and sterile supplies scattered everywhere. They eventually found Collins and Pusik in the last recovery room and Smoke shattered the window and dove in knowing it was the last thing any sane person would do or expect. Collins however, proved to be the one lost to madness with another AJ4Xesque quote of "In my mind’s eye, my thoughts light fires in your cities,” before lobbing a homemade explosive at them. It was one of Jardani's tricks that sent Smoke jumping forward from the projectile, knowing that her back could take the burns better than her face or god forbid her nose or mouth breathing in the fire and scorching her lungs into uselessness.
* Nova put a slug into his chest and the Widowmaker collapsed onto the ground, burned from his own explosive and bleeding from a sucking chest wound. After breaking into his mind, though not before finding another AK4X wall, Smoke was able to determine that Collins was a murderer by his own design not controlled by AJ4X or Alt and another cryptic message was filed away to be sent to Trace. “Love conquers all; let us yield to love” before Collins died, ending his terror on Night City.
* Once she was told how bad off Doc Hazzard was when he was found in the front, Smoke took off once more at a run to help their friend and ripperdoc, praying to her ancestors that they'd be able to save his life through intervention of his cyberware.

#### **009: Radar Gun**

* Stabilizing Doc Hazard was stressful, but thankfully not impossible, and Smoke made sure to also take a good long look at Pusik again too. And once they were all united again, even Bit Chaos who came in ready to rumble from clear across Night City, Smoke mentioned that since they took out the Widowmaker they should at least turn in the body for the reward. After some conversation, they decided that they would give the body first to the NCPD and then in a few days time steal it back to sell to the Museum of the Damned after Pusik's suggestion. Thereby making eddies twice off of one job. Tarp and taping (duct specifically) Collins, the group unceremoniously deposited him into the back of Bit's van.
* After a call to Trace, they met up at 1PP and after being stopped by the beat cops at the front, they all scanned their SIDs to gain entrance. With Fridge even offering Collins hand as well. Everyone save Bit and Smoke used their real SIDs, Smoke using their name from back with her original boss in New Angeles. They met with Chief Voight and exchanged info back and forth; Smoke enlightening him on which of his "loyal" officers were setting him up or keeping him out of the loop and Voight offering to help out with both funds as well as replacing Doc's supplies. A bit of quid pro quo whilst setting up a resource for later. After all, a straight and narrow decent cop in NCPD was a miracle in and of itself. Best not lose that too quickly.
* The Runaways (and Runaway-adjacent with both Ker and Pusik) then proceeded to enjoy the rest of the 24 hours of free drinks at Afterlife and Rogue made sure the eddies found their way into everyone's accounts for the Widowmaker reward. They made sure to spend their time restoring the old tags and graffiti in the booth meticulously cleaning off the Dukes defacement, each reveal of the original Runaways making them emotional at how their life had changed but in a cyclical kind of way.
* Eventually they took on a new gig from a client named Luna who wanted their help stealing a rocket from Militech so they could get to the satellite that orbited terra firma in the hopes of hacking Arasaka records kept on station. Agreeing without much chatter, over some not so mango sticky rice inspired grub the group took one last lingering look out the megabuilding's windows to the Badlands below as they began preparations for the heist of a lifetime.

**010: The Great Train Robbery**

* The first and most critical part of planning the heist was the planning of it; from Fridge and Luna staying behind (as cover and in her 'Runner chair respectively), to Smoke getting everyone situated with ID Scramblers since the time for Rep would be after they got back to *terra firma*. Everyone chipped in with their own strengths and it wasn't long before they were heading into the desert with a new ally Nova called in named Aries. And after some creative hacking Smoke was able to ID all of the important players on the transport from 'runners, to solos, and the corpo that was lording over it all. On the backs of stolen ATVs, The Runaways headed out under the cover of darkness.
* Once they were in place in the Badlands, Smoke issued a fake sandstorm warning at 5AM to waste their resources prepping for something that wasn't a bunch of edgerunners jacking their cargo. As the Militech crew began to hunker down to weather the storm, they struck. And all chaos broke loose, though Smoke was glad for their foresight in purchasing The Twins (a rocket launcher and grenade launcher) that both them and Bit made good work of clearing out the rent-a-cop tin soldiers.
* And while they let the corpo and his personal bodyguard go, The Runaways were victorious in klepting the booster, albeit with two new bullet holes and a severely bruised leg from being thrown into a borg from the back of the ATV Nova was driving. Thankfully everyone was patched up by Haven, one of Aries' friends from Folk Nation and in exchange Smoke gave Haven all of her PAX rounds in trade gratefully. They spent the next few days laying low as the heat cooled off and prepping for a trip to space on a three day liquid only, caffeine free diet.

**011: Starman**

* The day of the launch saw one less astronaut than originally planned; with the news that Adam Smasher was in town and prowling about Smoke begged Fridge to stay behind and protect Kerry since his kids (Ted and Kim) would be in town visiting him. After promising to take the two teens to Afterlife once they got back Smoke said goodbye to her two friends that would be staying earthbound with a tight hug and kiss on the forehead before heading with Pusik and the others into the shadow of the mountains out in the Badlands. Luna to her credit made the adjustment without Fridge easily, adding rocks equaling in mass to Fridge onto his seat with a picture of the solo tapped to the topmost stone. The rocket itself had the Militech insignia removed and a space kitty tagged in its place with spray paint. And of course Luna and Bit had to bring both of their 'Terror Boxes' along for the ride, much to K2's chagrin. Once strapped in the crew readied themselves for launch with K2 doing the countdown and then with a middle finger to gravity... they were off.
* At Nova's suggestion, 'Magic Carpet Ride' played over the audio deck as they broke atmosphere and every single one of them was awed at the sprawling expanse of stars as space welcomed them into orbit. When the O'Neill Space Station radioed in the group had an anxious few seconds as they scrambled to figure out what designation they were to go by before Luna finally came out with The Luna II, and after some creative bullshitting they informed the group that they would need to be scanned or willingly submit their SIDs. Smoke had a moment of panic unsure which of her IDs would come up on the scan and offered up her NUSA one that The Director set up for her; Alyonushka Jovonovich, and after all was logged in they were allowed to dock.
* Once clearing the airlock, they were met with General Alev Kondrasha and Suki Sato, an Arasaka employee who asked if 'Chiyo' was here for a treatment. This sent Smoke into a bit of an internal panic, realizing what she thought was her first time in space was apparently something else that was shrouded in mystery from her time with Arasaka. While Pusik went off with whom they could only assume was her father, the Runaways went with Suki to the Arasaka lounge, walking by cryogenics on their way.
* Since they had an hour to kill, Smoke and the others tried to settle in as best they could. Though it did require some creative lying on their part when Suki seemed upset 'Chiyo' didn't recognize her. Once they were left alone, Luna began to hack into the station's security, searching Arasaka files as Smoke wandered over to the large window and the view of the Earth sprawling beneath them. Taking a quick photo, Smoke sent off a text to their 'mother'. "Can you imagine the Long Road led one of us up here? Miss you Mama, and I promise I'm okay."
* It was then after having some tea that Luna bolted up from the chair, sick from Contagion. Thanks to Nova she was able to stabilize and she shared what she had found. "Project Kamishibai” that had a few names listed as subjects that gave Smoke pause including Pusik's but it was Subject 003: Linder, Robert John that hit her in the solar plexus and nearly brought her to her knees again from grief. The soul deep need for answers had her storming onto her feet and to General Kondrasha, making a mental note at how Pusik seemed detached. She made it abundantly clear to Kondrasha that she knew what was going on and danced around Pusik's involvement and the general took the bait and sent her off making sure to infer that he had no willing part in Saburo's pet project. Once Pusik was gone Smoke ripped all pretense away demanding to know where Johnny's body was. There was no way she was leaving his remains up here and not only she but Kerry and Rogue and the rest of his loved ones deserved to bury him and heal some of their grief. The cold exterior of the general changed and he agreed to help them in exchange for them helping his daughter and both Smoke and Nova insisted that Pusik was like family to them, and the weight of being called Family by the Romani and Nomad was enough for him. With directions to Cold Storage and an insistence to hurry, Smoke took off to find the body of the man she loved and lost thirty years ago.
* The scene in cryo remains a panicked blur to Smoke; after dropping the medtech inside, Smoke passed by pod to pod looking for Johnny. It was finding his that Smoke nearly passed out from shock again as the readings were clear and undeniable. It wasn't his body kept frozen, it was him. Johnny was alive and Smoke begged Nova to help her get him out of there. Everyone began scrambling; getting all the tools and medication he would need after being woken up, a wheelchair, as Nova began the unthawing process. A shard ejected out of the pod and Smoke snatched it up but it was too much for her deck to read. And while she contemplated popping it into her neurolink, she noted Johnny had picked up one of his own at some point and instinctively she plugged it into the rockerboy.
* Stripping out of her spacesuit, Smoke tugged on a set of scrubs and shaved alcohol against her Kiroshis to irritate the sockets mimicking a medical emergency as they took off from cryo to the rocket. They weren't stopped, miraculously, and they began to pull the stones out of the capsule before getting the unconscious Johnny onto the rocket. They were about to disembark when O'Neill's security demanded they stop and wait out the solar flare. Not wanting to risk losing Johnny after she finally had him back, Smoke begged Luna to get them out of there. Despite being told they would never again be allowed on the station, Luna said 'screw it' and they began the descent back to the ground. With a text to Rogue and Kerry asking "Whose problem am I?", Kerry agreed to meet them at their water landing off the coast of Night City proper.
* It was as they began to be tossed around by reentry, Johnny woke up and immediately fell into a panic attack. With his metal arm he began to choke Smoke out and despite the party trying to navigate reentry and a rampaging Johnny Silverhand, unconsciousness was closing in on her. In a last ditch effort to get some sense into him, Smoke repeated the very first thing she ever said to him all those years ago, "Fuck you too, baby." before falling unconscious.

**012: My Dead Drunk Friends**

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**013: Born to Run**

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**014: All Along the Watchtower**

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**015: Safe and Sound**

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