The ripperdocs began prepping Rina. They stripped her down, secured her tightly to the surgical chair—head locked in place to avoid any involuntary movement. Even under Ivan’s watchful eye, and with the utmost precision, the installation would be far from painless.
The operation started.
Screams echoed through the sterile room. Rina thrashed, kicked, clenched her fists until her knuckles cracked from the strain. The pain was unbearable—white hot, endless—and eventually, it drowned her consciousness.
She blacked out.
When she woke, the pain was gone—no fatigue, no sting. A cocktail of medkits pumped through her system, keeping the agony at bay.
“Excellent, Rina. You managed to survive,” Ivan said with that cruel smirk of his. “And I even left you a gift.”
She barely registered his voice. Everything spun. Her vision was hazy. But as she forced herself upright and looked around—dozens of mirrors surrounded her. In one, she caught the gleam of chrome along her back.
A Sandevistan.
“It’s a Militech Falcon Sandevistan Mk.5,” Ivan continued. “Now you won’t have to worry about that techie again.”
Ivan stepped out, giving her a moment to adapt.
But Rina didn’t feel pride. She didn’t feel power. What surged in her chest was something far older.
Frustration. Shame. Rage.
For the first time in years, Rina broke. She screamed, tears streaming, fists slamming into the cold metal walls. She had never failed a mission—never, not only that, but the fact that she now had two implatns that she didn't want. And yet here she was, carved open, all because of one person.
She wiped her face, jaw clenched.
Then she moved.
She was going to find Nova.
Elsewhere, Nova sifted through old data, picking apart the last traces of Maine’s crew. Their jobs. Their routes. He could see it now—everything lining up. Pilar’s death was close. Too close.
It was not an option to show up bare handed, he aligned a knife, a gun and a stunn granade, al igual que unos cuantos suplementos en caso de ser necesario. Nova stood up from his screen, ready.
"Now I can stop this,” he muttered, bolting into the streets of Night City.
He sprinted across the urban sprawl, weaving through alleys, past neon signs and vendor stalls. Every second counted.
But he had no idea he was being watched.
Just before reaching the known site of Pilar’s final moment, something yanked him sideways—tight wire, clean angle—dragging him into a shadowed alley. He barely had time to react, dodging a flash of steel aimed for his throat.
“I don’t have time for this bullshit!” Nova shouted, throwing his back to the wall as he looked up.
It was her.
Rina. Nova took his backpack and throw it at the back of a dumpster.
But not the same Rina from before. This wasn’t professional.
This was personal.
“Because of you…” she screamed, voice trembling with fury. “The only thing I felt again was pain! Frustration! You fucking bastard!”
The fight had begun.
Nova was still used to Rina’s rhythm. But something felt… off. Her movement had changed—sharper, faster. Suddenly, she was right in front of him. Like a lightning bolt. He barely dodged—but not clean.
A deep slice opened across his abdomen.
“San…devistan?” Nova muttered, clutching the bleeding wound.
Rina twirled her dagger with cold precision, readying for the next lunge.
Nova thought fast.
Her Sandevistan’s probably on cooldown now. I need to save mine for her next burst. If I want a shot at this, she has to burn out.
He drew his knife. He wasn’t used to fighting with a blade—it showed. Rina didn’t waste time—she shifted into her rope technique, titanium line snapping around her limbs, making her movements erratic and brutal.
Nova couldn’t afford a long fight. Time was slipping.
Then she activated it again.
Her Sandevistan.
Nova responded in kind.
Time slowed—both bodies blurring through the alley, metal flashing, clothes tearing. Nova’s system was slightly faster, slightly longer lasting—but it wasn’t a guaranteed win. Rina’s instincts were razor sharp. Her combat reflexes were feral.
His hands were already cut up, slick with blood. Nova ditched the blade. This wasn’t his game.
He went back to what he knew: body strikes, tight form. A not so trained Muay Thai
After dozens of exchanged hits, slashes, and dodges—he finally landed a clean kick to her gut, sending her reeling back a few steps. He didn’t wait. Pulled a stunn grenade from his belt, lobbed it forward, and blinked behind a dumpster with a last jolt of Sandevistan energy.
Rina tried to escape, but she’d burned too much juice.
The flash hit her dead-on.
Blinding light. Ears rang.
By the time she regained her senses, Nova was there—disarming her and jamming his blade into her side.
“Agh… uuh,” Rina gasped, grabbing him weakly. “This doesn’t make sense… I trained my whole life. You’re just a techie.”
“I know,” Nova said, breathless, blood-soaked. “Sorry. I cheated.”
He handed her a few medkits and kept her pinned. “Don’t pull the knife or you’ll bleed out. These’ll hold you for now. Stay still.”
He tied her up to the emergency stair rails with a quick line from his gear. Tight. Secure. No room for escape.
Then he was gone—wounded, but moving.
He had no time left.
Rina lay there, panting. In pain. Humiliated. She tapped into her new neural implant—grabbing Nova’s last surface memories before his exit.
What she saw wasn’t a mission.
It wasn’t a contract.
It was heart.
A flicker of warmth in a city built to crush it.
Nova’s desperate plan to save Maine’s crew. The nights of research. The flashes of laughter in memories not his own. A single goal: save them.
Rina’s rage cooled. She just stared into the sky, chest rising slowly.
It reminded her of better days.
Of her father.
Nova burned through his Sandevistan, sprinting full-force across Night City.
His body screamed at him. Vision blurred. Pain pulsed with every step.
But finally—he saw them.
Everyone in the Maine crew
And the psycho.
Nova’s eyes widened. Pilar was already in range. On a truck container just by the side of the psycho.
The psycho raised his weapon.
Maine looked at his back in instinct barely looking at a scene.
Nova extended his hand—Boom!—the street lit up with the shockwave. The shot blew off Pilar's jaw.
Maine turned fast. David froze. Kiwi was already moving.
It all felt in slow motion.
A missile launched—headed straight for David. He was in shock didn't move, didn't hear anything.
Maine dove, pushing him out of the way. The rest scrambled for cover.
“What the fuck?!” Rebecca yelled, seeing her brother on the ground—jaw shattered, body limp.
“Fuuuuckeeeeer!!” she roared, charging forward with Nova, both unloading rounds.
Nova grabbed Pilar, ducked behind the container, yelling:
“It’s not me! It’s him!”
Blood pouring, hands trembling, he yanked open his backpack. “C’mon… something in here’s gotta work…”
With leftover medkits, soldering iron and metal plates, he patched Pilar just enough to stop the bleeding. But he needed medical attention as soon as possible.
Across the street, Maine restrained Rebecca.
He’d seen it. Nova had saved Pilar, or at least the great mayority of him.
But Rebecca wasn’t listening—she grabbed a shotgun, fired at the psycho’s tank. The blast shifted the psycho’s aim—now locked on her.
“Kiwi! Reset Becca's system—now!” Maine shouted, fists clenched, cyberarms jammed.
“On it.” Kiwi’s voice cut in, calm, neutral.
Rebecca collapsed—systems offline—just in time to avoid the next shot.
“Where is Lucy?!” David screamed, finally snapping back.
He turned.
She was already at the side of the container
She’d heard everything Nova had done.
The psycho spotted Lucy and fired a missile that slammed into the container just a hair away from where she stood.
David’s fury ignited instantly. He activated his Sandevistan and dashed to the psycho’s side. His pistol was drawn and aimed at the psycho’s head. He’d never killed anyone before, but he remembered his mother. He had to protect Lucy—no matter the cost.
Boom. The shot echoed through the alley and the psycho dropped. David rushed to Lucy, relief flooding his face.
“You okay?” he asked, breath heavy.
“I’m fine,” she replied, shaking but alive.
But the psycho wasn’t dead. Barely conscious, he still raised his gun, aimed straight at David’s head.
Nova didn’t wait for things to unfold naturally. He activated his Sandevistan and shoved David out of the line of fire just in time. Maine arrived and with a brutal punch, smashed the psycho’s head ripping it out of its body. The head crumpled near Rebecca, who was now recovered and furious.
“I was the only one who could kill Pilar, you fucker!” she shouted, firing again at the psycho’s head.
Nova appeared from the container. He held Pilar, who was unconscious and bleeding heavily but breathing.
“I shoved a tube down his throat so he won’t choke on his own blood. Sealed the worst wounds with metal plates and coagulants, but it’s not perfect. He needs an expert. Now.”
Everyone stared, uncertain and silent.
“Who the hell are you?” Rebecca demanded, aiming her weapon at Nova.
“Rebecca, wait,” Maine said firmly, stepping in. “He saved Pilar. That’s a fact. How long do we have? —He asked Nova”
“Twenty minutes, tops. The coagulants won’t hold, and the meds are temporary,” Nova replied coldly, his voice sharp and precise.
Maine thought for a moment, then made his decision.
“Rebecca, Kiwi, Dorio—get Pilar to the ripperdoc. Fast. I’ll transfer the money. The rest of you stay here. We’ll talk to our stranger.”
They moved quickly, urgency in their steps. Maine watched Nova closely, noting the blood and exhaustion but also the determination. No one in Night City does this for free.
“Talk,” Maine said. “Who are you? Who sent you?”
Nova shook his head. “Nova. Nova Stray. I’d explain, but I have something urgent to handle.” He turned to leave.
“Not so fast,” Maine called out. “You’re not done here.”
Nova didn’t hesitate. He ran. David activated his Sandevistan and chased after him, but Nova was quicker. He twisted, grabbed David’s arm, and slammed him to the ground near Maine.
“Look, I helped. What else do you want? I’ll explain later. I don’t have time now,” Nova said as he sprinted away.
Nova ran through the streets, lungs burning, wounds reopening. When he reached the alley, Rina was still there—barely alive, bleeding out.
He cut her down and slung her over his shoulder. His legs shook from the weight and pain. As he turned to leave, he froze.
There they were. Maine, David, and Lucy. Watching.
No words were spoken. Just silence.
David rushed over as soon as he saw them, grabbing Rina from the other side to help Nova carry her.
“Do you know anyone that can help her?” he asked.
Maine watched in silence. Maybe he understood Nova a little better now. He just gave a nod.
“Take the car, David. Is on you now.”
“I know someone,” Lucy said, calm but serious. She led them to a back-alley ripperdoc they’d used before. The kind of guy who didn’t ask too many questions.
“You again?” Doc sighed as he looked them over. “You know I’m not licensed, right?”
“I didn’t want to come either,” Lucy muttered. “They needed help.”
“Oi, oi, sweetheart… looks like you lost a fight,” Doc said, smirking as he looked at Rina. “Alright, I’ll help. Hope you’re packing eddies.”
Nova stepped in, firm and direct. “Don’t worry about the money. Just save her.”
Doc didn’t argue. After hours of work, he stepped back into the room. “She’s stable. Took some damage but she’ll make it.” Lucy was also gonna get cheked so she stepped in—she had taken a knock to the head, nothing major. Nova, despite the fight, had healed decently thanks to his organic Sandevistan.
While they waited outside, David struck up a conversation.
“You’ve got a Sandevistan too, right?” he asked, a bit bold.
“Uh… yeah. Sort of,” Nova answered, clearly uncomfortable. It was the first normal interaction he had with any of them. It felt… real but also weird. They were totally the same persons he knew in the series but in the flesh. Nova saw them as a true and dynamic family, it was warm, chaotic but somehow whole. Something he never had in his past life and deep down, he wanted to protect that, even if he is not part of it.
“I wish I didn’t have it,” Nova continued. “Implants are dangerous. Especially the Sandevistan. Use it too much, you go psycho. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?”
“You mean James Norris. I’m not gonna end up like him,” David replied, confident. “I feel different. Like the implant’s part of me.”
“Don’t be an idiot,” Nova snapped. “The girl—you like her, right?”
David blinked. “How’d you—”
“Then don’t throw it all away because you think you’re special. You might be strong, you might go far, but Night City doesn’t give a damn. If you want to protect her, protect yourself first, I am pretty sure her life is also meaningles without yours. Don’t take implants lightly. And treasure what you have. You only live once.”
The door creaked open. Lucy stepped out, but Doc stopped her.
“Take your friend,” he said, pointing inside. “I’m not a hotel. She’s stable—get her out.”
With Lucy’s help, Rina walked out, still weak. Nova moved in to support her.
“It makes no sense that you stab me, then save me,” she muttered, voice low.
“I know,” Nova replied. “But if I hadn’t done it, you would’ve run and tried to finish me off. I had no choice. Needed to do what I had to do… even if the method was... messy.”
“I told you my name,” Nova said. “But you haven’t told me yours.”
“I left both your contacts in your chip,” Lucy cut in. “We’ll be in touch.” She turned and left. David followed and while looking at his back Nova glanced like saying: Go for it kid.
When they were gone Nova walked with Rina but she still didn't understand why Nova keep helping her.
"You know I can stab you in any second, why are you still here."
“You’re not in any condition to be alone,” he said to Rina. “And if I’m not wrong… you’ve got nowhere to go. You work for Ivan, right? If he sees you like this, you’re done.”
Rina looked down. Nova was right. In this city, people were disposable.
Despite the risk, Nova brought her to his place. He didn’t know what Rina was thinking, or if she’d try something later. But he couldn’t just leave her out there. That wasn’t who he was.
He laid her down in bed, handed her a glass of water, and said:
“If you need something, let me know. You’ve got a few days of healing ahead. I’ll deal with Ivan. Just rest.”
Rina didn’t want to trust him. Or maybe she didn’t want to owe him. She knew now that he wouldn’t hurt her—hell, he spent money to save her. But deep inside, she just couldn’t believe anyone in Night City could be that pure.