As Elara and Skaya disappeared upstairs, Danny turned to me, his eyes reflecting a mix of fatigue and resolve. "Ryker, what I'm about to tell you... it's a part of my life I've kept hidden, even from friends like you."

I leaned forward, my curiosity piqued. "I'm listening, Danny. Lay it on me."

Danny took a deep breath, his gaze drifting to the past. "I was in the NUSA army, Ryker. Saw action during the Unification War, or the Metal Wars, depending on who you ask."

I nodded, aware of the war's history but never having known Danny's role in it. "That was a nasty piece of business," I said.

"Yeah," Danny agreed, a distant look in his eyes. "It was between the NUSA and the Free States. I was just a soldier, caught in the crossfire of politics and corporate games. Militech and Arasaka were the puppeteers, each pulling strings for their own gain."

He paused, collecting his thoughts. "The war... it changed me, Ryker. I saw things, did things that I'm not proud of. When the ceasefire was signed, I couldn't go back to a normal life. That's when I became an edgerunner."

I tried to reconcile this new revelation with the Danny I knew. "An edgerunner, huh? Doing contracts in Night City?"

Danny nodded. "Mostly in Little China. Some contracts were simple, others... not so much. Sometimes there was killing involved. It was a way to keep my edge, to not forget what I had become."

His confession cast a new light on the man sitting before me. "And the war, Danny... did it end for you?"

He chuckled humorlessly. "War never really ends, Ryker. It just takes on a new form. In Night City, I found a different battlefield, one where I could use my skills, stay under the radar."

It explained the proficiency with which he handled himself during our encounters with danger, the haunted look in his eyes I had often noticed but never understood.

As the revelation of Danny's past settled in the air, a thoughtful silence enveloped the room. I contemplated the depth of what he had just shared, realizing the complexity of his journey and the burdens he carried.

"So, the parcel you gave to Maelstrom..." I began, trying to connect the dots, "that was part of your next contract?"

Danny nodded, a shadow of regret passing over his face. "Yes, it was. Things have a way of getting complicated in this line of work. Not everything goes as planned."

I exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the situation. "I had a feeling something bad was going to happen. Can't say I was wrong, but thanks for pulling my ass out of the fire back there."

A faint smile crept onto Danny's lips, but it quickly faded into a more serious expression. "Ryker, there's something else. Back at the Maelstrom base, I saw something... unusual about you."

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "Unusual? What do you mean?"

He leaned forward, his voice lowering. "Your eyes, they... they glowed golden for a moment. And the electric shock from your hands... it wasn't normal, Ryker. What's going on with you?"

Danny's expression turned from disbelief to concern as I recounted my experience with the CogniSync Processor. The moment I mentioned getting it installed by Fingers near Jig Jig Street, his face contorted into an unmistakable expression of disdain.

"Fingers? Seriously, Ryker?" Danny groaned, rubbing his temples. "That guy's a hack job waiting to happen. Everyone in the city knows that."

I shrugged, a mix of embarrassment and frustration in my voice. "Yeah, well, hindsight is 20/20. But after that thing got installed, things started getting weird. I began seeing... shadows, hovering over people. Then, it escalated. I saw codes, patterns that made no sense."

I paused, recalling the disturbing incidents. "There was this one time, I followed a guy who was being shadowed, and he ended up killing someone in a store and ran off. It was like I could see the bad intentions around people, manifesting as these shadows."

Danny listened intently, his frown deepening with each word. "That's some heavy stuff, Ryker. Sounds like you're tapping into something way beyond typical cyberware functions. Are you sure it's just the processor?"

I sighed, feeling the weight of uncertainty. "I don't know, Danny. It feels like I'm losing my grip on reality sometimes."

Changing the subject, I recounted how I met Skaya, detailing the mysterious circumstances and her timely interventions. Danny listened, his expression unreadable.

"And you trust her?" he finally asked. "She had a contract on you, Ryker. That doesn't just go away."

I met his gaze, a turmoil of thoughts swirling in my head. "I want to trust her, Danny. She's saved my ass more than once. But yeah, I know the contract thing is a red flag. It's just... there's something about her. I can't quite put my finger on it."

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Danny's face was etched with resolve as he listened to my concerns about Skaya. "I'll dig up what I can on her," he promised.

I nodded, appreciative of his support. "Thanks, Danny."

His expression remained serious, devoid of his usual playful demeanor. "Now's the time to confront Skaya, Ryker. She needs to come clean about who put the contract on your head and why. This isn't just about trust anymore; it's about survival."

"Yeah, you're right," I said, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. "It's time to get some answers."

As Danny slowly rose from the ripperdock bed, he glanced at my attire with a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Ryker, before we do anything else, you seriously need to change out of those ridiculous clothes. I've got some stuff upstairs that should fit you."

I couldn't help but smirk. "What, you don't like my current fashion statement? I thought I was setting trends here in Night City, you picked it up for me at my flat."

Danny shook his head, a slight grin playing on his lips. "The only trend you're setting is 'target practice'. Come on, let's get you looking like you actually belong in this city."

We made our way upstairs, with me trailing behind Danny. In a room that looked like it hadn't been used in a while, Danny rummaged through a wardrobe and tossed me some clothes – a basic but stylish ensemble that was a far cry from my current garb.

"Here, this should help you blend in a bit more," Danny said, throwing a jacket my way.

I caught the jacket, inspecting it. "Blend in, huh? Guess that's one way to avoid becoming a bullet magnet."

As I changed into the new clothes, I couldn't help but feel a bit more like my old self. The weight of the fabric, the snug fit – it was comforting in its normality.

We headed to the kitchen, where Elara and Skaya were sitting in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The aroma of fresh coffee filled the air, creating a stark contrast with the tense atmosphere.

I entered the room, feeling the shift in dynamics. "Smells good in here," I commented, trying to break the ice with a bit of levity.

Elara glanced up, giving a small nod of acknowledgment. Skaya's expression was unreadable, her eyes flickering towards me briefly before returning to her coffee. The tension in the kitchen was thick enough to slice with a knife. Elara, ever the gracious host despite the circumstances, busied herself in the kitchen, her movements a soothing background hum to the intense standoff at the table. She placed a plate of hastily assembled sandwiches in front of me, her hands slightly trembling. "Here you go, Ryker. It's not much, but it should help."

I gave her a grateful nod, my stomach growling in anticipation. "Elara, you're a lifesaver. Literally." I couldn't resist adding a touch of irony to lighten the mood, even if it was just for a moment.

Danny, however, remained laser-focused, his eyes locked on Skaya. The gun on the table was a silent testament to the gravity of the situation. "Skaya, we don't have time for games. Who's after Ryker?"

Skaya shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her usual poise faltering under Danny's intense scrutiny. She took a deep breath, her fingers nervously tapping against the mug of coffee. "Danny, I... It's complicated. The contract on Ryker came from high up. Names ? I know nothing.."

I took a bite of the sandwich, trying to appear nonchalant, but my mind raced. Skaya's hesitation, her careful choice of words.

Elara, sensing the escalating tension, remained quiet, her gaze flitting between us all. Skaya finally broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not just about who put out the contract. It's about why. Ryker, there's something about you... something that makes you valuable to certain people."

I choked slightly on my sandwich, caught off guard. "Valuable? What am I, a collector's item?" Despite the seriousness of her words, I couldn't help but inject a bit of sarcasm.

Danny's expression didn't change. "Skaya, we need names."

Skaya's eyes darted to the gun, then back to Danny. She seemed to be weighing her options, the inner conflict playing out across her face. "Okay. I'll tell you. But we need to be careful. This goes deeper than you can imagine." Skaya took a deep, steadying breath, her gaze shifting uneasily between Danny's stern face and the gun on the table. "The contract came from a fixer, one I didn't recognize. He didn't give a name, just the job details," she began, her voice low but clear.

Danny's brow furrowed, his grip on the table tightening. "Go on," he urged, his tone indicating there was no room for evasion.

"The job was straightforward, at least on paper," Skaya continued. "There was a guy, Ryker Bale," she said, glancing at me, "with a brain implant that wasn't supposed to be his. The task was to neutralize him and secure the implant."

I nearly spat out my coffee. "Neutralize, huh? That's one way to put it."

Skaya ignored my interjection, her eyes locked with Danny's. "I tried to do it at the bar where we first met. But something... happened. I can't explain it. I just passed out and when I woke up, it was just in time to see Ryker leave a house in Santo Domingo before it blew up."

"So, after the contract on me fell through, you became a target too?" I asked, trying to piece together the puzzle.

Skaya nodded, a hint of fear flickering in her eyes. "Yes, I barely escaped. They were armed to the teeth, almost like MaxTac. It was clear someone wanted me dead for failing the job."

Danny's expression hardened. "This is bigger than we thought. Both of you are in deep."

I took another bite of the sandwich, my mind racing with thoughts. "So, what's the plan? We can't just sit here waiting for the next move."

Danny leaned back, his gaze shifting between Skaya and me. "First things first, we need to find out who's behind this. Skaya, you need to tap into your contacts, see if you can trace back to this fixer."

Skaya nodded in agreement. "I'll do what I can."

I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. "And what about me? I can't just sit around."

Danny regarded me with a thoughtful expression, clearly mulling over our next steps. "Elara," he called out, turning to her. "Can you give Ryker a check-up? We need to ensure his body can handle that implant properly."

Elara nodded, a determined look on her face. "Of course, Danny. I'll do what I can."

I interjected, "Doc Ito already did some work on me after the... incident. I've been feeling better since then."

Danny's eyes narrowed slightly. "Doc Ito's good, an honest man. But we need more than just 'better' for what's coming. Elara, I want you to upgrade Ryker a bit. We can't afford another episode of him shooting bolts from his hands unintentionally."

I couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle. "Upgrades, huh? Well, as long as I don't end up looking like a Christmas tree."

Elara smiled faintly at my attempt at humor. "Don't worry, Ryker. I'll be subtle. But we need to ensure you're as stable as possible."

Danny stood up, his demeanor shifting to action mode. "While Elara's working on Ryker, I'll start digging for more information on our mysterious fixer and whoever's pulling the strings behind this contract."

Skaya, who had been silent, spoke up. "I'll help with that. I have a few contacts that might know something."

Danny nodded. "Good. We need all the intel we can get. This goes deeper than we thought, and we're going to need every advantage we can muster. Let's get to work."