It had barely been 24 hours since Leo arrived in Night City, and Trauma Team already had him on their radar.
Just one more line — "Located in the southeast corner, second floor, on a double bed." — and his entire personal information dossier would be complete.
"Shironeko, how did my information get leaked?"
"Father, you are using a licensed implant. According to 2077's laws, companies have the right to collect basic information after a product is sold. Additionally, your apartment rental is registered online, making your location easily accessible to corporations."
"But this email is from Trauma Team. They're not even affiliated with Biotech. Oh... I get it. The big companies cooperate and share their databases, don't they?"
"Precisely. Many corporations with mutually beneficial relationships exchange data."
Goddamn corporations, working together to squeeze the little guys. Naturally, the laws were written to serve the companies, ensuring their monopolies and control.
Leo was in no position to fight back. All he could do was frown in frustration.
"Father, I recommend purchasing a medical insurance plan. Your body is still fragile, and access to emergency medical care could prove crucial."
"...You're right. Let's take a look."
Leo couldn't deny it. Trauma Team had left quite an impression — their high-speed AVs, heavily armed medics, and competence far outshone the NCPD.
Time to check the plans —
Silver Membership: 500 Eurodollars per month, or an annual fee of 5,500 Eurodollars.
Standard response time within 10 minutes. If delayed, receive a 50% discount on "ammunition" and "fuel."
Choose between receiving surgery onboard the AV or transport to a designated medical facility.
Gold Membership: 1,000 Eurodollars per month, or 11,000 Eurodollars annually.
Guaranteed 7-minute response time, or a full refund.
Free surgery onboard the AV with optional hospital transport.
Platinum Membership: 2,000 Eurodollars per month, with a minimum payment of 6 months upfront.
3 to 5-minute guaranteed response time, with an average of under 3 minutes.
Full combat intervention — threats will be neutralized to ensure the patient's safety.
Transport to the best medical facilities with premium recovery care.
Additional benefits include 24/7 surveillance, emergency extraction, and nanotechnology-assisted post-op recovery.
The stark difference in descriptions left no doubt — Trauma Team desperately wanted customers to choose Platinum. Of course, most people struggling to get by in Night City would settle for Silver.
Leo rested his chin on his hand, scrolling back to inspect the fine print.
As expected, there were extra charges for equipment damage, medics injured on duty, and any unexpected complications. Calling Trauma Team meant a steady stream of fees. A single rescue could easily set someone back hundreds of Eurodollars.
"Not cheap at all... Platinum it is. Six-month plan."
"Shironeko, is the contact information they provided reliable?"
"Yes. After verifying through multiple sources, the listed contact is indeed a senior business manager from Trauma Team's Night City division."
"Good. I'll wait for V to return, and we'll sign up together."
V may be a badass, but she was also a small-time merc. Ensuring her safety with a Trauma Team plan wasn't a bad investment.
After double-checking for any shady clauses, Leo found that it was just good old-fashioned corporate greed — nothing too sinister.
It was eerily similar to the American healthcare system of the past.
The elevator chimed.
V returned, bags in hand.
She nodded at Leo, carrying her belongings to her room. Sensing she needed some personal space, Leo didn't disturb her.
A few minutes later, V emerged, cracking open a can of soda. "All set. You need anything?"
Leo pushed off from the desk, his chair gliding back a meter. "I just got a Trauma Team promotional email. I'm thinking of signing up for a membership. Have you used it before?"
V leaned in, taking a glance at the screen. "The email's legit. But come on, do I look like someone with a corporate health plan?"
Leo raised a brow. "Wouldn't mercs have a high demand for Trauma Team services?"
"Of course. But it's pricey. Smaller merc squads usually pool money to get a shared membership. If someone gets injured, they call Trauma Team for help.
They're generally trustworthy — even if they find out you aren't a member, they'll still patch you up. And if you pay extra, they'll get you to a medical center."
She paused for a moment.
"But if you're a solo..."
V's voice trailed off.
"If you screw up, you're dead. If you can crawl away, a black market ripperdoc is cheaper."
It was clear. In Night City, poverty killed.
"Perfect. I'll get you one too."
"Wait, what!?"
"Company benefits. Think of it like that. I saw Kang Tao's job listings — they give new hires Gold memberships, and if you last 40 years, they upgrade you to Platinum."
"That's Kang Tao. Regular companies aren't even in the same league."
Ignoring her protests, Leo called the Trauma Team manager.
Bzz... Bzz...
Calling directly through his neural implant felt strange.
A holographic contact icon appeared in the corner of his vision — a Trauma Team logo, along with the manager's name and title.
Within seconds, the call connected.
The avatar lit up, revealing a middle-aged man in a sharp suit with a professional air.
"Good day, Mr. Leonardo Di Caprio. Welcome to Trauma Team Night City Division. How may I assist you today?"
Leo gave a polite nod. "Hello. I'd like to purchase a Trauma Team membership."
"An excellent choice, Mr. Di Caprio! Would you like me to review the membership tiers once more?"
"No need. I've already decided. I want one Platinum membership and one Gold membership. How do I proceed?"
The manager's smile widened. "Platinum? A fine choice befitting someone of your esteemed status!
Upon confirmation, our AV will be dispatched to your location within 3 minutes. Our personnel will ensure a seamless onboarding process, demonstrating our commitment to safety and excellence."
"Platinum membership... damn." V muttered under her breath.
Leo nodded again. "I confirm. I'm at an apartment in Highwood Canyon. Send your team."
"Understood. Kindly prepare to open your balcony upon arrival. Our AV will dock directly outside your apartment."
"Got it."
Leo ended the call, turning to V with a grin.
"Efficient, huh? They're even sending an AV just to sign me up."
"Of course they are," V scoffed. "They're here to collect money, not risk their lives. Just watch — they won't even take three minutes."
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