So there I was, fresh off toppling Kurt Hansen in Dogtown, thinking maybe I'd finally get a break. Yeah, right. Turns out removing a dictator is the easy part – what comes after? That's where things get really messy.

When Mr. Hands Comes Calling

I'd barely set foot back in Dogtown when my holo lit up. Mr. Hands, naturally. The guy who operates from the shadows wanted a face-to-face meeting, which honestly made me nervous. But hey, when the fixer who runs half the district calls, you answer.

Heading to the Heavy Hearts club, I took the elevator past the bartender to his private room. There on the coffee table sat a datashard – my introduction to the two players fighting to fill Hansen's very large, very bloody shoes: Lieutenant Colonel Bennett and Jago, Hansen's former accountant.

Mr. Hands laid it out simple: he wanted Bennett in charge, but Jago needed to back down peacefully. No bodies, no mess. Just... political maneuvering. In Dogtown. Sure, that'll work out fine.

Becoming Someone I'm Not

Here's where it got wild. To pull this off, I had to become Aguilar – this legendary Havana assassin everyone's terrified of. Mr. Hands provided everything: Aguilar's iconic gun Mancinella, the suit, and a Behavioral Imprint chip that would literally turn me into this person.

I headed to a run-down cabin near the meeting spot to transform. Pro tip? Save your game before using that chip, because you can't save while you're wearing someone else's personality. Learned that one the hard way.

First Stop: The Voodoo Boys

Walking down to meet the Voodoo Boys as Aguilar felt surreal. These guys were waiting at the meeting location, and I had options. With enough Cool (20 points), I could talk them down peacefully. Otherwise... well, Aguilar's reputation did the talking through violence. The character has decent health and regeneration, so combat wasn't too bad if things went south.

The Jago Situation

When Jago rolled up in his escorted vehicle with his guard Charlie, I had some choices to make:

• Play it mysterious: Ask about cigars in Havana (staying in character)

• Flex my reputation: With 20 Cool, I could make both Jago and Charlie back down without violence

• Get aggressive: Either way, Charlie pulled a gun and... yeah, that didn't end well for him

What caught my attention though? Jago dropped some intel that Bennett was dealing with Arasaka. That changed everything. The last thing Dogtown needed was Arasaka's fingers in the pie.

Bennett and the Arasaka Problem

I tracked Bennett to Downtown in the City Center. His guard was easy enough to handle – a quick stealth takedown, body in the garbage, classic merc work. Then I waited in Bennett's vehicle like some kind of corporate thriller protagonist.

When Bennett showed up, I had two paths:

1. Threaten him directly about dropping Arasaka – he didn't like that, fists flew, but he surrendered around 30% health

2. Offer a deal – mention Jago's out of the picture, and suddenly Bennett's all smiles

I went with option two. Why make more enemies than necessary?

The Wake at Black Sapphire

Mr. Hands wanted me at Hansen's wake to witness the power transfer. Floor 99 of the Black Sapphire, back in Aguilar's skin. The tension in that room? You could cut it with a knife.

Bennett demanded Jago's contacts. This is where everything could go sideways in three different ways:

Outcome 1: Bennett Goes Solo

If I let Bennett rage, he'd kill Jago and his soldiers. Bennett as unchecked ruler? Bad news for everyone. Dogtown would drown in chaos and violence.

Outcome 2: Jago Takes Control

With 15 Reflex, I could shoot Bennett when he pointed his gun at Jago. Found an interesting shard on Bennett's body too – someone named Susan A wanted Jago's contacts and then Jago dead. Corporate intrigue runs deep.

Outcome 3: Uneasy Alliance

Show my weapon and remind them both what Aguilar represents. Suddenly they're best friends, agreeing to co-rule. Bennett gets the respect, Jago keeps the books balanced and provides counsel.

My Choice and Why It Matters

I went with the alliance. Here's my thinking: Bennett alone is just another Hansen waiting to happen – all muscle, no restraint. But Bennett with Jago as advisor? That's actually got potential. Jago's smart enough to keep them solvent and steer Bennett away from the worst impulses. Together, they might actually make Dogtown work.

Plus, you know... Mr. Hands pays better when you follow his plan. 10,000 Eurodollars versus 8,000? Not exactly chump change.

The Aftermath

Walking out of the Black Sapphire, shedding Aguilar's personality one last time, I called Mr. Hands with the good news. He was pleased – Bennett in charge with Jago alive was exactly what he wanted.

Did I just install another puppet leader? Maybe. But I've learned in Night City that perfect solutions don't exist. You take the least bad option and hope for the best. At least this way, Dogtown has a fighting chance at something better than endless gang warfare.

Final Thoughts

This whole mission taught me something about power vacuums – they get filled one way or another. You can't just knock down a dictator and walk away. Someone's going to take that throne, and if you've got any influence over who sits in it, you better use it wisely.

Would I do it differently? Hard to say. Every choice in this city comes with consequences. But watching Dogtown potentially stabilize instead of tearing itself apart? Yeah, I'll take that win. Even if I had to become someone else to make it happen.