The gang tries to find more leads on Tanaka, and Kiwi mentions she discovered that he secretly indulges in illicit braindances created by "JK". David is revealed to be an Arasaka Academy student and this amuses Maine while explaining why Gloria was always short on Eddies.
David recognizes JK is the handle of Jimmy Kurosaki, a famous BD director who also custom tunes BDs for special clients, including Tanaka. Seeing a potential way to ambush Tanaka, the gang attempts to kidnap JK, but he outwits them, captures David, and flees the scene with Lucy and Dorio in pursuit.
JK subjects David to traumatic BDs created from the rampages of cyberpsychos where the latter is forced to kill multiple cops before being killed himself. This is an attempt to induce cyberpsychosis itself and JK points out that cybernetics eventually destroy Edgerunners unless they die first. David refuses to believe this and insists he will be fine. JK is stopped and captured by Lucy and Dorio.
With no other choice, JK agrees to lure Tanaka in, but not before cautioning David that the Sandevistan will inevitably make him go cyberpsycho. Tanaka arrives to meet with JK and is subsequently captured, but not before JK is mortally wounded in the crossfire.
With the Trauma Team incoming, the gang is forced to quickly evacuate with Tanaka while David remains troubled by JK's words.
Tropes in this episode:
- Asshole Victim: Considering his repertoire, even before capturing and torturing David, no one feels even the least bit sorry when JK is killed by a fatal needle shot from Tanaka.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Back in Episode 1, David marveled over the XBD made from Norris' cyberpsycho rampage and what a rush he got from it. Here, he gets inflicted with an edited version of said XBD that all but leaves him traumatized.
- Body Horror: The last part of the XBD that really gets to David is as MaxTec is blasting him with enough firepower to start tearing off his limbs, said limbs become replaced with monstrous cyberware armed to the teeth with guns.
- Call-Back: The XBD David experienced back in Episode 1 and its creator are pivotal parts of this episode's plot.
- Can't Kill You, Still Need You: JK invokes this for all it's worth when Lucy and Dorio break into his place both rip-roaring pissed for what he did to David and Maine, pointing out the fact they didn't shoot him then and there is proof they need him alive and won't go for the kill right away. Begrudgingly they concede his point after roughing him up and stopping his Attack Drones. Of course, once JK gets a needle to the throat during the process of capturing Tanaka, the crew have no issue letting him expire and leave him behind for Trauma Team.
- Cybernetics Eat Your Soul: JK insists that this is true for all people who install numerous cybernetics, and that the Sandevistan will eventually destroy David's mind.
- Did You Just Have Sex?: Maine notices that David does not seems as dour as he normally is, and ribs him with this possibility.
- Fanservice: Kiwi spends much of the first part of the episode not wearing a goddamn thing due to just getting done diving into VR.
- Faux Affably Evil: JK is a cultured, pleasant, and charming fellow who is a complete sadist as well as mad artist.
- Foreshadowing: JK subjecting David to a visceral braindance of a cyberpsycho rampage echoes what happens to himself and those closest to him in the future.
- Innocent Fanservice Girl: Kiwi sits down by David and Maine on a couch after her VR bath, wearing nothing, but acting completely nonsexual about it.
- I Surrender, Suckers: JK pulls this on Dorio and Lucy when they first arrive at his lair. Later, Mr. Tanaka pulls the same tactic when he's surrounded by Maine's gang at gunpoint.
- Mad Artist: JK creates horrifying braindances that include gore and sadism as part of their appeal. These include using real life murders and cyberpsycho rampages.
- Mind Rape: JK subjects David to this to break him, by having him forced to witness a braindance of someone killing numerous police officers before being killed himself. Luckily, Dorio and Lucy rescues him.
- Nightmare Fetishist: JK absolutely loves witnessing the rampages of cyberpsychos and works to record their experiences for his work.
- Shut Up, Kirk!: JK notes that David has actually enjoyed several of JK's braindances, so he doesn't have a leg to stand on complaining about how they're made.
- Out-Gambitted: JK recognizes David is trying to distract him for a kidnapping attempt and disables both him as well as Maine using his own cybernetics.
- Underestimating Badassery: The Edgerunners didn't expect JK or Tanaka to have their own methods of resistance; the former has an EMP and a couple of hardened drones while the latter has defensive cybernetics and fighting chipware like his son. The gang manages to catch them both, though.
- Villain Has a Point: JK is a monster but he's not wrong that cyberpsychosis is a common problem for Edgerunners and that David's greater resistance is not immunity.
- Violently Protective Girlfriend: Lucy shows the first real sign of this when, after she learns what JK did to David and Maine plus kidnapping the former, immediately brings up the suggestion to Dorio while they're in pursuit they should just kill JK.
- Vomit Indiscretion Shot: Kiwi pukes out the window of Dorio's car after JK disables David and Maine due to being close enough to be affected by the EMP.
- Xanatos Gambit: Much of the plot is based around JK manuevering our (anti)heroes into a position he can be rescued by Trauma Team.
