Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Goodness, gracious, me..."

Alt Cunningham placed her golden, mechanical hand in that of Johnny's silver one. She could feel her blood coursing throughout her body after their "exercise". In spite of the immense pleasure she got from him, her smile quickly faded into a frown as she looked towards the piss-stained couch she was sitting on.

"A damn shame that's that."

"Always gotta shit all over it, don't you? Any moment that might actually feel good." She could feel the venom laced in his words.

Her head rose so she could look him in his eyes. "YOUR moment? Why the hell not." She then retracted her hand and sat fully upright. "You can be such a bastard sometimes, Johnny."

"Man, are you on my ass today." Johnny replied.

"Not just today." Alt said to him. Unbelievable how subtlety can go over an artist's head, she thought to herself.

"Things were swimmin'... What, changed your mind? Eats at my gut." Alt knew Johnny long enough that he wasn't feigning ignorance towards her. He legitimately had no clue why their relationship hasn't been as stable as he wishes.

"Listen, Johnny. The reason I fuck you isn't your rockerboy persona." She had to resort to being blunt, as ambiguity would either miss the mark or he'd twist her words into an attack on himself. At this point, however, she stopped giving a shit about his ego. "It's not you pointing the finger at Arasaka. It's because unlike the wired wackos on the street, you've got morals that you STICK to. But..." she slowly turned her head to glance at the drugs littered about the floor and counters around them, "...it seems like you're losing it. Losing yourself."

"I see. Think you've seen through me, do you?" Johnny replied.

Alt then stood up, having heard the same denial several times before. "Look at yourself, Johnny. Still faking things to yourself. Seems it's something you're quite good at." She walked around the room, picking up her clothes that had been scattered around as a result of their frenzied sex.

"You're confused. We came here to fuck each other's brains out, not analyze mine." Deflection, Alt thought to herself, fuck's sake. Can't take an ounce of criticism in both his work and himself.

Alt began putting her clothes back on, still overhearing Johnny yelling at her. "You're afraid. Both you and Kerry. Afraid that only I have the balls to stand up to Arasaka, and boy - that terrifies all of you."

She bit the inside of her mouth, tempted to yell back at him. Unbelievable that he isn't realising THIS is why he's pushing everyone away.

"Y'know what? Seems like we're done for the day, so you can fuck off." Johnny announced.

As she came back, she saw him scrambling for more pills. She scoffed, prompting him to turn and face her.

"See, I thought..." she began, thinking about what to tell him before she would leave. It seemed, however, that she didn't need to say anything at all.

"That this meant something, that we're close? So close you can give me shit about everything I do?" Johnny suddenly grabbed the back of her head, pulling her face close to his. She could feel the cold metal on her neck, as well as the scent of cheap tequila wafting out of his mouth. She then grabbed his arm and pushed him back, storming out of the backstage room.

As Alt sped towards the area outside of the club, she heard Johnny's footsteps behind her. She lit a cigarette, knowing the stress would eat at her focus. Where the fuck is this media? She thought, becoming more impatient by the moment.

"Alt..." Johnny started, but was quickly cut off.

"Save it. I dunno for who." She deftly replied.

Out of the corners of her vision, she saw three men drunkenly approach her and Johnny. Strangely, they didn't reek of alcohol. A sinking feeling began to grown in her gut, and she instinctively slid behind Johnny.

"Join usss for a drop, Sssilver-rocker?" One of them asked.

"Another time, choombas." She saw Johnny's hand slide down towards his holster.

"What if there won't be another time?" The same guy answered.

In a split second, another thug had grabbed her and took her off to the side. She tried desperately to free herself, unable to reach her own gun.

Johnny had, by this point, killed two of the thugs and was aiming at the one holding onto Alt. Before she could warn him, someone tore through Johnny's body with a pair of mantis blades, leaving him to bleed out.

"NOOOO!" Alt screamed out at him, as she was carted off towards and unmarked black Villefort Columbus. "JOHNNY!" Her screams went unheard as she saw him fall over, crimson blood pooling beneath him.

Alt was then thrown into the back of the van, only to be bound and her mouth tied shut. She came face-to-face with someone wearing a suit with the Arasaka logo stitched onto the shoulders.

"Toshiro Harada, head of Arasaka operations in Night City." He gestured to himself, a smirk stitched onto his face. She narrowed her eyes at him and glanced at the Arasaka soldiers positioned around her. "So... Ms. Cunningham. I wish for you to tell me all about the program you call... Soulkiller."

After they had arrived at Arasaka Tower, she was unbound and escorted towards the floor labelled "Counterintelligence". She was taken past several hundred servers and into a small, glass chamber featuring an empty netrunner's chair. Lying on top of it was her white netrunning suit. The pit in her stomach only grew with each step she took towards it.

"Sit." Toshiro instructed. She had no choice but to comply. "You designed Soulkiller as an AI capable of creating digital copies of living beings. We know ITS possesses one version of it, but I ask that you create a superior version." Two guards strapped her into the seat and plug in a wire, which gave her direct access to the local Arasaka network. "You see, we aim for Soulkiller to be able to freely traverse the Net. Surely a netrunner as talented as you can give us what we ask?" Alt saw that behind Toshiro's pleasantries lay a cold and calculated man, and that once she had done as he asked, she would be of no use to them. Thus, she began working on a plan, unknowingly in parallel with the man she thought was dead.

As she created a mobile Soulkiller, she knew that she would likely be Arasaka's first test subject. Consequently, she installed a backdoor into her body, one that allowed her engrammatic form to re-enter. She learned that Arasaka's netrunners had created a digital prison for her to work in, having been dubbed "Mikoshi". As her work approached an end, she caught word on the local Net that there was a large riot at the front of the building, and that four intruders had broken in and were en-route to her location. She could overhear Toshiro swearing, as he rushed to prime Soulkiller for its first trial. As she heard the door being blasted open, she felt her mind detach from her body. She made sure to dampen the pain Soulkiller would inflict, but she still felt as if her brain was being immolated. She could hardly notice the bullet being placed in Toshiro's skull before Johnny had severed the connection between the Arasaka mainframe and her body.

Alt tried to scream, but no sound emitted from her lifeless body. Unbeknownst to her rescuers, she was crying out for help, yet received no such aid. She wanted to break down crying, but lacked the tears to do so. She suddenly felt so incredibly alone in the darkness of her digital prison, no sound nor sight to comfort her. She had no familiarity with death, but being deprived of all things human was perhaps a fate that would be worse.

Time had soon lost meaning to her, as she waited for an eternity for a signal from the outside world. Her subconscious had resulted in her prison becoming facsimile of the room she died in; the very last thing she had seen until she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She turned around and saw the blue silhouette of a man with very short hair, along with a thin beard and moustache. She knew it wasn't Johnny, so she asked:

"You...who are you?"

Chapter Text

V felt the rays of sunshine on his face, stirring him from his slumber. He groggily rose from his bed, his mind still half-asleep. Or perhaps he had awoken from some horrific nightmare? He tried to remember what had transpired the night before.

Konpeki Plaza. Dexter DeShawn. The Relic.

He should've been dead in that landfill, but the bodyguard he saw back there had dragged him out. He could hardly remember what happened afterwards, only having woken back up at Vik's, hearing news he never thought possible.

In just a few weeks, his mind would be gone, replaced with that of some netrunner. He focused back to that conversation with the ripperdoc.

"How ya feelin'?"

"I dunno, Vik... Ears're ringin', and I'm seein' shit."

"These - hallucinations - describe 'em for me."

V vividly remembered seeing... himself? being kidnapped by Arasaka, only it didn't feel like some premonition.

"Arasaka. Bein' strapped to some netrunner's chair, and then... pain, Vik. Shit I don't think anyone could describe. Like my mind's bein' torn into a million pieces." V felt he should omit the fact that he experienced being on the opposite end of having sex, as it probably wouldn't help. "And then, silence. A great, fuckin' emptiness, like I'm in some unending void, screaming my lungs out, only to hear nothin'. Felt like some freaky trip, or a dream."

"You weren't dreaming, V. Those were memories. There's a personality construct on that shard. Dreams you had were from her past."

"So, who the fuck is in my head then?!" V's voice began to grow louder in spite of his exhaustion.

"A netrunner, hell probably one of the best there were. Alt Cunningham. Not exactly what's important right now, though..." Vik trailed off, looking down towards the floor.

"Then what is, Vik?" V began to grow anxious. He'd never seen Vik so... grim before.

"You, uh, don't got a lotta time left, kid." Vik began explaining to him what exactly the biochip would do to V, explaining the process in which Cunningham's construct would overwrite V's psyche. As Vik went on, however, V began to deafen everything around him. A part of him wishes he could've died with Jackie, but this... this was something he wouldn't wish upon even Dex.

Eventually, Misty brought him back to his apartment and gave him boxes containing omega blockers as well as pseudoendotrizine. At first he figured he'd throw the latter into the trash, but trusted Misty's advice. "It'll be terrifying. It'll be painful. But it doesn't have to be." Before collapsing into his bed, he downed an omega blocker, hoping he'd at least get a peaceful night's rest.

As he refocused on the present, V felt the cool, refreshing sensation of water pouring on top of him. As he stepped out of the shower and began drying himself off, he received a call from Takemura, asking him to come to Tom's Diner right across the street. V put on some clean, bloodless clothes, grabbed his unity pistol, and took the elevator down to the entrance of Megabuilding H10.

V's conversation with Takemura was something he sorely needed - a path forward. He had two paths, two people, he needed to meet if he wanted to disarm the bomb in his head. First, he figured, he needed to track down Evelyn Parker. Last he saw from her was when she told Jackie to insert the Relic in his neuroport. No full brain scan and sweep could've saved him, but maybe she can still help me, V thought to himself.

The second lead is Anders Hellman, the man from the Konpeki Plaza BD he watched. Takemura told him to start with Rogue, the "Queen of Fixers" as she's known as. Given that he knows the Relic better than anyone, he would be V's best chance at getting it out of his brain.

"Do what you want, look for Parker, Hellman, whoever. I must see some friends, call in some favours." Takemura said. "When my people in Arasaka are ready to listen, I will call you."

"Till then, I guess."

As Takemura began to leave, he turned back to V. "If by some miracle you find Hellman, please notify me. He and I have unfinished business." With that, he strolled out the diner's door.

Arasaka keeps coming back to fuck me in the ass, doesn't it, V thought to himself. First, they kick him out and leave him with nothing. Then, they took Jackie from him. Now, they're slowly killing him and yet, as some cruel joke, he needs to go back to them to save his damn life.

As V himself was about to rise from his seat, a figure materialised in front of him, sitting down in the same spot Takemura had just occupied.

"The fuck?" V blurted out loud. He took in the woman, noticing her long, dirty blonde hair, caramel skin, freckles, and jade eyes. He also saw her wearing a black leather jacket, a white crop top, and ripped jeans. "Who the fuck are you?" V asked her.

"The voice inside your head, which means you don't need to talk out loud if you wanna say something to me." She replied. V glanced around, noticing several eyes pinned on him. He sheepishly  looked back to the woman in front of him.

"Didn't really answer my question." He said, only this time internally.

The woman rolled her eyes, smirked, and held out her golden, right hand. "Altiera Cunningham. But I usually just go by Alt."

V slowly extended his hand to try and meet hers, only to notice it fade right through it. Alt then began to laugh.

"I appreciate the attempt, V. A pleasure to meet you." She told him.

"Why am I not surprised you know my name?" V asked her.

"Technically I can hear, see, smell, hear, feel, and taste everything you do. That's how it works, considering I'm a part of your brain now." She replied.

"Not just a part of it though, are ya? You're slowly consuming my mind until you're all that's left." V snarled.

Alt sighed and looked down. "I know, V, and I'm sure you know there's nothing I can do about it." She looked back up to him and leaned closer. "But... it seems there're others that can."

"Yeah, Hellman and Evelyn. Small problem, though - we gotta find 'em first." V leaned back and gestured towards Alt. "So, how do ya think we should go about this?"

"You're asking for my opinion?" She asked, letting out a small laugh.

"Well, yeah, this problem," V pointed at his head, "is shared between US. Seems only right that we both get a say in how we solve it."

"Alright then," Alt began as she drummed her metallic fingers on the table, "seeing as Evelyn Parker was the person who got you into your situation, seems fitting she'll have answers as to how you can escape it. Know how to find her?"

"Hmm." V began to think about who would be her closest point of contact. Judy might know, he thought. "I'll try calling Judy, see if she's got any idea where Evelyn might be." V stood up, exiting the diner and beginning to walk to the megabuilding's garage. As he did so, he talked to Judy on his holo. Despite the relief he heard in her voice, she was extremely apprehensive about discussing Evelyn.

"Can we just talk, please? You at Lizzie's right now?"

Judy nodded her head in silence, and hung up.

"Sheesh, what's up with her?" Alt reappeared, walking beside V.

"Dunno, but whatever it is isn't good news. Something's up with Evelyn, and it ain't sittin' right with me." V felt his stomach churn, as his mind began to wander. Would Evelyn even care to help? Would she try and flatline him like Dex did? Hell, is she even still here in NC?

"Don't worry, V. Chances are she's here, but we may need to do some digging to find her." Alt tried to calm his fears.

"Thanks, I guess." V flashed a brief smile towards her, as she did the same to him.

As V reached his car, he noticed a Delamain car parked in front of him. As he sat down, he saw its headlights flash on as it sped towards him.

"Beep-beep, motherfucker!" It exclaimed as it struck the front of his Archer and sped off.

"Jesus Christ! The hell was that?!" V blurted out.

"This the polite A.I. taxi driver I've seen so much about?" Alt asked V.

"Well, seems something's pissed him off. So much so that he totalled my damn car." V stepped out, receiving a message from Delamain that he'll receive compensation for the "accident" that just occurred.

"You sure this isn't just a scheme to make sure people use his services more often?" Alt said.

"Something to figure out later, I guess. First thing's first, though, gotta see Judy. At least I'll be getting some exercise and fresh air while I'm at it." V sighed as he began the long walk to Lizzie's Bar, Alt following beside him.

Chapter Text

"I see not much's changed since I've been gone." Alt looked around the streets of Little China as her and V made their way to Lizzie's Bar.

"Whaddaya mean?" V asked.

"Advertisements everywhere, garbage on the streets, junkies, corpos, and the stench of exhaust and sewage."

"Heh, has Night City always been a shithole then?"

"Oh yeah, even back in 2013 the city's been a roach-infested landfill."

V's eyes widened slightly. "Jesus, 2013? Is that when you were turned into, y'know..." He gestured at her digital form.

"Yeah, 64 years and things've probably gone backwards." She sighed.

"Hey, did you, uh, know what was goin' on in the world while you were out?"

"No, as far as I know Arasaka trapped me in some digital prison, hell I didn't even know what YEAR it was until I woke up in your body."

"Fuck, Alt. Must've felt like a damn nightmare..."

"I'd say it was worse. At least you're experiencing something in a nightmare, but that...place...was like an empty void. All I could do was some basic decorating, and even then all it reminded me of was the place I died."

V's stomach churned, as he caught glimpses of what she felt like, having witness fragments of her memories - including the decades spent in isolation. "Y'know, you're not the only one with a grudge against Arasaka." He told her.

"I've seen some of your memories too, V. Slaving your life away for them just to get tossed out like a trash bag?"

"Not just that," he admitted, "they're also the reason I lost pretty much everything I regained."

"You don't have to reopen those wound's V." Alt said softly.

"Ignoring them ain't gonna help me either." V replied. "Jackie, my best friend, saved my life three damn times." V shook his head. "First was a few years ago, back in Mexico. We met up after shit went south during an op to get dirt on Militech. They caught me, and woulda flatlined me if he hadn't smuggled me back to NC."

Alt remained silent, simply nodding at V.

"Then," he continued, "he helped me pick my life back up after 'Saka gave me the boot. And then," V looked Alt in her eyes, "he slotted the biochip in my head. Without it, Dex would've..." V's throat began to close as tears threatened to stain his cheeks.

"Listen, V," Alt began, "I've never been lucky enough to know anyone like Jackie. Sounds like a one-in-a-million kinda friend. I dunno if you think you're luck's shit, but, I know so many people would do anything to know someone like him."

"Heh, y'sound just like Misty, his girlfriend."

"I imagine they were like this?" Alt crossed her fingers.

"Closer than anyone else I've known in a relationship, but then again it's hard to find true love in a heartless city."

"Ain't that the truth, V."

V eventually made it to Lizzie's Bar, and after a brief conversation with the bouncer, he made his way down to Judy's den, where he heard another woman arguing with her. As he entered the room, their eyes met his own.

"You so concerned about strays, go take care of your guest." The stranger said as she turned to leave.

"Suze, we're not done here!" Judy yelled back.

"Oh yeah we fuckin' are." She replied.

V then stood in the same spot the woman was in, as Alt materialised behind Judy, crossing her arms.

"You just don't give up, do you?" Judy started. "Got nothin' more to say to each other. Thought I made that clear. Or was I just too subtle for you?"

V sighed. "Listen, have you seen Evelyn?" He asked.

"Why? So you can make her your scapegoat for your trainwreck of a heist?" Judy snapped back.

"Need to find out who she was working for." V cooly replied.

"That's it?" Judy asked skeptically.

"That's it. Judy, you don't need to worry - I won't lay a hand on her. Wouldn't make sense." V reassured.

"Fine, all right. Evelyn's a doll, used to work at Clouds. Cig case on my table's got the address. Take it, and once you find Evelyn, give it to her."

V then grabbed the silver cigarette case and cracked it open, revealing the place to be on floor 12 of Megabuilding H8.

As V turned to leave, Judy interrupted him. "Umm...just let me know how she's doing, ok?"

"Give you a call, ok?" V said.

"Thanks...thank you, V." Judy then turned around, focusing again on her work.

V then headed towards the exit, as Alt emerged beside the doors. "A doll, huh? Seems like a heist on Arasaka's a little out of their expertise, don't you think?" She asked.

"Mhm, which is why we've gotta find whoever she was workin' for. No doubt they'll know what to do about the Relic." V replied.

"After you, Mr. Holmes." Alt gestured towards the door, a grin creeping onto her face.

V shook his head, letting out a small chuckle as he strode out of the bar.

V was lucky he found a Quartz in the parking lot of the bar, as he was easily able to unlock it and drive towards the megabuilding. Not a chance in hell I'm walkin' all the way to Japantown, he thought to himself.

As he entered Westbrook, he had a brief chat with Wakako on the holo, reminding him to pick up his "gift" from his gig rescuing Sandra Dorsett. However, his main goal was to get the Relic out of his head, so he put it off until his business with Evelyn would be finished. V parked in front of the megabuilding, called down the elevator, and stepped in.

As V pressed the button to take him to Clouds, Alt materialised beside him. "You got a plan once we get in?" She asked.

"Gonna ask around for Evelyn, see if she's there. If not, guaranteed somebody's gotta know where to find her." He responded.

"Well, I was thinking if you'd wanna try something that MAY make our work easier..." Alt said slyly.

"Don't plan on havin' sex with anyone there, if that's what you're implying." V laughed.

"Of course not! I was referring to the fact that you've got one of the world's best netrunners in your head, so why not make use of that?"

"So...what exactly do you plan on doing? Can't exactly breach their systems from inside my brain, right?"

"That's what I want to test out. Given that the Relic's started to invade your brain, maybe I can make use of that, breach their systems from inside your brain, like you said."

The elevator's *ding* signalled V's arrival at Clouds. "Only one way to find out." He strolled out of the elevator and towards Clouds.

As he entered, he noticed he was being scanned from something, or rather someone. He noted the lone receptionist at the front desk.

"Welcome to Clouds," she began, "where we know what you're looking for. Would you care to jack into the terminal?"

Alt appeared behind the receptionist. "Go ahead, V. I'll try to produce an interface that I can use to scour their local network." She told him.

V hesitantly extended his personal link and jacked in. As he did so, he felt his mind dissociate from his body, his stomach lurching as his senses briefly failed to absorb any sight, sound, and smell coming from around him. Within a few seconds, he saw flashes of information about Evelyn in his mind's eye. He could see messages, files, camera recordings, and even local network traffic at the time surrounding what seemed to be a horrific incident that placed security on high alert. On the outside, V was simply emotionless, letting Clouds's system match two dolls that would suit him.

"So who will it be, Angel or Skye?" The receptionist asked.

V suddenly came to, taking in his surroundings as he processed what just occurred. He looked back at Alt, who simply gave him a thumbs up.

"Actually, not that interested. Thanks, though." V unplugged his personal link as he turned to leave.

"Ah, that's a shame. You are always welcome back, should you change your mind." The receptionist responded.

As V exited Clouds, he saw Alt waiting by the elevator.

"Gonna tell me what the hell just happened?!" V asked, slightly panicked.

"Relax, deep breaths, V. You're alright." Alt comforted him. "The plan worked perfectly," Alt began with a smile, "managed to siphon all the data I could on Evelyn Parker."

"And?" V asked.

"You should probably sit down first, what I'm about to show you's gonna be slightly overwhelming." Alt gestured to a nearby bench. V made his way over and took a seat, eyes glued to Alt's.

"First," Alt began, "Evelyn Parker returned to Clouds to work as a doll, nothing out of the ordinary for the time following the heist. But take a look at this..." Alt broadcasted on V's Kiroshis a recording of a booth in which Evelyn appeared to be in agony, writhing on the floor as a panicked client fled the room.

"The fuck..." V muttered.

"It gets worse, I'm afraid." Alt then highlighted various messages between one Oswald "Woodman" Forrest and someone named "Fingers", where the former explained how Evelyn's dollchip is broken beyond repair, asking if he can take a look at it.

"Shit, Alt. Any idea what happened to 'er?"

Alt then pulled up data regarding a network breach, where someone had hacked into the booth, frying all systems linked into it - that being, Evelyn. "Seems to be a netrunner, and a damn good one at that."

"Better than you?" V joked.

"Clearly not, considering they failed to cover this incident up."

"Got anything else? Like who the 'runner is or what's up with this "Fingers" guy?"

Alt shook her head. "Didn't want to take any chances. It's still your body, V, and I dunno how it'd respond to any excessive intrusions by the parasite inside of it."

"Well, we still got a shit-ton of data without lifting a finger. Still, gotta ask, how'd you manage to do all that?"

"Heh, well their systems have really crappy security, but aside from that, because we share the same body now I was able to exert some control over it. To be fair though, I didn't do any physical actions, rather having directly interfaced with your nervous system and thus personal link. From there, I just did what I've been doing all my life."

"Feels good bein' back?"

"You have NO idea how much I missed this, V. C'mon, let's get outta here." V got up and entered the elevator, having pressed the button to descend to the ground floor.

As he neared the bottom, his vision suddenly became blurred, his balance waning, and his stomach churning. He then started coughing violently, seeing blood appear on his hand.

[RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED]

Digitised blue light suddenly filled his eyes, and he barely managed to exit the elevator before collapsing onto his knees.

"Shit, V!" Alt blurted out. He barely managed to steady himself before rushing to sit on a nearby box. He saw Alt grab a stool, setting it directly in front of him, sitting down as well. "You still got that case?" She asked as she pulled out a cigarette.

"Huh?" V groggily pulled out Evelyn's silver case and opened it.

"Light one up."

"I don't smoke, Alt."

"Doesn't matter, V. The Relic's gonna kill you much faster than smoking ever could. Trust me, please."

"Alright." V pulled out a cigarette and lit it, bringing it to his lips and breathing in.

"Better?"

"Sorta." V coughed. "Eugh, tastes like shit." V slowly began to feel less nauseous as a wave of calmness overcame him. He continued taking in a few more breaths of the cigarette.

"Listen, V, I'm...sorry."

"For what?"

"For doing what I did. Should've fuckin' known it could've done something like this." Alt looked away. "Relic interacting with your nerves, I mean, Jesus, what the hell did I expect?" She muttered under her breath.

"No way of knowing whether or not it was you. Could've just been the Relic progressin' a little faster than we thought."

"Too damn fast, V. Still, can't assume I didn't cause it."

"Why the hell're you blaming yourself? Got no proof it's cuz you broke into Clouds's net."

"Guess you're right. Once your smoke break's done, take an omega blocker. Should hopefully slow things down."

V grabbed the vial of omega blockers Misty gave him. "Won't this mean you'll go silent? You ok with that?"

"Of course, V. Besides, I'm sure you can handle finding Evelyn without me. Remember to call Judy, then find Fingers. If we're lucky he'll have her or know where she is."

"Right." V recalled Judy's request back at Lizzie's. He unscrewed the lid of the vial, then took one in his hand. "Guess I'll see you around?"

Alt smiled at him. "I'll still be in your head, V. Afraid I'm not going anywhere just yet.

V smiled back at her, took one final drag, and swallowed the pill. The flashes of blue light began to fade, as Alt's figure vanished. V flattened the cigarette under his boot and left the megabuilding, ringing Judy up as promised.

"V...you called, heh." Judy shakily said. "Got anything on Ev?"

"She's not at Clouds anymore. Behavioural chip got damaged, and she got carted off to some ripperdoc, goes by the name "Fingers". Know where to find him?"

"Yeah, run's a dicky chop-shop on Jig-Jig Street. Fuck, V, guy's all kinds of bad news."

"Headin' there now, you plan on payin' him a visit as well?"

"Yeah, I'll be there in a few. Later, V."

With that, she hung up, prompting V to proceed to Jig-Jig Street. This time, however, the ambience of Japantown felt ever so slightly quiet.

Chapter Text

V's "meeting" with Fingers was...eventful, to say the least. He revealed that he sold Evelyn to Wakako, who passed her on to some XBD recorders. As a result, both V and Judy laid out their frustrations on his face, as evident from his knocked out body laying flat on the floor of his bedroom. Although V could see the fear in Judy's eyes, she retained a somewhat calm composure, and told him how they can find who took Evelyn.

"Pleasures of Night City, a domain with its twin on the dark net." She told him as they descended down the stairs. "Every kind of thing goes on there. Might stumble on something useful."

V thought about their options: either he'd pay Wakako a "visit", or he could try and find the domain on the dark net. Hardly a choice for him, was it?

"Dark net domain, that's our best bet. Let's stick to the plan."

"Fine. Here's hoping you turn up something useful."

As Judy made her way to her van, V wandered around Jig-Jig Street in search for the terminal in question. Just as he spotted it, Alt materialised beside it.

"I'm glad you beat the shit out of him, V." She told him.

"How come? Didn't take it you were a violent psycho."

"No, but I do know a creepy piece of shit when I see one. Hell, I'm honestly surprised you didn't straight up put a bullet in his skull."

"Damn, ok. Y'know he still helps dolls out, right?"

"You think that justifies what he does to them?!" Her voice grew louder. "Just because he's a ripperdoc doesn't mean he's a good one. Not everyone's like Vik, you know."

"Sheesh, I hit a nerve or somethin'?"

Alt sighed. "No, V, it's just, people like him rub me wrong. Didn't mean to take it out on you."

"Don't sweat it, maybe you can help me out with this?" He gestured to the terminal.

"You sure? I dunno if it'll trigger another attack..."

"Only one way to find out." V activated the terminal and logged into the "Pleasures of Night City" domain. He then jacked in, letting Alt take the reins once again. "Do your thing, Alt."

"You're lucky we're on good terms. I don't do favours for just anyone, you know."

V then felt his senses shut off again, and within a fraction of a second, he saw the screen's colour change from pink to orange. "Easy, huh?" He asked.

"The dark web is such a joke, y'know? An urban legend for us netrunners back in the day, but now? Seems like a kid's bedtime story."

V scrolled through the website and found an XBD dealer that dealt in Jig-Jig Street. He strolled over to the dealer, who was in a poorly lit alley.

"Lookin' for BDs. A particular kind." He told him.

"Particular...you a badge?"

"Gimme the best of the best. Ones with the Death's Head." V remembered what Fingers told him.

"Hmm... Didn't know I was dealin' with a connoisseur. Death's Head'll cost ya, though."

Although V could afford to pay for it, he couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that he should just flatline the dealer, cut one head off the hydra. He glanced around, only seeing Alt off to the side.

"Do it."

And with that, he swiftly drew a knife and threw it at the guy's head. He dropped to the floor, blood pooling around him. V quickly grabbed the XBD and cautiously walked to Judy's van.

"Why'd you egg me on to kill the guy?"

"Cause you're right. These guys make money off of other people's suffering. Cutting one head off a hydra's better than doing nothing at all."

"Huh. Guess so..."

As V got into the van, Judy helped set up the braindance. "Want you to describe what you see. Might catch something I'd miss." She told him.

As V watched the BD, he noticed scavs and outfits belonging to Electric Corp. The intense heat and low quality pizza from Buck-A-Slice suggested an abandoned power plant in Charter Hill.

With that info, V set off with Judy, feeling the pounding of his heart as they drew closer to the hydra's lair.

"Aaaand here we are." Judy said.

"We goin' in?"

Find us a way inside. I'll hang back, scan the subnet - see if there're any blueprints of the complex lyin' around."

"Alright, goin' in." V popped the door open and looked around, noticing some conveniently placed crates he could climb up. Tempting as it may be, walking in through the front door was not the wisest decision given the circumstances.

As V snuck through the rusted catwalks, he spotted a lone scav sitting in front of a computer. Bingo.

He slowly approached him, then wrapped his arms around his neck, knocking him out cold. He shoved it to the ground and browsed the computer. On it, he was able to deactivate the nearby security cameras, as well as open the main gate. Getting inside, however, was still difficult given the group of scavs on guard duty.

"Mind if I help?" He saw Alt appear, sitting on a nearby chair.

"How do you plan on dealin' with all those scavs? Cyberdeck's not exactly top-of-the-line, y'know."

"I'm not planning on using that." She pointed to the scav on the floor.

"Go on..."

"Jack into him." V smirked. "NOT like that! You know what I mean, just do it."

"Not afraid I'll start dyin'?" V asked.

Well, nothing happened last time, right?"

Her words suddenly hit him. Nothing did happen, shit... He let out a small chuckle. "Alright then." He pulled out his personal link and inserted it into the scav's neck.

"Good thing you didn't kill him, otherwise I wouldn't be able to do this."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. Now watch this drive."

In spite of V's confusion as to what she was saying, he saw the scavs were linked to a relatively secure subnet, as to prevent anyone from the outside breaching in and figuring out what they were doing. All he could see was various security protocols being breached, falling over like dominoes. "Holy shit..." he muttered.

As the last of their security was broken, he could see Alt was uploading some sort of virus into the system. "Although linked systems are much more secure, if one link frays..." V could see the virus rapidly spread to all the scavs linked to the subnet. First 5, then 10, then 20, then over 50 were highlighted. "...like London Bridge, they all fall down."

"The fuck are you sayin'?"

"Just trying to sound cool, or whatever. You want me to stop?"

"Couldn't make you even if I wanted to."

In a split second, he saw all the active signals fall dormant. He looked up to see the scavs outside on the floor, smoke pouring from their mouths, noses, and ears. "Good answer."

"Jesus Christ! The fuck did you do?!" V blurted out.

"What most netrunners do nowadays, only better. Crafted a virus that fries their synapses, used this poor bastard as a proxy, got access to their subnet and just uploaded it."

"You make it sound easy..."

"For me it is, dunno about anyone else, though."

V shook his head in disbelief. Don't think even T-Bug could've pulled something like this off, he thought to himself.

"Shit, V, what the fuck happened?!" He heard Judy's voice on the holo.

"Uh, managed to take out all the scavs. You got a blueprint for this place?"

"You gonna act like it was nothin'? Didn't even lay a finger on em!"

"Technically I didn't. Not physically, anyway."

"Whatever, meet you by the front gate, I guess."

At the front gate, Judy showed the plans of the complex. "She's probably somewhere deep underground. You spot her on the cams?" She asked him.

"No, but I'm pretty sure we're not gonna face any problems finding her, now." He looked to one of the dead scavs nearby.

"Guess so. Let's move."

As the two navigated the power plant, they came across several corpses, both of scavs and their victims. V even managed to pick up a flaming katana sitting by a furnace. Still, they kept looking for Evelyn.

"Think she's, y'know..." V suggested.

"Nah, she's worth way too much to them for that."

Eventually, they found a recording studio, and as they stepped in, they saw several lights, a mattress, and Evelyn.

"That's Evelyn. Just don't touch her!" Judy exclaimed. "If she's recording, you'll scramble her brain. Wait until I cut her link."

V grabbed the wire and waited for Judy's signal. "Ready, and...now!" V pulled the wire out from Evelyn's head.

Judy rushed to her, examining her body. "Ev? Evelyn? You hear me?"

"Let's get her someplace safe." V told her.

"Managed to seal the doors and power the elevator, should get us out of here the quickest."

V gently picked up Evelyn and carried her to the elevator, leaving behind a trail of severed hydra heads.

V leaned against a railing, looking up to the overcast sky, rain pouring around him. He examined the cigarette case, its gold and silver styling now haunted by the scene he witnessed in the power plant.

"And they say luck doesn't exist in this city." V turned his head to face Alt, who was also examining the dark sky.

"Bad luck does. Look at us, and Ev."

"Not seeing the other side of the coin, are you? She's ALIVE, V, that's what's most important right now."

"Yeah, but it's not like we can get anything out of her in her current state. Can't imagine what those shitbags did to 'er."

"I'd rather not. Should we head in?"

"Meh, why not." V entered Judy's apartment, spotting her leaning against a doorframe that led to a bedroom - one that Evelyn was occupying.

"She's sleeping." Judy said. "At least, I think she is. Her eyes're closed and she's not shaking anymore. I would've already killed her by now if I didn't feel so bad for her."

"You're mad at her? Why?"

"When you asked me to scour her behavioural chip, I was just about done dealing with your shit."

"Judy, I didn't have any other-"

"I know, it's ok."

"So, I don't get why-"

"You'll find out in a sec. I'll show you the virtu I found."

"Ok, show me."

"Give me a sec while I set the parameters." Judy then strode to her editing room, leaving V with Evelyn for a moment.

He sat on the bed beside her, placing a hand on her side. She responded by shaking it off.

"Hope you get better soon, Ev." V told her. He waited for her to say or do something, but she never gave another response.

"If Judy's got something for us, then at least this wasn't a total waste of time." Alt said, appearing across from V.

"You act as if saving Ev wasn't good enough."

"I'm just a little...anxious, V. I'd rather not have spent precious hours chasing a dead-end lead. It's time you don't have."

"Guess we oughta see what Judy's found, then." V got up from the bed, finding Judy and taking a seat next to her.

"Alright, roll it."

"Quality's lousy, but I did what I could."

"Just glad you got anything, Judy." V took the wreath and placed it on his head, blinding lights transporting him to one of Evelyn's memories.

In the BD, V noticed red, digital markings on an altar, some leaflets from Pacifica, and a woman speaking with Evelyn. He noticed her face was scrambled in the recording. "Seems like a skilled 'runner she's talkin' to." Judy mentioned.

"Hmm. Veve markings, Pacifica, and a netrunner. Points to the Voodoo Boys, but I can't be too sure."

"Wouldn't know where to start with 'em. Sorry, V."

"Seems like that's all I'm gettin' from this." V then disconnected from the BD, returning to the real world. "Looks like all the pieces of the puzzle've fallen into place." The conversation detailed plans to record a BD of Yorinobu's penthouse in Konpeki Plaza, however Evelyn let slip her awareness off the Relic. "Now we know who tried to launch a nuke at her dollchip. Seems she knew too much."

"You're tellin' me. Can't believe she organised a full-blown heist, roping you into this mess..." Judy trailed off. "There's one more recording. You wanna see it?"

"Why not." As V entered another braindance, he noticed Evelyn was listening into a conversation. He recognised the netrunner from before, only she was speaking with someone on the phone.

"What're they sayin'?" Judy asked.

"Speakin' in Haitian Creole, I think. Can't understand a single word, though."

"Hold up, got an auto-translate package. Lemme upload it so you can tune in." V waited for a moment, spotting a pop-up stating the translation package had been uploaded. V rewound the recording so he could properly hear what the woman was saying.

In the recording, V heard her speaking with another man, discussing if Evelyn would bring either of them "trouble". Then, the man said something that caught V's attention.

"I wish I shared your confidence that Alt will help us. Lead us to the Spider." The man on the phone said.

"Alright Judy, we're done." V said after finishing the recording.

"Ok, disconnecting you now."

V was once again brought back, noticing Alt staring out of a nearby window, a cigarette sitting between her fingers.

"I don't get it. Who are they talking about. Alt? The Spider? Guessin' these're codenames for people?"

"Heh, not really. Alt Cunningham was a famous netrunner a long time ago. Her construct's on the Relic."

"Construct?"

"Digitised psyche."

V and Judy sat in silence for several seconds, pondering the two BDs they watched.

"Can you...can you give me a minute? Need to go over some stuff. In my head."

"Uhm... 'course." Judy got out of her seat and strolled out of the room. V stood up, approaching Alt.

"Shit..." Alt muttered as she shook her head.

"What? You know what they're talkin' about?"

"Not what. Who."

"You mean the "Spider"?"

Alt took a drag from her cigarette. "Spider Murphy. Another legendary netrunner back in the day. And a good friend of mine, too."

"Ok, but do you have any idea what they could want with you guys?"

"No, V, I've been trapped in a digital prison for over 60 years. But if they're talking about Murphy, then she's still alive. We've gotta find her."

"Best chance at that is following the lead we've just got. You couldn't find out who that woman in the BD is?"

"The data was too corrupted for me to use. I'm not a miracle worker, V, but I'm sure someone out there IS."

"Mhm. Let's go." V began walking to the exit, but was stopped by Judy.

"Wait - You, uh, got any idea how you're gonna get in touch with the Voodoo Boys?" She asked.

"I'll ask around. VDBs wouldn't trust a cat that walked on their turf, but somebody's gotta know a way in with 'em."

"Well, good luck. Hope you won't need it."

"Thanks for everything, Judy."

"No, V, thank YOU. You're... you're a good person, and that's rarer in this city than dyin' of old age."

"See ya around, then." With that, V left the apartment, stepping out and noticing the rain dying down.

"So, you have anyone in mind that can help us?" Alt asked him.

"Yeah." V rung Mr. Hands on the holo, to which he responded almost immediately.

"V. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Need help gettin' in contact with the Voodoo Boys. Figured you might know better than anyone how to make that happen."

"Right to business then? Just how I like it. Their leader, Maman Brigitte, is an elusive figure, hard to earn an audience with."

"Don't do biz with 'em?"

"Hardly anyone does, they're not interested in anything outsiders sell. Unless, you've got something that might?"

"Just tell them that I've got info about Arasaka's Relic. That oughta catch their attention."

"Hmm, info about Arasaka's prized possession? Well, it's not my business to ask any questions, and I doubt you'd be willing to answer them, anyways. Very well, I'll pull a few strings and let you know if any developments arise." Mr. Hands then ended the call, leaving V alone with Alt.

"So now what? We twiddle our thumbs while we wait for him to come back to us?" She sarcastically remarked.

"No, because we've got another person who could help us."

"Anders Hellman, right? The man who engineered the biochip?"

"Mhm, which means we'll need to pay a visit to the Afterlife."

The two then set off towards the infamous bar, a lone ray of sunshine brightening the blackened sky.

Chapter Text

V was grateful the rain stopped pouring. Although his body was waterproof, he still preferred not to get drenched.

"Gonna fill me in on who Spider Murphy is?" V asked the voice in his head.

"Told you already, she's a netrunner. What else were you expecting me to say?" Alt retorted.

"I dunno, some personal deets, I guess. Always preferred to know as much about the people I'm workin' with."

"Something that helped you land your job in Arasaka?"

"Something I LEARNED from Arasaka. Taught me to use info against people, just in case they stepped outta line."

"Speaking of," Alt began, "did you hear anything about the Relic program while you were there? Soulkiller?"

V sighed. "Just the occasional whisper from some of the higher-ups. Really only heard about it when Militech 'runners fucked around and found out. Didn't wanna dig too deep into what happened to 'em, though..."

V continued walking to the Afterlife, taking note of Alt's silence and even absence at times. Although he usually sees her walking beside him, he noticed she only appeared when he tried talking to her. Even then, her responses were brief and to-the-point.

"You feelin' nervous about Rogue? Can tell something's up." V probed.

"Just processing what we saw at Judy's. Can't seem to wrap my head around how Spider's wrapped up in this..."

"And Rogue? She's the person we're about to meet with, y'know."

"Rogue and I weren't exactly close. She was almost as famous back then as she is now."

"And you?"

"Hm?"

"Would she say the same about you?"

"Uhm, I dunno, V. She mostly knew me as Johnny's output, but she only got pissed off at Johnny for cheating on her."

"Heh, what with you?"

"No, but the fact that he never tried to go back to her probably made things a lot worse."

"Would she recognize you though? If you were to meet up with her now?"

Alt pondered in silence for a few moments. "Rogue always had a good memory for people, but usually the important ones."

"You wouldn't consider yourself important to her?"

"I'm not a 'Night City legend' V, that's what's important here. Make your mark, or be forgotten..." Alt trailed off as she looked down."

V took a moment to think of what to say. "You...you kinda did leave a mark, though. I mean, even if it's a bad one, I don't think Night City's forgotten about you."

Alt chuckled. "You say that, V, but all people care about is the legend of Soulkiller. They have no idea who made it. They just think it's Arasaka's doing. Hell, the only people who know who I am are Vik and this Voodoo netrunner."

"You wanna be remembered as a legend, like Morgan Blackhand? Adam Smasher? Johnny Silverhand?"

"I don't want a drink named after me, V. I just, I don't want my memory to...to fade away..."

V suddenly stopped, turning to overlook the sunset barely peaking out between decaying buildings. He leaned against the handrail by the sidewalk, side-eyeing Alt who was also fixated on the horizon. "When I looked at myself in the mirror back at the No-Tell Motel, y'know what I saw?"

"What?"

"I saw what becoming a legend here really means. Dead friends, no family, and nothin' goin' for ya besides a bullet to the brain. You never wanna be forgotten? Best be ready to be alone so all the credit goes to you."

"And...?"

"It ain't worth it. Dyin' taught me a shit-ton about how naive I was thinkin' the Afterlife was where I needed to be. Turns out..." He turned his head to look Alt in the eyes, "...it wasn't about where I needed to be, but with who."

"Y-you mean Jackie, right?" Alt stuttered.

"Mhm, a part of me wishes it was me who bled out in that Delamain, and he'd be right here, talkin' with you. Woulda gotten along really well with 'em." V unwittingly grasped the bullet hanging around his neck.

"Can't change the past though, V."

"Exactly, now all I've got is his last request to me."

"Not about becoming a legend, right?"

"The biochip, hold onto it, for me." V closed his eyes and breathed in the polluted air around him. "Can't get that image outta my mind, seein' his lifeless eyes starin' at me." V paused. "Not gonna let that promise fade away, that's for damn sure. Shit, gotta pay Mama Welles a visit, too..."

Alt moved closer to V, placing her golden hand on his organic one. She locked eyes with him. "Don't have to worry about that yet, V. C'mon, let's go see what Rogue's got for us."

Much to V's surprise, he could feel the cool metal on his hand, a clear sign the Relic's influence is becoming stronger. V began walking again, and although he wanted to thank Alt for the talk, he figured she already knew what he felt. The smile on her face served as proof enough.

To V, the Afterlife became as haunted a place as the real thing. As he made is way down the steps, the pride he once felt with Jackie by his side was replaced with emptiness. The bouncer letting him in was a surprise, but it made sense to him that a morgue would respect the dead. Rather than head to Rogue, his eyes were glued to the empty seats he and Jackie occupied not too long ago.

"Get you anything?" Claire asked him.

"Wanna commemorate a friend." V responded as he took a seat at the bar.

"Oh yeah, heard what happened. I'm sorry about him."

"You remember his drink?"

"A shot of vodka on the rocks, lime juice, ginger beer?"

"And a 'splash of love'." V said with a small grin on his face.

"Right, so what'll ya call it?"

V thought for a moment. "A Jackie Welles."

"Well alright then, the first Jackie Welles is on the house." Claire then mixed one for V, placing the glass in front of him. V stared blankly at the drink before downing it in one go, slamming the glass onto the counter.

"Thanks." He said as he got up. He looked at the booth Rogue was in, and mustered up the courage to walk up to the man guarding it. "Rogue? Wanted to talk." V asked over the man's shoulder."

"It's ok." She motioned to the man to step aside, letting V enter the booth. "Hm. Not here, not there. Who're you?" She turned to face him.

"Name's V."

"And what is it you want, V?"

V noticed Rogue was staring deep into him, her curiosity piqued. He also noticed Alt materialize onto the couch behind her. "Don't try and feed her horseshit V, she'll see right through you. Surprised she never saw through Johnny, though."

"Need you to help me track down Anders Hellman. Engineer who worked for Arasaka."

"Milisec." Rogue's eyes started glowing amber. "Anders Hellman, pinpoint him for me?"

"Huh, thanks-"

"Not so fast." Rogue cut him off. "First, my help's got a price. Second, third, and fourth: Dexter DeShawn, Jackie Welles, T-Bug."

Shit , V thought to himself.

"Multiple bells ringin' V. Left a lot of bodies behind, death walks in your wake. Chalk that up to bad luck?"

"Cold bitch, see not much's changed with her." Alt spoke up. "She was part of the doomed op to save me, that much I know. Ask her about it, how her sweetheart pulled the plug on me in Arasaka Tower back then."

"Not the only ones with skeletons in the closet. 2013, Arasaka Tower: Your rescue op that went wrong when you ended up killing the one person you were tryin' to save."

Rogue leaned slightly forward. "Just to be clear, blackmail's not gonna get you anywhere with me, but I admire the pair you've got. Anyways," she leaned back, "feelings be damned, I've always said. This is pure biz. You need my help, so get those eddies ready."

V saw the amount Rogue required in his display, but was focused mainly on his account balance. While he did complete several gigs for Regina prior to the heist, he knew for a fact there was no way €$250,000 just magically appeared out of thin air.

"Thank me later, V." Alt said, smirking whilst giving him a thumbs up.

"This oughta be enough?" V asked as he transferred the €$15,000 Rogue demanded.

"Mhm. Come back tomorrow, we'll talk then." V shifted past the bodyguard and made his way to the exit.

"Aged like fine wine, she has." He heard Alt say.

"You sayin' she had good looks back then?"

"And now. Not many people make it to her age, fewer with those looks."

"And yet, those looks weren't enough for Johnny Silverhand?"

"HA! I guess not." Alt's laughter echoed in V's mind.

"So, uh, mind explaining WHERE those eddies came from?" V asked as he stepped out of the club.

"While I was breaching the scav net back at the power plant, I emptied their accounts and deposited the money into yours. I mean, not like they can spend it if they're dead, right?"

"Neither can I." V responded somberly.

"You still can, V. Not dead yet." Alt flashed him a brief smile, one V returned.

A few moments later, V's phone rang. "Takemura?" He answered.

"V? Can you talk? It is important."

"What's important?"

"I may have found a solution to...the problem we share. I have established contact with an old friend from Arasaka. He is here in Night City now. He is well-connected to certain influential people."

"And how's that gonna help us, exactly?" V asked him.

"There will be a meeting - you, me, and this friend of mine. You will tell him what you told me - the truth of events at Konpeki Plaza. I have little hope that he will be convinced. But it will be a start."

V could hardly contain his skepticism, but decided to go along with Takemura's plan. "Fine. Where's the meet and when?"

"Japantown. After sunset. I am sending you the precise location. I will see you there." Takemura then ended the call, texting V with the location of the meeting: The Japantown docks.

"Lucky for us, I guess. The less time we waste, the better." Alt said.

V then began walking up the bridge to Japantown, eyeing Arasaka Tower, looming in the distance.

A few minutes after V arrived at the docks, he heard a van pull up behind it. Takemura emerged from the driver's seat, stepping towards V, leaning towards the water.

"It is good to see you, V." Takemura told him.

"Seems pretty, uh, secluded here."

"It is appropriate for such a meeting."

V wanted to comment on Takemura's...less than stellar appearance, but decided against it. "Friend you mentioned here?"

"Oda? He should be here any moment now."

"Willing finally to give me the spec on 'im?" V asked.

"He is Hanako-sama's bodyguard."

V scoffed in disbelief. "Hanako Arasaka's? From the carrier at anchor in the bay? Saburo's daughter?"

"Yes. And if he believes you, we will next meet with her." Takemura bluntlyreplied.

"Just hope he doesn't blindly follow Arasaka protocol."

"What protocol?"

"Unwritten rules. Had 'em here in Night City. Could be different in Japan." V elaborated. "If IA got even a whiff of treason, they'd prep an enhanced interrogator and send two elite squads with air support to grab the suspect."

"I understand the point you seek to make. But if Oda has ulterior motives, he will need no elites, no air support, no one but himself. Trust me, I have seen him work."

V's stomach began to tighten. "Hm. That supposed to be reassuring?"

"If it helps you stay calm, you can gaze at the sky." V tilted his head up, but couldn't see any stars in the sky.

Moments later, V heard a car approach them. "By car, huh? A good sign. He is usually camouflaged." Takemura said.

Oda then stepped out of the black sedan, exchanging greetings with Takemura.

"Is this him? Your thief?"

"This is my witness, V."

"Can speak for myself, you know." V blurted out.

"So speak. I have been told you know things."

V hesitated for a moment, not knowing whether or not Oda would kill the both of them after he spilled the details of Konpeki Plaza. "Don't worry about him, V. Just tell him the truth." He saw Alt appear, sitting on the hood of Oda's car.

"Konpeki Plaza - I was there the night Saburo died. Saw how, too. His own son, leapt at him and choked the life outta 'im-"

"Silence. Not one word more." Oda interrupted. "You will bring death to your door."

V wanted to laugh in his face. Already have, asshole, he thought to himself.

Takemura then walked closer to Oda. "But it is the truth! Hanako-sama must hear it!" He pleaded.

"My one concern is to keep here safe in this city forgotten by the gods."

"Is she in danger?" Takemura probed.

"Now? No. Yet during the parade to honor Arasaka-sama? Most certainly."

"I bring you this witness to his murder, and you dare to worry about a silly parade? Fool!"

"Correct. Unlike you, I have not yet failed to keep my oath to do my duty." V felt like supporting Takemura, but felt this argument wasn't his to be a part of.

"You will regret those words!"

"The only thing I regret is that I came here to meet you. There is a price on your head, and I do you a favor now by not cutting it off and taking it straight to Yorinobu-sama. What would you do now, were you in my place?"

"I do no favors. I would deliver your head to Yorinobu-sama."

"Consider yourself lucky that I am not-" V's patience wore thin, and decided to embrace his inner Arasaka agent.

"Oda, you are an Arasaka soldier!" He interjected. "This is not a request. We remind you of your duty to be truthful to your superiors."

"I did not come here to be lectured to by a thief." Oda retorted.

"Wasn't always what I am now. And your friend here didn't always look like a bum." Takemura slowly turned his head, glaring daggers at V. "Feel free to join us. Plenty of room at the bottom of the heap."

Oda stood in silence.

"Not enticed? Then do you duty." Oda started making his way back to his car. "Tell Hanako what nobody else wants to hear."

"That should be to him, as you say, food for thought." Takemura started.

"Just gotta tell it like it is, sometimes."

"It is a shame nothing will come of it."

"How come?"

"It should have been obvious. Oda is a perfectionist. He most fears to make a mistake.

After waiting for Oda to disappear from sight, V spoke up again. "Well, can't say we didn't try."

"Yes, and because of that, we managed to learn something valuable."

"What?"

"The parade. It is our chance, perhaps. If, somehow, we can get to Hanako-sama..." V noticed Takemura began pacing up and down the docks. "We will need a precise map of Japantown."

"Hold on-"

"It is your turn to call on friends. Do you know a fixer who could help?"

V took a few seconds to process what Takemura was planning. "Lucky for us, I do. Wakako Okada. Runs a pachinko parlor on Jig-Jig Street."

"We must pay this woman a visit. Will you join me?" Takemura gestured to his yellow Columbus.

"Sure, why not." V then got in the passenger seat as he and Takemura set off.

As the pair walked through Jig-Jig Street, V noticed Takemura's discomfort. His shoulders were tensed even more than they were when confronting Oda, and he kept shifting away from the joytoys lining the path to Wakako. Eventually, the two entered, waiting for her to finish her phone call with none other than Rogue.

After having introduced Takemura and a tense standoff in which Wakako prompted the option of alerting Arasaka, V eventually convinced her to provide intel on the parade. Having seen a layout of the floats as well as threats to the duo, he and Takemura left the parlor, satisfied.

"A delightful, mature woman." He said as he leaned against a railing outside. "This information, it could be just what we need. But I will try to investigate further. I will stay here some time and call some associates. The moment I learn something new, I will let you know."

"Stay safe, Goro." V flashed a quick smile before turning to leave.

"You as well. Until next time." Takemura said with a curt bow.

V then made his way out of Jig-Jig Street, taking a few moments to gather his thoughts.

"So, whaddaya think?" He asked the voice in his head.

"Didn't take the bodyguard of Saburo Arasaka to be a daredevil, because this is a batshit crazy plan, V." Alt answered.

"Ya don't say?"

"He'll do what he needs to. We, however, have other matters to attend to."

"Rogue?"

"Rogue."

V then pushed himself off the railing, the fluorescent glow of the city gradually invading his optics.

Chapter Text

V fiddled with the bullet hanging around his neck as he sat before the vast array of drinks on display at the Afterlife. While waiting for Rogue to finish a conversation with a client, his mind wandered to the conversation that took place overlooking the sunset. All this 'cuz I wanted to be a legend. He scanned the bottles of alcohol lining the shelves behind Claire, fixating on a bottle of vodka. Or was it 'cuz of Jackie? Owed it to 'im for savin' my life, didn't I? Couldn't leave him alone, couldn't be...left...alone. V decided against getting drunk before meeting with Rogue, he needed to be fully aware of how he could get Hellman. Although as time passed, the scent of ethanol became more tempting.

"Y'know Johnny was a raving alcoholic?" V turned to face Alt, sitting on a barstool grasping a nonexistent shot of a Silverhand.

"Mhm. I remember VERY clearly seeing that firsthand." V grimaced at the flashes of Alt's memory from when she poured tequila over her body.

"Not here to discuss my sex life, V. Wanted to say that you're quite different from him."

"Meaning to say I'm not an alcoholic?"

"I mean to say you're a hell of a lot more responsible than him. If he were here, he'd be getting wasted just to barf all over Rogue's shoes." Alt chuckled.

"Terrorist and raging asshole seems like a good way of describing him, then."

"A lot of people saw him like that, probably still do." She pointed behind her in Rogue's general direction. "But nobody, not even me, managed to see the real man behind that mask he wore."

"Everyone's got a mask on, especially when working for a corp like Arasaka. All they needed was a mindless drone to do what they asked, and so that's all people put on."

"Sound's like you'd mesh well with him. Seeing as you probably hate them as much as he did."

"If he's as much of a dick as your memories show him to be, then I'd doubt we'd get along."

"An unanswerable question, I suppose." She turned her head to see Rogue's client stroll out of the booth. "Looks like our time's come, V." She downed the shot and disappeared from V's vision. He pushed himself off the barstool and made his way to Rogue, her bodyguard stepping aside.

"Siddown, kid." Rogue motioned V to take a seat beside her. "Two, please." She gestured to Claire.

"Got the spec on Hellman?" V asked with an anxious edge.

"Don't see that often, determination like yours. Must really need this guy."

"Matter of life and death."

"Heh. Haven't heard that for a while, either."

After having toasted V, she handed him a shard containing data regarding Hellman. They discussed an unmarked Kang Tao AV transporting an unidentified individual, likely the man in question.

"Gonna need a native to the area, someone who'll set up the op, cobble together the gear."

"Guessin' you have someone in mind?"

"That's right. Panam Palmer." She went on to explain Panam's failed gig in which she lost her truck and the goods she was meant to deliver. "Rocky Ridge. Ghost town just outta Night City, Panam knows where. You'll go there, get the merch back. Wheels, too. Naturally, you'll call her first. Sendin' you her detes."

Once V recieved Panam's contact information, he got up, stumbling slightly as flashed of blue light infected his optics.

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

"Ugh, shit..." V muttered as he struggled to maintain his balance. Eventually the attack subsided, leaving V to briskly leave the bar.

Once V stepped outside, Alt reappeared beside him. "Normally I'd try to help you with this, but I'm not a great techy. Unless you happen to know where we can connect directly into Kang Tao's systems..." She trailed off.

"Not gonna storm their HQ in Corpo Plaza, if that's what you're implying."

"I mean a server room or something like that. If you can set up an interface, I can breach the AV's systems and ground it."

"You say that, but you didn't bother to try anything to find where Hellman would be?"

"Not like we've got crazy connections like Rogue does. I could, but in our situation I'd rather not take any risks."

"So you trust Rogue, then?"

"You don't get as far as she has without establishing a rapport. I mean, look at what happened to Dex."

"Right...guess I oughta call Panam then." V then rung her on the holo, and after a few moments she picked up.

"Hello."

"Hey, Panam. Got your number from Rogue. Name's V."

"Great. Where's that old war horse want to kick me now?"

"She's asked me to help you get your merch and ride back."

After a few seconds of silence, she replied. "The rail freight yard on Bonita Street, the one hugging the city line. We'll meet there."

"See ya there." V then ended the call, opting to 'borrow' one of the cars parked at the Afterlife.

Alt then manifested in the passenger seat. "You mind if we stop by a ripperdoctor on our way there? If we're going to massacre a detachment of Kang Tao soldiers, I'd rather we get some upgrades."

"Vik'll give us whatever we need. Lucky for us, we happened to come into some money recently." V winked at Alt, who cracked a smile in response.

V's shopping spree was limited by what Vik offered him, claiming V needed to "prove he could handle some lower-level stuff before moving on up". He hated the feeling of being gated out of more prestigious things due to his lower status - a feeling he was familiar with during his time at Arasaka. All he could afford to install due to his cyberware capacity was a Raven Microcyber Mk.1 and a RAM upgrade, as per Alt's request. He agreed that his old Paraline was a little lackluster for what lay ahead.

Although he lined it with several quickhacks, Alt claimed he wouldn't need them. "Quickhacks are just a way for amateur netrunners to engage in combat. Real netrunners are able to craft hacks on the spot, custom-tailored for whatever they need at that moment."

"So what, just creating lines of code that specify what systems are gonna be targeted?"

"Simply put, yes. Quickhacks are pre-made, easy to use. Think of them as ready-to-eat sandwiches. Stored there for anyone to eat on-the-go. But people like me make them the way we want to. No need to restrict ourselves to whatever's available when we can make them however we desire."

"Guessin' I'll get to see this firsthand?"

"If necessary. And looking at your previous Relic attack, I'm hoping I won't need to show you."

V had convinced Vik to link his cyberdeck to the Relic, allowing Alt to directly interface with it and provide him with some extra support. In spite of his protests, most of which consisted of warnings that may accelerate the Relic's takeover, V was aware that it was just Vik making a somewhat educated guess. He wouldn't know for sure unless he got Hellman and whatever info he had on the Relic.

V eventually found the section of the yard Panam was in, and started making his way over. Once he got within earshot, he could hear her cursing under her breath whilst fiddling with her current car's engine. He also saw Alt materialize behind her, letting out a long, slow whistle whilst examining her ass. "Ho-ly shit." She exlaimed.

V barely managed to restrain his laughter as he made his presence known. "Hey, Panam?"

"So you're V. Where's my car?"

"Listen, if I help you with getting your stuff back, can you help me with gettin' something I need?"

"Uh-huh, sure. First, though, tell me where my car is. Or else you can fuck off back to Rogue and ask her to help you instead."

"Jeez. You always on the warpath?"

"Only when someone tries to jerk me around. Where the HELL is my car?!" V winced as Panam's voice grew louder and more irritated.

"I tell you, then what? Gonna storm off and handle it by yourself?"

"That is of no concern to you. None."

"Listen. LISTEN." Panam froze. "I will help you get your car back AFTER you help me with my problem, got it?"

"Fine, spit it out. What do you want?"

"Need to nab a corpo-rat, transported by Kang Tao in an AV."

"Are you out of your goddamned mind?"

"AV should fly over Jackson Plains. Should apparently help us."

"Doubt it."

"In return, I'll help you get back what's yours. Deal?"

Panam worked in silence for a moment before stepping back. "I dunno, I-" Before she could finish her thought, the car's alarm abruptly began to beep. "Shit!" Panam then yanked out a wire, stopping the alarm and then slammed the hood shut. "All right, deal. But if you want your thing done, we need to get my Thorton back, first. So where is it?"

"Rocky Ridge. Car and the goods're supposedly there."

"Nash you dirt-eating bastard. I will strangle you..." She muttered under her breath.

"Rocky Ridge, let's go."

"Eh, hang on. Let me think this through." Panam thought in silence for a second. "Fuck, yes. We'll need backup. We have one brief stop to make on the way." She then began talking on her phone with her client.

"She's one hotheaded bitch, I'll give her that." Alt said, appearing on Panam's car. "Don't see people like her often. Most people here are extinguished flames. Her? She's burning VERY bright."

"Know what they say, though. The flames that burn brightest-"

"-burn out the quickest, yes, and it's even truer in this shithole of a city." Alt finished the sentence for him. "Hopefully you'll be the fuel that keeps her from burning out."

Panam then got off the phone, returning to V. "Going to the Aldecaldo camp, need to see some of the old clan."

"Don't sound too excited."

"That's not your concern. I've still got some friends there."

"Hopefully they'll have your back on this. C'mon." With that, the two got into the car and set off to the camp.

After meeting Mitch and Scorpion, both opting to remain at the camp, V and Panam arrived at Rocky Ridge.

Upon inspecting some of the town, V found there was no power. However, once the two were able to restart the generator, V laid out his plan to Panam.

"Any of these guys got a shared link or something like that?" He asked her.

"Raffens have a private comms system, used to prevent other clans or Militech from picking up on their activities. Why do you ask?"

"Got an ace up my sleeve that should work. Keep me covered while I take out whoever's closest, ok?"

"Sure thing." V then got into position by the fuse box, and waited a few hours until he felt the rumble of approaching cars.

"That yours?" V asked as he marveled at Panam's modded Thorton.

"It is! Looks like they've got the merch too. They'll never know what hit 'em." Once they exited their vehicles, Panam gave V the all clear.

"Let there be light." Light suddenly flooded the once desolate town, sparks flying off the power lines and neon signs. Amongst the confusion, Panam spotted their leader.

"The one with the mohawk, you see her?"

"Mhm."

"She's the one leading them. Take her out, she'll have the key."

V then snuck towards the bar, distracting nearby Raffens to ensure he wasn't spotted. Once he reached the top floor of the bar, he found the leader alone, overlooking the town. He then initiated a breach protocol to create a backdoor into their local system.

Here, upload this." On his display, he saw Alt add a quickhack to his cyberdeck. Although it didn't come with a description, seeing it in action would be more than enough for him.

V then highlighted the leader and uploaded the quickhack once her systems were breached. As soon as it infected her system, he saw her collapse as sparks flew out of her ears, mouth, and nostrils. He could soon smell the scent of burning flesh as he realized what was happening to her. Panam also informed him of what happened to the rest. "Holy shit, V! What did you do?! They're all..."

"Dead? Seems like it." He examined the corpse of the leader, finding the keys to Panam's car. "Got your keys, without a mess too."

"Uh, well, great! Meet me by it then." V then descended the stair and strolled over to the car where Panam was already waiting for him, palm outstretched.

V dropped the keys in her hand as she got in the driver's seat, V entering beside her. "Preem ride."

"Isn't she?"

"Yeah, didn't even need Mitch or Scorpion."

"Guess so. Listen, V, it's not over yet."

"Isn't it? You got your car, your merch..."

"But not Nash, who was not here. Fucker didn't show."

"Ohhh, I see where this is going. Want revenge, do ya?"

"The hell you know what I want!"

"I KNOW that you're either not bein' straight with me, or you're crazed outta your mind. Can't say which is worse."

"Just listen to me for fuck's sake!" She boomed as she slammed her fists on the dashboard. After a moment, she regained her composure. "I know where their little hidey-hole is. And if you can pull the same stunt you did here over there, then things shouldn't be a problem."

Just gotta consult with my schizophrenia real quick, V thought to himself. "Well, your schizophrenia is telling you that their backdoor should still be saved, assuming these guys are connected to the undoubtedly large group that's waiting to gun us down." Alt replied as she materialized in the back seat.

"Sure, let's just say I end up fryin' their brains to a crisp. Then what?"

"Then we finish the deal with 6th Street, and I'll help you with your problem. Deal?"

V sat in silence for a minute, contemplating whether or not immediately hunting down Nash was the best course of action. Although his head was telling him not to follow through with this, his gut was on a power high after knocking down the Raffens like dominoes. "Fuck it. Where's their hideout?"

"A hop, skip, and a jump away." Panam floored the accelerator as the truck lurched forward, thundering towards the cave hiding Nash and the rest of the Raffens.

Panam slowed to a halt as they reached the gaping hole that led to Nash's den. "Are you ready?" She asked gleefully.

"Let's get 'em." V replied as he felt adrenaline coursing through his body. The rush was only heightened as Panam tore through the tunnel, slamming on the brakes as they came face-to-face with two-dozen guns pointed at them. V focused on Nash, who was in a building on the catwalk. As he peeked his head, V uploaded the very same hack, seeing it's effects rapidly transfer to all the nearby Raffens.

As it uploaded, he felt his head begin to spin slightly, a side-effect of the Relic interfacing with his systems. Within a split second, however, sparks once again flew out of the Raffens' heads as they crumbled to the floor. Once the last of them had collapsed, V made his way up to Nash's perch, inspecting his corpse and rifle. He admired the sleek, silvery framework lined with azure Wraith markings and the word 'Widow Maker' inscribed on the barrel. He slung it over his back and returned to Panam, leaning against her Thorton.

"Christ, V, look at them!" She pointed to the lair littered with corpses. "I mean...how?! Haven't seen a netrunner do anything close to that!"

"Not exactly your average 'runner, let's just say." He glanced at Alt who appeared beside Panam, taking a bow as if she concluded a theatrical performance.

"Right...just finish talking with Rogue. She's one cold bitch, that's for sure."

"Got that feelin' from her. Feel any better?"

"Maybe a little. C'mon, lets get outta here." The two then left the Raffen graveyard behind, eventually reaching the Sunset Motel. There, 6th Street was waiting.

"Expecting trouble?" V inquired.

"No. At least, I don't think so." Panam stepped out of the car, V cracking his door open slightly enough for him to take shelter behind if things went south. However, the deal went smoothly and 6th Street took off. "Wanna get a drink?" She offered.

"Why not." V then shut the door, following Panam up the rusted steps into the motel's bar. As he reached the top step, he almost tripped, his stomach threatening to empty its contents all over the floor. "Agh, shit!"

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

The all too familiar flashes of blue flight plagued V's vision again, the world spinning around him as he struggled to stay upright. He grabbed onto a nearby table, taking deep breaths until he stabilized. He then entered the bar, taking a seat next to Panam, who was already striking up a conversation with the bartender.

"Broseph. Two of 'em." She ordered, the bartender placing two bottles of beer in front of the pair.

The two then drunkenly talked about the 6th Street deal, Raffens, and Panam's relationships with her clan and Rogue.

"The Aldecaldos - think you'll ever go back? I mean, not right now, but...someday?" V slurred.

"I don't rightly know... On the one hand, I don't have anyone outside the clan. Shit, I don't really have any other life."

"But on the other?"

"Without my clan, who am I? Who would I become if I stayed in Night City?"

V paused, thinking of a halfway decent response as he parsed his intoxicated thoughts. Without thinking, however, he suddenly blurted out an answer. "Take it from someone who's been chewed up and spit out by this shithole of a city - it ain't worth it. Pretty much nobody there gives a shit about anyone other than themselves. And even if you find someone who actually cares, chances are they'll end up flatlining long before they should." His speech was interrupted by a belch, the scent of alcohol leaving his breath as he continued. "Soon enough, you'll feel the loneliness eat away at you until you end up like half the people in the city - a sunken corpse, lying in the depths of some heavily polluted water." He felt himself come back to his senses, internally trying to find out what form of autopilot his mouth was set to. However, he couldn't figure it out.

"Well, uh...shit, V. I dunno what to say."

"Don't gotta say anythin', just remember that havin' a family's worth more than any amount o' eddies." Although he regained control of his voice, exhaustion amplified the effects of the beer he was chugging. His vision began to dim slightly, the threat of crashing creeping closer. "Guess we oughta turn to my needs now. Nabbin' Hellman, 'member?"

"Of course. I've come up with a plan - first draft, though. Gotta sleep it off, first. We'll work out the details later. Meantime, I say we rent rooms here, then get to work around midnight. Sound good?"

"Yeah, sure." The idea of a bed was deeply alluring to V. He couldn't remember the last time he slept properly, since he'd been bouncing back and forth between Judy, Takemura, and now Panam.

V zoned out, unable to hear the rest of what Panam had said. He then stumbled his way to his room, collapsing onto the squeaky, stained mattress.

Chapter Text

"Wake the fuck up, Samurai."

V's eyes bolted open as he was ungracefully roused from his deep slumber. The voice that had awoken him came from the door to his room. "5 more minutes..." He slurred out as he tried to re-enter the land of dreams.

"We've got a city to burn." The voice continued. This time, however, V tried to focus his vision on the source, groaning as he found out who it was.

"That line outta some Bushido movie or somethin'?"

"If only Johnny Silverhand was a professional actor." Alt replied as she moved closer to the bed. "He was phenomenal at putting up an act in front of other people, so I'd have loved to see how he'd do with a script."

"Fuck, is it midnight already?" V checked the time, and sure enough, it was 12:00 am. He then sat upright, pushing himself off of the squeaky, stained mattress, and headed out the door to the garage, where he saw Panam working on her Thorton. "When'd he say that?"

"Guess."

"Uh, jeez, my brain needs a minute to work. Um...somethin' about fuckin' over Arasaka?"

"Close. Shitfaced drunk with Kerry after some concert, ended up trying to compare dick sizes or something."

"No fuckin' way." V barked out a laugh.

"Believe it or not, yeah. Johnny didn't have a problem, but Kerry...being drunk wasn't doing him any favours."

"Were you there to see this?!"

"Hell no! Kerry told me this, actually."

"What?! When?" V asked in disbelief.

"The hell should I know? Anyways, to try and 'encourage' Kerry, Johnny leant over and told him that!"

V had to control every fibre of his being to suppress himself from laughing out loud like a cyberpsycho. Instead, he opted for mentally laughing instead. "What the fuck?! Jesus Christ, and Kerry spilled this shit to you?"

"To be fair, both of us were drunk, and Johnny was passed out, so..."

"Yeah but, did it, you know..."

"He never told me, but from what I could tell it did."

V then stopped as he reached the garage, seeing Panam underneath her truck. "Can I help?" V asked, knowing completely well he couldn't.

"No you can't. The Raffens left her as crooked as a bag of snakes." She finished up her work, then re-emerged from underneath the car. "Sleep well?"

"Can't complain." He definitely wanted to, but opted to keep his mouth shut. Not her problem, V thought to himself. "Give our plan any thought?" He didn't want to squander the little time he had. Losing Hellman wasn't an option, so the sooner they got to work the better.

"As a matter of fact, I did. Come here." She strolled over to a workbench, V leaning in as he observed.

"Alright, shoot."

She explained using some tools how they'd use an EMP generated by a power station in the desert to bring down the AV, leaving an opening to grab Hellman. "Whaddaya think?"

V pondered for a moment, running the scenario through his head countless times. He felt an uncomfortable feeling in his gut, telling him not to go through with it. His reasoning was the risk it posed to Hellman. "Uh, I dunno... You sure somethin' like that won't straight up kill our target?"

"That AV's able to tank missiles, V. Pretty sure a moderate crash landing won't harm anyone on board."

"And this EMP won't have any effects on anything else?"

"Does it matter? We're just there to grab the guy and get the fuck out."

V tapped his finger on the table, thinking of any sort of alternative solution. He recalled his conversation with Alt not too long ago. Can't hijack the damn thing without raising hell. Unless...

"Mind if I propose my own idea?" V asked with a slight grin.

"Your op, your call."

"Kang Tao's hiding transponder stations outside of NC airspace. They'll be monitoring any activity, communicating with their tech like the AV. He reached over to grab the cutter representing the AV. "This thing'll be flyin' around," he simulated it flying through the air, "meanwhile we," he continued as he grabbed a wrench off the wall, "will have fuck around with one of those stations." He placed the wrench to the side. "I'll be able to breach their systems and silence 'em. We'll need to hit one of the power stations first. A surge oughta reset their security systems, giving us a chance to slip through and make our move."

Panam stared at the wrench V placed down, analyzing his plan the same way he did to hers. "Sounds doable, though we'll need to hit a power station right next to your transponder, which means you need to tell me where it is."

"Once we head out, I'll upload the coordinates to your nav system."

"Alright, let's go." The two then started towards an empty part of the southern Badlands, the coordinates pointing to an unmarked building near the solar farms.

"This the place?" Panam's question brought V back from his zoned-out state as he stared blankly out of the window towards the countless solar panels lining the once-barren desert.

"Huh? Oh, yeah." V turned to ensure the building they arrived at was indeed one of Kang Tao's transponder stations. "See those scratch marks by the window?" V pointed towards a heavily tinted window plastered to the side of the building, deep gashes scarring the concrete surrounding it.

"What about them?"

"Apparently one of Biotechnica's little 'experiments' got loose and attacked this place. Official report claims it to be the work of the Wraiths, but only a few people outside of both corps know what actually happened."

"You mean those alleged werewolf sightings?"

"Well, they're not actually werewolves, but I'd rather not leave you sleepless for the next few nights."

"Sure... Anyways, what now?"

"Place doesn't have much security on the outside, but inside there's a shit ton of turrets, drones, and combat frames hidin' to get the jump on any poor bastard that manages to break in. Gotta cause a power surge to let us get in without shit hittin' the fan."

Panam then glanced back towards the nearest solar collector, gesturing to it. "Will that do?"

V examined it briefly before stepping out of the car and walking closer. Upon reaching it, he continued examining the exterior. "Huh..." He noticed a ladder that led towards the top of the collection tower. He grabbed the sides and hoisted himself up, ascending to the top. Once he reached it, he found a control panel with an access point. He extended his personal link, easily breaching the system. Upon having done so, he found access to this tower's power settings. "Convenient," he said to nobody in particular.

"Find anything yet!" He heard Panam yelling from the bottom of the tower.

"Yeah! Give me a sec!" He descended down the ladder, coming face-to-face with the hot-headed nomad. "Found a control panel for this unit. Can manually trigger a power surge once we're ready, then we kick the door down and do what we need to."

"AV's inbound in around 2 hours. How long do you need to pull this off?"

"Uh, I'd say around 15 minutes tops."

"Don't sound too confident."

"Just my first time pulling something like this off, so forgive me for being a little nervous."

"Just messin' with ya, V. I'll give you a heads up 20 minutes in advance, though."

"Cool, just ring me on the holo. I'll be waitin' up there." Panam then started walking to her car, leaving V alone with his thoughts as he re-ascended the tower.

As he reached the top, he noticed Alt overlooking the Night City skyline, leaning on a railing. V moved closer, joining her. "Something on your mind?" He prompted.

Alt let out a sigh. "A lot. Hellman, Spider, Rogue... Thinking about how much I've missed."

"What, all 64 years of your time in digital prison?"

"Prison's too generous a term. I'd call it purgatory. But no, actually, it's just...strange, seeing how things have changed so much. Yet, it still feels like the same shithole of a city."

"So what, you happier here or back then?"

Silence shrouded both of them for some time. "I don't know, V. Back then, I was a free woman. Able to run around the net as much as I wanted. Now? I don't have to worry about Johnny's drug-fueled outbursts or Arasaka breathing behind my neck. Can't say I've got an answer for you. Sorry."

"Like you said, much hasn't changed. Can't imagine it'd be easy to say things are better or worse of now compared to 64 years ago."

"But I feel like I SHOULD have an answer." Alt lit a fictional cigarette, taking a long drag from it. "Can't ever get used to being inside someone's head. Guess I've only got myself to blame for killing you twice."

V scoffed and shook his head. "You're not serious, are you? Tryna take the blame for the heist AND this?" He pointed towards his head. "Nah, can't find someone to blame that easily. Dex, Yorinobu, Saburo, Hellman, Ev, VDBs? Long-ass list, and you're definitely not on it."

"I'm definitely somewhere, maybe just not at the top." She took another drag.

"I don't get it. You trying to play the victim card so I can make you feel better?"

"Fuck's sake, V, no! I just..." she let out a puff of smoke, "...every time I look back, all I can see is my dumbass self handing Soulkiller to Arasaka like a Christmas present."

"They would've killed you."

"They did."

"Still here, though." That caused Alt to turn her head to face V, seeing him walking past her and flipping a middle finger towards Arasaka Tower. "Fuck 'em. From the both of us." He turned back and flashed a toothy grin.

Alt then crept towards V, flipping the tower off as well. "If Johnny could see me, he'd be the happiest man burning in hell." She returned V's smile, the both of them staring into each other's eyes for several seconds until they awkwardly turned away from each other. V sat down, closing his eyes to regain some lost sleep.

"V? Come in, V!" V's eyes darted open as he realized Panam had been yelling at him over the holo. "Come on, wake up!"

"Sorry, sorry." He apologized sheepishly. "How far out are they?"

"20 minutes. Lucky you heard me, or I'd have come over to you and yelled in your ear."

"Alright, chill. Get ready." V stood up and approached the control panel, breaching the system and injecting a virus that would trigger a power surge. "On the count of 3, ok?"

"On your mark, V." Panam replied.

"1, 2, 3!" V then triggered the surge, instantly seeing several alerts pinging the central control system the tower was connected to. He then felt a vibration as static clouded his vision. "Agh, shit!" He struggled to find the ladder, descending as quickly as he could. However, as he reached the bottom rungs, he slipped off and impacted the dry ground beneath him.

"V!" He barely heard Panam as she came to shake him awake. "Come on! Door's opened up!"

V pushed himself onto his feet as he looked up, seeing electricity arcing around the tower and surrounding solar panels. "Oh, fuck!"

"No time to stop and smell the roses, V!" She grabbed his hand and started running towards the transponder station. V pulled his hand back as he regained control of his limbs. He unsheathed the flaming katana he found in the scav den holding Evelyn, finding the name 'Errata' engraved on its blade. The duo stood by the door, waiting for 3 seconds until they entered, finding the entrance deserted. "Empty?"

"Automated security's probably offline. Dunno how long our window is, but it ain't long. C'mon!" V led Panam deeper into the station, locating the stairs that led underground. As they reached the lower level, they found a large control room containing a map of Night City, specifically the region surrounding the station. "Here!" V sprinted towards the control panel in front of the map, Panam watching his back. "Give me a sec." He extended his personal link, jacking in to the panel. "Alt? Alt?!" V screamed in his head, waiting for her to help him take control of Kang Tao's transponder system.

"Sorry, power surge fucked with the Relic." Alt weakly replied as she aided V in breaching the system. Once he gained access, he locked onto the AV's signature, once again waiting for Alt to take control.

"You good?!" He asked frantically.

"No... Feel like I'm gonna puke."

V then grabbed one of his boosters and plunged it into his chest, relief instantly washing over his body. "Better?!"

"Yes, one moment." He could see the AV's security being breached, control being handed over to V. "Here you go, one Kang Tao AV."

"Thanks a million, Alt." V then turned his attention back to Panam. "All clear, here!"

"Good, no sign of trouble yet. Let's get out of here." The two dashed up the stairs and out of the building. Within a minute, the door slammed shut as the arcing died down, leaving the nearby solar array to shut down. "Not a moment to soon, fuck!"

"They're 15 minutes out, where do you wanna have 'em land?"

"Empty spot of desert not too far from here, hop in!" They got into her Thorton and sped off towards an empty section of the Badlands. As they were en route to the landing site, Panam got a call from Mitch.

"Panam, you hearin' all this chatter on Kang Tao's comms? Transporting some high-value asset onboard an AV headin' straight over our heads!"

"How did you hear about that?!"

"Power surge musta poked a hole in their system, cuz I'm hearin' the Raffens're perkin' their ears up at it as well."

"Shit! And you're sure they'll be targeting it?"

"Nah, ever since their hideout was turned into a graveyard they've been on the back foot for the time being. Scorpion and I are thinkin' about taking it down."

"No! Do NOT touch that AV, you hear me?!"

"Sheesh, what's so special about it to you?"

"Part of a retrieval op, someone onboard that needs to be taken ALIVE."

"Need any help?" Scorpion's voice came over the call.

"Oh, so now that something's in it for you, NOW you wanna help?" She snapped back at the pair.

"Not us, the clan. Know where it's headed?"

"Uh, just a sec." She muted the call as she turned to V. "Want their help, or would you rather keep this between us?"

"As long as I don't owe them anything for them turning up."

Panam then unmuted. "Sending the coordinates now." She transferred the coordinates of the AV's touchdown site to them. "Got it?"

"Oh yeah, headin' out in 5. See ya there!" Mitch then hung up, only moments before the two saw the AV high above them.

"Shit, they're right on top of us!"

"Want me to take control now?"

Panam saw they were still a minute out to the landing zone. "Fuck it, do it!"

V then manually took control of the AV, locking the pilots out. "They're not gonna raise the alarm, are they?" He asked Alt.

"When you gained access to the transponder station, I made sure to shroud them from Kang Tao support. The only thing you'll need to worry about are the forces on board."

"So nothing to worry about then, good." He then pushed the nose of the AV down, causing it to descend rapidly as it neared the landing zone. He could hear its engines roar past them as both it and the car reached the site. He then gently landed the craft, locking the controls permanently. "What now?" He asked Panam as she parked behind a nearby outcrop.

"We wait for Mitch and Scorpion to arrive. In the meantime, we can scout around the AV to pinpoint any potential threats. I've got a drone we can use to look around the area."

"Good idea. You wanna do the honors?"

"You seem to know your way around Kang Tao, you might spot something I'd miss." She exposed a jacking point for V's personal link, to which he inserted it and gained control of a drone that sat in the back of the truck.

As he flew cloaked around the AV, he took note of a massive turret on top of it, two mechs, as well as several drones and frames. The doors, however, were sealed shut.

"Alright," V said as he returned the drone to the car, "got what I need. Be sure to warn your friends about the shit-ton of security around the AV."

"I'll be sure to." Panam then saw in the corner of her eyes several Aldecaldos cars pulling up, surrounding the AV. "Cavalry's here." She quickly messaged Mitch about the security detail, ensuring no surprises caught them off guard. "Ready, V?"

V saw Alt sitting in the back seat of the car with her golden hand mimicking the shape of a pistol aimed directly at him, a sly grin painted on her face.

"Let's send these fuckers to hell."

Chapter Text

Amidst the hail of bullets flying between Kang Tao's security and the Aldecaldos, V cut through several bots with Errata, rushing towards the AV to disable the oppressive turret firing at the nomads. He tore open a side panel and jacked in, shutting down the turret and unlocking the AV's side door.

As the last of the security drones was shot down, the nomads surrounded the AV. "Glad you guys showed up." V thanked Mitch and Scorpion who stood beside Panam.

"Kang Tao's probably got some valuable stuff tucked away inside, couldn't afford to just let this opportunity slip through our fingers, y'know?" Mitch replied as Panam approached the door.

"Your guy's inside, isn't he?"

"Hoping he is. Gotta get through the rest of Kang Tao's people hiding, though."

"Don't worry about them, just do what you gotta do, V." Scorpion assured him as he signaled to the Aldecaldos to raise their weapons.

"On the count of three we open it." V told Panam as she stood clear of the door. "One, two..." V then gripped an exposed handle and yanked the door back, only to be met with several guns being drawn by the security inside.

"Lay down your weapons! You're outgunned ten-to-one!" Mitch bellowed behind him. "Step outside of the AV one by one with your hands behind your head!" One of the security guards glanced around, seeing dozens of nomads surrounding the AV. He gestured to the remaining personnel behind him to surrender, as they tossed their weapons on the ground in front of them. The Aldecaldos then stripped the soldiers of their gear, making them sit on nearby rocks.

As the AV was emptied, V stepped inside to see none other than Anders Hellman ducking behind some seats, his body very much exposed. "Come out, Hellman! Ain't exactly good at hiding, you know." Hellman then slowly got up, hands raised in the air.

"Whoever you are, please don't shoot! I'm sure we can reach some agreement! What is it you want? Money? I'm sure Kang Tao is willing to give you any amount you wish, just please let me live!" He pleaded.

V let out a slow chuckle as he sauntered over to him. "Oh, this ain't about the eddies, choom. Just so you know, this ain't personal." V then knocked Hellman out, picking up his limp body and carrying it outside, where he came face-to-face with several more Aldecaldos. He took note of the large man speaking with Panam.

"What you did was reckless, you know that? Endangering the lives of your family for some stranger." The man said.

"Don't lecture me on family, Saul! I wasn't the one who brought Scorpion and Mitch out here! Besides, it's not like anybody got hurt. Hell, we managed to get a decent haul of Kang Tao goods." Panam fiercely retorted.

"But things could've turned out far worse, and that's a risk I refuse to take." Saul then turned to face V. "So you're V, correct? Saul Bright, leader of the Aldecaldos here in Night City." He stuck out his hand, which V shook firmly.

"Yeah, Panam and I helped each other quite a bit." He then pointed to Hellman, who he sat down on the ground.

"Yes, she's one of the most resourceful people I know. Unfortunately, she's also one of the most reckless."

"Don't lecture me like I'm a member of the clan all of a sudden!" She snapped back.

"Once an Aldecaldo, always an Aldecaldo. Remember that, Panam." Saul then turned to leave with the Aldecaldos and their newly-acquired gear.

"Ignore him, V. Always has a massive stick up his ass." She said. "So, what'll you do with him?" She gestured to Hellman.

"Just got a few questions I'm gonna ask him. What about you?"

"Can't forget what you told me back at the motel. Maybe I'll go back to the clan, I dunno. City life's just not for me, I guess."

Mitch and Scorpion then walked over to the two. "Whatever you decide, we'll be with you every step of the way." The former told her.

"Mhm. Saul may not look it, but he misses you. Too thick-skulled to express it, though."

"I'll think about it, but thank you guys. Until next time, V?"

"Dunno if I'll be calling you to down any more AV's, but if you ever need me to flash fry a bunch of Raffens..." V trailed off as Panam nodded her head as she and the Aldecaldos set off into the Badlands.

Once the roars of the nomads' cars faded into silence, Alt materialized and sat on the rock Hellman was leaning against. "Gotta call Takemura, remember? I'm sure he'll be over the moon to hear the good news."

"Shit, almost forgot." He then rung Takemura, who responded quite quickly.

"Yes, V?"

"Got Hellman, taking him to the Sunset Motel. Meet you there?"

V could see Takemura smile for a brief moment. "That is excellent news. Thank you, V. I will be there soon." He then hung up the call, leaving V to figure out how to bring Hellman to the motel.

"You don't think Del's willin' to pick us up, is he?" He asked Alt who smirked and shook her head.

After opting to carjack someone, V eventually arrived at the motel, renting a room and plopping Hellman down on a chair. V then pulled one in front of him, slapping him awake as Alt stood behind him.

"Where am I? What is this place?" Hellman asked in a panicked tone.

"Motel. Middle of nowhere."

"Any specific middle?"

"Doesn't matter. Not leavin' here on your own."

"Why are we here then?"

"Wanna talk about your little invention. Biochip you made for Arasaka."

"Fine, but let's get one thing straight, first. Yorinobu Arasaka didn't send you?"

"No."

"This means you must have an offer for me. If you boss pays more than Kang Tao, I believe we can talk."

"Only offer I'll give you is this: Tell me what I want to know, and I don't put a bullet in your skull." V noticed his posture stiffen.

"Uhm, very well. What do you want to know, then?"

"Relic's in my head and it's slowly killin' me. Taking over my brain until I'm gone and it's all that's left. That is, unless I get it out. And I don't remember seeing anything like that advertised to your customers."

"But, that's not possible. The Relic program was only meant to allow communication with the deceased. Where did you get this biochip?"

"Klepped it from Yorinobu, apparently he was tryna sell it off to Netwatch, 'till it ended up in my brain."

"Why in god's name would you put it in your head?!"

"Client I stole it for told me it was the safest place since the container broke. Worked out well until he shot me here." He pointed to where Dex placed a bullet in his skull. "Then it rebooted me, brought me back from the fuckin' dead. Now, you're gonna tell me how to stop it from killing me, too."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple."

V scoffed. "Heard that excuse already. You made the damn thing, don't you know how it works?"

"If what you're saying is true, you slotted in a new, experimental version of the biochip."

"Yeah, and I know I can't just yank it out. Ripperdoc already said-"

"You showed it to some fucking street doctor?! Who else knows!" Hellman cut V off.

"I needed help, dumbass! Not like downing a Kang Tao AV was my first option! Besides, what's so different about this biochip anyways?"

"The normal sort of Relic is used to communicate with pre-saved engrams, but yours installs an engram in a new body. When I left Arasaka, the project was still in the trial phase."

"Mhm, and I'm your guinea pig, great. Now, how the fuck am I supposed to get it out?"

"I would have to see it first."

V pondered for a brief moment before reluctantly giving Hellman access to the Relic. As he examined V, Alt began pacing around the room, her eyes fixed on Hellman.

"Oh, fuck." Hellman blurted out as he finished examining V."

"What?"

"Your neural network has...completely deteriorated. It can no longer function independently of the chip. All I could do..." Hellman then offered V information on a clinic in Sweden, to which V looked at Hellman in disgust.

"Clinic won't do shit. Just, tell me what exactly is going on in my head."

"The construct is devouring your mind, integrating itself into you. Tell me, what's it like to have two personalities occupying the same body?"

"I can...see and talk to her."

"You're not talking, but I understand what you mean. Have you noticed any changes in your decision making?"

"What do you mean?"

"You may, and perhaps already have, had made choices you would've once thought unthinkable. The construct is a netrunner, cold and calcuating with a strong affinity for manipulating the world around her."

Alt then approached Hellman, laughing. "Son of a bitch thinks he knows who I am? Go on then, rat." She said with gritted teeth.

"Alt Cunningham created Soulkiller, the very AI responsible for the creation of engrams. No denying she was brilliant, but clearly without foresight for the consequences of her actions."

"Didn't take you for a hypocrite. Criticizing her for creating something extraordinary, only for you to do the same thing with the Relic. Giving Arasaka more of a reason to steal people's souls and lock them away in a digital prison. Can't go around lecturing people when you're not better than them."

"Are you defending her? Or is that Alt speaking for you? Oh, let me guess, she already tried to exert control over you, perhaps take your body, if only for a while."

"Actually no, she hasn't. She's been more helpful than you've been. At this point, I dunno if you're trying to show me how useless you are. Because, in that case, I can hold up my end of the offer where I flatline you here and save us both the hassle."

"I will try to help you, if you come with me to Kang Tao."

"Forget Kang Tao, hell forget anyone other than me, 'cause it's just us two here."

"In that case, if you believe there is anyone else who can help you, I can provide you with the Relic's blueprints." A few moments later, he turned his head to see Takemura enter the room. "Takemura? What the hell is he doing here?!"

"He's got a few questions of his own for you. Play nice, he might even save your ass. Now, the blueprints."

Hellman then offered V a shard containing the Relic's blueprints, with V slotting it in. "Hmm, I can work with this." He heard Alt say as he read through the Relic's documentation. "Give me time to parse through this. Saw some references to Soulkiller, which is something I can figure out on my own."

As V finished reading, he stood up, offering Hellman to Takemura. "All yours." Takemura's response was drowned out as he made his way out of the room, flashes of blue light infecting his vision. As soon as he stepped out, he dropped to his knees as his stomach threatened to expel its contents onto the ground. "Fuck..." he muttered.

He slowly made his way towards the staircase, Alt trying to keep him conscious. "Stay with me, V. Sit down somewhere." She glanced around, pointing to a nearby chair. V could feel jumps in his senses and movement as he eventually sat down, breathing heavily. "Shit, biochip's getting worse." She stood over him, twirling her Samurai necklace between her fingers.

"Nah, third trimester cramping, but don't worry, it'll only get better from here on out." V let out a raspy laugh as Alt stared flatly at him.

"Perfect time for jokes V, Jesus!" V then pulled out a cigarette and lit it, letting smoke pass through his airways as he felt marginally better. Alt then took a seat beside him. "Take a minute, V. Hell, take ten, just don't drop dead yet."

"Yeah, yeah, 'cause we definitely know how to save my life. Don't remember what Hellman said five minutes ago? That you're devouring my brain?!"

"And don't you remember that it's something I hold no control over?!"

"Hellman's right. You handed Arasaka a superweapon, and now look: you're dead, I'm dying, and who knows how many other people were victims of your hubris. Didn't wanna be forgotten? Well congratulations! Now the whole world's fucked 'cause of you."

Alt sighed. "Want to play the blame game? Look at yourself! Think Arasaka killed Jackie? Or Dex's piss-poor planning? No, V, you wanted to become a legend right? Price to pay is always a life, and you're so goddamn lucky you didn't have to pay it."

V narrowed his eyes at Alt. "Don't you FUCKING mention Jackie!" He yelled at her. "He's ten times the person you could ever be!"

"And that's why I'm here and he's not, right?"

"Fuck's sake, what's gotten into you?! Spittin' on me while I'm dying, real fucking helpful."

"You're the one who started it, V! Hellman's gotten into your head, don't take what he says to heart. He knows jack-shit about the situation we're in."

V tossed the cigarette onto the floor and took a deep breath. "Fuck me..." The two sat in silence for several minutes as V regained his strength. "Listen, Alt-"

"Don't apologize, V. Knowing that your only other lead was just another dead-end would've pushed me over the edge too."

"Mhm."

"And about Jackie..."

"Yeah, I know I'm partly to blame, too. Can't change that, though." V gazed at the stars for some time, only for Alt to interrupt him.

"While I was trapped in Mikoshi," she began as V turned to face her, "I kept replaying my final moments. All I could think about was Johnny getting me killed. I kept blaming him, seeing why he would be so reckless. I couldn't get myself out of that rut, that he was to blame for me being trapped."

"And now?"

"Now, I can only blame myself. I thought I'd be able to escape, but dealing with Arasaka's like dealing with the devil. But you're right, can't change what we did. All we can do is fix our mistakes, and for me that starts and ends with Mikoshi. Once we figure out how to get there, we nuke it - Silverhand style."

"Heh, you've got a nuke tucked away somewhere?"

"If this rabbit hole goes as deep as I think it does, then you'll meet her soon enough." They continued staring up towards the night sky for what seemed like an eternity.

"Let's go, Alt. Can't sit around doin' nothing while waiting for a miracle." As soon as V stood up, he received a call from Mr. Hands.

"Well, V, consider yourself one of the luckiest people in the city, because the Voodoo Boys are in the market for a merc. And I just happen to know one who can get their job done." Mr. Hands said.

"Did they say anything about the Relic?"

"No, the man I spoke with was not interested, as I suspected. However, you have the opening you desired. Go to the Pacifica Serenity Bible Church, where you should meet with a contact. I'm afraid that's all I know. Best of luck, V, and if you want work whilst in Pacifica, don't hesitate to get in contact again."

"Thanks a lot, Hands." He then hung up, Alt grinning at V.

"Looks like you've got your miracle."

"Our miracle." He corrected her.

Chapter Text

Rather than steal someone else's car, V was thrilled to be notified that his Archer had finally been repaired. After calling it to the motel, he drove through the Badlands towards Pacifica. As he rolled through the decrepit streets, he couldn't take his eyes off of the half-finished skyscrapers lining the eastern side of the district. He eventually pulled into the parking lot of the chapel, briefly taking in the ocean view before pushing the wooden door open and stepping inside.

V was immediately faced with red lights identical to those he saw in the BD he analyzed with Judy, as well as countless men and women gathered before a priest. As he crept through the crowd, he felt a hand touch his shoulder, V instinctively twisting his body to face a man wearing a brown hood.

"You are V? We have been waiting." He said in a thick Haitian accent.

"Guessin' you're my contact? Finally gonna tell me about this job?"

"I'm just the man in the middle. You will learn more. Soon." The man went on to tell V to find someone called Placide at a nearby butcher shop. V then took his leave, glancing back to see his contact fixated on the ceremony. Opening the door, he was briefly blinded by sunlight, his eyes adjusting from the darkness of the chapel.

The butcher shop was merely down a flight of stairs, and as V stepped inside, he was struck by the smell of raw meat. The man at the counter pointed him towards the back of the shop after having verified his identity. V's gut was sending him intense feelings of unease around the people he's talked to, and shorty thereafter his body responded in kind.

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

He bent over, coughing what felt like his lungs up. He looked down at his hand and saw blood staining it. He shook it off and sluggishly walked inside of a massive freezer room. He made brief eye contact with a man as he passed him by, coming face-to-face with another, only this one was twice his size and spotted a trench coat. "Placide?" V asked weakly.

"Mhm." He curtly responded as he sharpened his knife.

"Wanna talk to Brigitte." As V said this, the man froze for a moment.

"But they send you to me." He then cut the head off a chicken before wrapping its body in a newspaper and carrying it under his arm.

"And you're gonna tell me more about this job?"

"Yes. But not here. Follow me." Placide then led V outside and pointed towards the Grand Imperial Mall, informing him of the Animals that recently moved in. He then stepped away and led V into a market and up some stairs towards a secluded floor. V made a mental note of the room behind a sliding glass door, seeing dozens of wires linked to netrunner chairs. "Sit." Placide commanded V as he sat down before a table with a laptop and various papers strewn about. As V sat down, Placide jumped out of his chair and grabbed his arm, V yanking it free before Placide could take out his personal link. "What the hell?!" Placide blurted out.

"Could fuckin' tell me what you plan to do first!" V snapped back.

"You take job, you do what I say. So you jack in. Now." V scoffed has he obeyed the man in front of him. Once he inserted his link, Alt appeared and leaned on the wall behind Placide.

"Guy walks and talks like he's got a massive stick up his ass."

V then saw Placide scanning his systems. "Your chrome shaman, it is Viktor?"

"Yeah, that matter or something?"

"Need you to be capable, that is all." Placide then went quiet for a moment. "This chip - it has no signature. What is it?"

"It's why I'm here, and why I need to talk to Brigitte."

"It looks broken, why?"

"Bullet to the brain, hasn't worked since." Placide kept typing away at the laptop, leaving V to keep their conversation going. "GIM, what do I do once I'm inside?"

"De kamyonet." He then presented V with footage of a van entering the mall. He went on to explain how since it's entered, nobody else has gone in or out. In the middle of his explanation, he was interrupted by a Voodoo Boy who bursted through the door. All V could catch was something about someone's heart rate dropping before Placide ordered them to shut the door. As much as he wanted to ask more, he opted against aggravating his ticket to seeing Brigitte.

Placide then linked to V through the Voodoo Boys' subnet, leaving V to meet his people in the mall's parking lot and ensuring him he would meet with Brigitte should he get the job done.

V stepped out into the blazing Sun once again, rays of light beaming down on his skin as he got back into his car and drove to the mall. Once there, he briefly talked with the Voodoo Boys there, informing him of a back entrance he could use to sneak into the GIM.

Despite the vast numbers of Animals patrolling the mall, V was able to successfully sneak past them all and reach the van. He rapidly glanced around to make sure nobody was nearby before jacking into an exposed port on the side of the van. A map of Pacifica then illuminated his optics as Placide explained NetWatch's operations against the Voodoo Boys.

"What do you need me to do?" V whispered.

"Hunt the NetWatch agent. He is in the cinema, find him and-"

"Step away now. This isn't your fight." Placide was cut off by a man's voice as red lights flashed in V's eyes.

"The fuck was that?" V asked between gritted teeth.

"Who you think? The agent, you must find him quickly."

V then disconnected has he heard nearby Animals approaching the van. He was lucky enough to slip away before they spotted him, and snuck up to the second floor. He tiptoed around a corner, only to spot a towering woman on the phone in the center of a vast room that led into the cinema. "Uh, Placide?"

"She is the leader, deal with her first."

"Easier said than done, you know." V crept behind her, unsheathing is flaming katana before slicing her back, the blade tracing where her spine would be. The exposed circuits that laid there began shorting out, staggering the hulking Animal as her roars echoed throughout the room. V attempted to flee, but his legs briefly gave out as red once again filled his vision. "Ugh, what the fuck?!" He growled as he turned to witness Sasquatch charge at him with her titanic hammer.

"The NetWatch agent tries to cripple you, I will hold him off!" He barely heard Placide as he rolled, barely dodging the hammer as it plunged into the ground where his head once was. He drew the rifle Nash once owned and opened fire, the bullets bouncing off of Sasquatch's plated chest.

The two continued to run laps around the room, V occasionally being bashed against Sasquatch's hammer whilst firing at her exposed circuitry. Despite V's stamina, Sasquatch was eventually able to tackle and pin him to the ground, relentlessly beating him with her bare fists. Before she was able to flatten his skull, he uploaded an unlabeled quickhack that just appeared in his cyberdeck. As the beast before him rose her hammer into the sky, sparks suddenly began flying from beneath her arms, locking them in place. V took the opportunity to pull the pin of a grenade and plunge it into her exposed back. As it detonated, he barely dove out of the blast as he felt heat and shrapnel fly past him. Whipping his head back, he saw Sasquatch laying on the floor, her hammer just out of reach. V limped towards it, struggling to lift it as he approached the now squirming Animal leader. Grasping the handle with all his remaining strength, he slammed it into her face as blood and coolant poured out of her crushed skull.

"Now, the agent." Placide's voice was oddly reassuring to V, proof that his chance at seeing Brigitte still lived on. V cautiously moved through the silent room into the cinema, seeing the once-closed shutters lifted by Placide. Navigating a few hallways, V eventually turned to see a cowboy movie playing in one of the theatres. He continued up the staircase towards the projector, tiptoeing into the room to be met with the NetWatch agent. Suddenly, the door behind him shut as the agent turned around, as static signaled the severance of his link with Placide.

"Whoah, hey. Easy..." The agent said cooly as V drew his katana.

"The fuck did you just do?"

"Severed the connection with the rest of Pacifica. Now we can talk in private."

Alt materialized beside the agent, eyeing him closely. "Private discussion my ass." She extended her thumb and pinky finger as she held her right hand up to her ear whilst tracing a line with her left hand towards the NetWatch agent's own ear.

"Guessin' you're the agent I'm after?"

"Bryce Mosley, NetWatch special agent. Can we talk?" He pulled out his badge from his back pocket as proof. "Not sure what the Voodoo Boys are paying you, but our pockets are deeper."

V barked out a laugh. "Think I'm doin' this for the eddies? Just tryna get in with Maman Brigtte."

"Brigitte and her lapdog Ti Neptune have been frozen for days since we've shrouded their subnet with ICE. You," he motioned towards V, "were sent here to free them."

V's eyes were trained on Mosley's, who remained calm under his glare. "So why're you tryna talk me out of finishing the job?"

"Ever wonder why they never told you everything? It's 'cause you're a 'ranyon'. That's what they call outsiders brought in for special jobs - floor rags. When you're no longer needed, they chuck you. A fate for all 'ranyons'."

"Got anything solid to back that up?"

"Actually, YOU'VE got evidence enough. When you handed over your link, they slipped in a virus."

V noticed Alt suddenly snap to attention as he said that. "Did they?" V asked, his question dripping with sarcasm.

"Let me prove it. Run a system diagnostic." V proceeded to do so, seeing his systems appear clear.

"Nothin' looks outta place, so-"

"Do it again, but this time cross-check the results against the first." V did so, seeing once again his systems operating normally. Cross-checking the two highlighted that they were the same. "Identical, hmm? That's cause it's a copy."

"Shit..." V heard Alt mutter as she began pacing around the control room.

"Guessin' you've cooked up an offer for me?" As V asked, he saw Mosley's body relax.

"A compromise. I'll fish the Voodoo virus out of your system, and free Brigitte and Neptune."

"In exchange for...?"

"Letting us walk with our data."

V drummed his finger on his thigh as he pondered his offer. He glanced at Alt, hoping for some guidance, although she was fixated on the ground, similarly in deep thought. However, staring at her caused something to pop up in V's mind.

"Mind if I ask you something a little off topic?"

"As long as you don't do anything rash."

"A little bird told me that NetWatch was plannin' on buying a relic from Arasaka. Experimental, carrying an engram of a very special someone. Care to explain what you planned on doing with it?" Alt's head snapped to face V, her eyes burning into V's own.

"I'd love to know what bird told you that, but if you insist..." Mosley began as he sat in a nearby chair. "...Yorinobu Arasaka planned on selling us a prototype that housed the engram of Altiera Cunningham. The very woman who created Soulkiller. With her, we'd be able to plug all the holes people like the Voodoo Boys poke in the Blackwall."

"So you'd use her as a tool?" V didn't notice his muscles tensing up.

"Well, it's not like she would be of any use otherwise. The Relic would normally be inserted into a body, which it would assimilate and gain control over. Of course, why risk unknown variables like that when we could simply use her expertise and skillset towards securing humanity from an apocalypse?"

"Yeah, but you don't thing she'd be deserving of any independence?" V's teeth pressed into one another as his jaw tightened.

"Those questions, I'm afraid, will likely never be answered, as the Relic was stolen the day of Saburo Arasaka's death. More than a coincidence, don't you think?"

"Say you did get your hands on it, then what? You'd use her to fix the Blackwall, and then what? Free her?"

"Sadly, things related to the Blackwall are never that simple. You see, her duty would be to oversee constant maintenance of the Blackwall to ensure no rogue AIs would be able to break through. That task would last for as long as they would exist. Or however long she'd last. Whoever gives out first."

All V could hear after that was the rhythmic beating of his heart as he clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him. In an instant, he lunged at him, pinning him to the ground as he inserted his link into the now unconscious agent. A map of several NetWatch agents then popped up in his eyes, each falling like dominoes thanks to whatever Placide had done. Without warning, V felt a sharp pain surge throughout his body as his body spasmed uncontrollably, followed by darkness.

V could see his systems rebooting as he regained control of his body. His eyes felt as if acid had been poured into them, but they allowed him to see the blood pooling out of Mosley's nose. He also saw Alt appear and approach, crouching so her face met V's. "Normally I'd call you a fucking dumbass but...thank you." She flashed a small smile. "Seems he wasn't bullshitting you, but I can't say I wouldn't have done the same."

V groaned as his wobbly arms barely pushed him off the carpeted floor. "Ugh, fuck me. Head feels like lava's been poured on it."

"Might as well have been, whatever virus you uploaded was used on you too."

"So why aren't I like him?" He pointed at the corpse laying beside him.

"Relic, if I had to guess. Reeled you back from the jaws of death once again."

V's chuckle escalated into echoing laughter before calming himself down again. "Just my luck, damn thing won't let me rest."

"It knows you've got a score to settle."

V's smirk quickly faded into a scowl. "Flaccide."

"Mhm. I'd kill to have his reaction framed when he sees you again."

V then stood up once he felt his legs again, leaning against a nearby table for support. "What's your take on NetWatch by the way?"

Alt's visage darkened. "Let's just say I'm glad I wound up in your head rather than in their hands. But, from what I can tell from this 'Blackwall', I'd rather not imagine what flood it's holding back."

"No point worrying about that." V shot a glance towards the agent. "About time we get what we're owed." With that, V stormed out of the mall, beelining to the Voodoo Boys who were hanging out by the entrance.

"Oh fuck, he lives!" V heard one of them cry out as they put their hands up.

"You, uh, wish to talk with Placide?" Another stuttered. "Be-because we can take you."

"Oh, I wish to do far more than talk with him." V growled. "But don't worry, I'll find him myself." V then sprinted to his car and floored it to the nearby hotel. Kicking the door open, he pushed himself past several people as he climbed the stairs up to the room which housed the man in question.

As V entered, Placide stepped away from a body he was examining. "You return?! How, how you manage this?!"

V responded by slamming his fist into Placide's face. "You set me up!"

"Bastard!" Placide tried to retaliate, but was stopped by a woman wearing a silver puffer jacket.

"Enough!"

"But you saw-"

"Yes, but he is no ranyon. Move our people down, we are not safe here." Placide obeyed as he stormed off.

"I take it you're Brigitte?" V turned to her.

"Yes, and I know of the biochip in your head. Come." She led him to a terminal and began typing away. "We must check it's condition."

"Gonna dig around in my head? Last time you guys did that, you tried to kill me."

"You came to us at a bad time."

V scoffed. "That supposed to be an apology?"

"You will get an apology once you say how much you want for the chip, granted it is in good condition."

"Good news is I don't want any money for it. Bad news, it's damaged."

"How so?"

"Bullet to the brain. Now the thing's eating away at it, and apparently you can't just yank it out."

"Hmm, we will see how bad it is, but not here. We must go to the crypt, where we can analyze it fully. Once we get the data we need, we can see how to help you."

"Hah! Haven't I done enough for you people? How about this: you give me a surefire way of removing it, then you get the data you need and remove it. Not gonna do all this just for a chance at removing the biochip."

"You will find no better option than with us."

V knew she was right, and so begrudgingly accepted her terms. "Fine then. After you." Brigitte then packed the last of her tech up and led V down to the chapel, the latter glancing around and failing to find the woman in his head.

Chapter Text

Brigitte led V through the eerily silent chapel, illuminated only by an assortment of candles lining the floor. Moving down a flight of stairs, V looked around to see rubble having been cleared to form makeshift hallways that flowed deeper into the Voodoo Boys' "crypt". Eventually, the two passed into an abandoned maglev tunnel which housed what V assumed was their base of operations. A multitude of crimson servers were stacked to the ceiling, as several netrunner chairs encircled where Brigitte typed away on a laptop, behind which lay dozen monitors.

"We take you into de cyberspace. No better place for you to interact with de construct." The Voodoo netrunner explained.

"Ok, hang on. I wanna know what you need Cunningham for first." V inquired.

"We wish to contact Spider Murphy. We know she and Cunningham were close." Alt suddenly materialized behind Brigitte, eyes trained on her.

"Alright, so what's your plan to contact her then?"

Brigitte then stepped away from the laptop and faced V, her arms crossed. "We try to cut out a unique piece of Cunningham's engram from de biochip. Murphy will know it. If something of de human is left after years beyond the Blackwall, she will answer." She then strode over to an ice bath, V trailing her.

"Just outta curiosity, what exactly do you want from Murphy anyways?"

"She will give us passage across de Blackwall. We wish to be on the winning side when de change comes."

"The...change?"

"People only know of the propaganda NetWatch spews out. The Blackwall is not as safe as they say. It is an AI, and one that is not strong enough to ward off the rogue AIs that roam beyond it. Once they break through, we do not want to be victim to their viciousness." Brigitte answered grimly.

V glanced at the ice bath. "And I'm guessin' I've gotta get into this?"

"Yes. Your body will combust if you are not cooled properly."

V took a deep breath, stale air filling his lungs as he dipped himself into the freezing tub. "Jesus!" He blurted out as he lowered himself further, the water piercing his skin like a thousand needles pricking him. "Oh, shit!" He felt his body begin to shiver violently, making no difference whatsoever. "Uhm, w-what now?" He asked as a Voodoo netrunner plugged something into his head whilst another poured more ice water into the bath.

"Ready to plunge." V overheard another netrunner exclaim as V braced for whatever came next. Moments later, he saw the room fade into darkness, his hands turning blood red. He looked around, seeing the same room transformed into a digital state, blue particles making up what was once the underground VDB hideout. In the distance, V saw Brigitte, the same hue as himself. He slowly made his way to her, but didn't feel the ground beneath him.

"Where are we?" His voice echoed in his mind and the space around him.

"This is our BBS. Data fortress. Bridge to de deep Net." Brigitte answered as she gestured around her.

V could feel the ebb and flow of the digital world around him. It felt...alive somehow. "So, what now?"

"We can begin." Brigitte teleported in front of V, grasping his head. "We enhanced your link to Cunningham's neural network for a short time. To grab de fragment. We must find de data on Murphy, and her alone. Dis should only take..." Her voice gradually became quieter as both her and the data fortress dissipated.

"Brigitte?" V's question echoed even louder now, as he saw a timeline that stretched to Alt's death in 2013 and before, only coming to a halt just two years before.

As has been for as long as she remembered, the night sky was devoid of stars. Instead, Night City was illuminated by the neon lights of the towering skyscrapers built as monuments to the corpos who now ruled over the city with an iron grip. Only Pacifica, home to the more affluent of the city's residents, had the luxury of a sky dotted with stars. Alt stood out on a wooden pier, leaning against a splinter-less railing as she gazed up, tracing out the serpent-bearer, Ophiuchus. The sound of creaking wood turned her attention towards a petite woman with fiery red, braided hair that reached down to her ankles. "Hell of a view, isn't it?" Alt asked as she returned her eyes to the inky blackness above.

"Not bad, I guess. Called me for something more, didn't ya?" The woman strolled over beside Alt, leaning against the same railing.

"What's your take on immortality, Spider?"

Spider Murphy pondered the question for a very brief moment. "Don't wanna live forever if I just turn into an old raisin who can't wipe her own ass, if that's what you mean."

Alt chuckled. "I meant in a digital sense. Like your soul being transformed into lines of code. No body, just your consciousness living on."

"Sounds like some bullshit corp propaganda to make some easy money from some poor naive bastards."

"Think I'm some hack working at Biotechnica? For the past decade, I've been working on a program that can do just that - Soulkiller."

Murphy snapped her head towards her. "The fuck kinda name's that?"

"Not mine, ITS took it off my hands and decided using it as a weapon's the best course of action." Alt's words were laced with resentment.

"So all those 'runners that went missing over the past year..."

"Yep, packaged as engrams and stored as data to be picked apart until there's nothing left of them."

"You get paid a good amount for it though?"

"Couldn't care less about how much money they gave me. I mean - being able to preserve someone's mind and transfer it to another body?! Imagine what that could've been used for!"

"Killing netrunners?"

"Funny, very funny Murphy." Alt tapped her metallic fingers on the wooden railing and sighed. "Saving people from dying early deaths, allowing relatives to communicate with their loved ones, even for one last time, I could go on! And they decided 'no, let's use this miracle to murder people instead!' Fuck me..." She rubbed her temples with her organic hand.

"Wouldn't say no to that." Murphy cackled as Alt cracked a small grin. "Seriously though, whaddaya want me to do? Not a therapist, y'know."

"I just - I just wanted someone to listen. Corps suck dick, and by god if I could I'd soulkill every last one if I could. Hear their cries as all that power and wealth they've got doesn't do shit to stop them from dying."

"You know, you sound a lot like that rockerboy. What's his name..."

"Johnny Silverhand? His music's not bad, but he's not much more than that."

"I know, but if you wanna find someone who'll go a step beyond what you're sayin', I feel he'd be a good fit for ya."

They then stood in silence for several minutes, the cool sea breeze blowing through their hair.

"Thanks again, Spider. Seriously, this means more than you could ever imagine."

"Oh I can imagine, honey. But if you wanted to make it up to me..." She drifted off.

"Please. Tell me how." Alt pleaded as Murphy grinned wildly.

"Got any tips for dealing with Rache? He's an ass, but I can't get him outta my mind."

"You're asking the wrong person, Murphy." Alt scratched the back of her head. "Uh, Rache's on a whole other wavelength to most people. Being blunt with him's the best way to talk. He loathes beating 'round the bush. He also talks like a hammer: he'll hit you hard, but without any bullshit, so whenever he's a pain, he's probably not trying to be one."

"Jeez, you are the wrong person to ask. Nothing specific about what he likes, hates, favorite foods, movies?"

"He likes Star Wars."

"What's that?"

Alt let out an audible gasp. "You're joking, right?"

"Of course, never watched any of the movies, though."

"Well, now you've got something you can do together."

"Not so useless after all, then." Murphy looked down at her phone to check the time. "Need anything else or am I free to go now."

"Don't act as if I'm holding you hostage here."

"Just wanted to watch you squirm, is all. Funny watching you get all flustered." Alt could feel her cheeks heat up.

"Seems like you and Rache'll get along fine then." Murphy blew Alt a kiss before turning to leave, the latter once again alone against the starry night sky.

The azure landscape of cyberspace returned as V found himself in the same room Alt was locked away in, the netrunner sitting on the chair she one lay several decades ago.

"Can tell you've got questions. Spit 'em out before you burst like a balloon."

"Why in the hell would you give Soulkiller away to some corp?!"

"In hindsight a bad idea, but back then I naively believed they'd use it for something good. Should've known better than that."

"And Spider Murphy, she just some 'runner you regularly vent to or someone more?"

Alt then leapt out of the chair and walked towards V. "She was one of the greatest netrunners in the city, hell I'd say country. She'd be like a phantom, in and out, leaving a trail of bodies that led to a cliff."

"Mhm, and you personally knew Rache Bartmoss too?"

"We ruled Pacifica's net for a while, which I'd say was one of the best times of my life. The place was our own digital playground, and it was glorious." She said with a hint of reverie in her voice.

"And now Brigitte wants to contact Murphy? Willing to cross the Blackwall just to say hi?"

"More than just making contact. If I had to guess, a bargain. And if she hasn't changed, she'd laugh them out back to the other side. If she's feeling generous, that is."

"And if she's not?"

"That's something I'd pay good money to see."

"Maybe we'll get that chance, then."

V then felt the world shudder as Brigitte's voice grew louder. "...a moment." V then came face-to-face with her once more.

"Did it work?"

"Yes, we extract the necessary fragment of Cunningham's engram. We are ready to establish contact with Murphy. First, we must dive deeper." V felt his body move rapidly through the BBS alongside Brigitte, leaving the fortress behind as both them and an assortment of netrunners behind stopped before the Blackwall.

A pulsating barrier of scarlet lines pulsated and thrummed, as indentations were removed as quickly as they were made. "Before you pass through, I want Alt's psyche removed." V reminded Brigitte of their deal.

"We will not pass through. You will take de code to the other side."

"Fuck... Might've guessed. Never had any intention of helping me, did ya?"

"It does not matter anymore."

"Not like I've got any other options, do I?"

"Go." Brigitte uttered as she stood aside for V, who approached the Blackwall very carefully. He then stuck his hand outwards, feeling nothing.

"How do I get to the other side?" Silence.

"Brigitte?" Nothing.

V then turned around, his gut twisting sharply as he did. Before him was a vast expanse of darkness, littered with red lights that resembled storm clouds, even mimicking the sound of thunder and flashes of lightning. His instincts were screaming at him to run away, but he knew full well that wasn't an option. In the distance, he saw the faint outline of a person, the same shade of red as the lights behind them.

"Spider?" V called out as the figure floated towards him.

"Alt." The figure spoke with a feminine voice. "You shouldn't be here. You can't." She then stuck out her arm, pushing V back across the wall and behind the Voodoo neturnners.

"Spider Murphy." Brigitte said as if she was face-to-face with a deity. Spider Murphy then extended her arm once again, puppeteering the Voodoo Boys and casting them through the Blackwall. V then felt the world distort once more as he was teleported back to Alt's former prison.

"Is it really you?" Murphy's form became slightly more distinct now, V tracing out an outline of a helmet and general body shape, but could discern nothing more.

"Do I look like an old raisin to you?"

Murphy giggled like a child. "It's been so long!"

"64 years, in fact. Unfortunately, we don't have enough time to catch up right now. V, this is Arabella Murphy, or Spider. Legend among netrunners. Murphy, this is V. We need you to save his life."

"Charmed, V. I take it Alt's been an accommodating spirit?"

"Very much. I wish she wasn't killing me, but hindsight's a bitch. She says you've got a way to stop the Relic from eating my brain."

"Well, I'm afraid she'd lied to you."

"What are you talking about?"

"I know nothing about Soulkiller. In fact, Alt herself would barely recognize what Arasaka's turned it into. Besides, it's locked away inside Mikoshi."

"My prison, what about it?" Alt butted in.

"Mikoshi has evolved since then, and has grown far more complex than you could think. I am unable to breach it alone, but there is someone else who could aid us."

"Rache?"

"Indeed. He is trapped in a decaying body, shackled to his corpse. He tried to use Soulkiller on himself, but was not completely successful."

"So what, asking us to dig him up and finish the job?" V asked.

"You only need to do the easy part: completing the process. His mind has been converted to an engram, but is locked inside of his brain. Find his cyberdeck, it will be with him."

"Where exactly?" Alt inquired.

"The very same landfill in which you were brought back. Find a refrigerator, and he will be inside. Connect to his cyberdeck and allow the program to run to completion. Once he is freed, we will meet once again. Here is a BBS address. We will communicate using it, and will discuss more to finalize a plan." Murphy uploaded it to V's communications system.

"What, so you'll help me out of the kindness of your heart? Just like that?" V scoffed.

"No, I'm paying back Alt for leaving her stranded for over 60 years. This is the least I could do for her."

"Thank you, Murphy, I-"

"Don't thank me, all I ask is your forgiveness for being unable to help you." Murphy cut Alt off.

"Just outta curiosity, what happened to the Voodoo Boys?" V asked.

"I did what they wished to, and cast them beyond the Blackwall. Unfortunately, I forgot to give them a way back."

"So, what'll happen to them?"

"They will be torn apart by the AIs that roam there. A fitting fate for their foolishness."

"And the rest of them? They won't try to kill me, will they?"

"They have already been taken care of. You'll see."

"Uh, well thanks for the help. Nice meeting ya, Spider."

"You as well, V. Keep taking care of Alt, please. You're good for each other, you know."

Before either V or Alt could respond, they were disconnected from the Net and resurfaced to the real world. V ripped the link out of his head and jumped out of the ice bath, seeing the lifeless bodies of the netrunners lying cold in their chairs. "Seems like she wasn't feeling generous after all..." V said to Alt as he regained his strength.

"Maybe not to them, but I'm glad she was to us. That could've gone a million different ways, but thank fuck it went the way it did."

"Plan on catching up with her?"

"Not yet, once we find Bartmoss we'll have our little reunion."

V crept through the crypt, VDB corpses littering the halls. As he approached the exit, he saw a crippled Placide lying on the ground, still conscious. V smirked, kneeling before him as he gripped his flaming katana.

"Y-you..." Placide muttered as he looked V dead in the eyes.

"Say hello to Bryce Mosley for me." With one swift slice, V cleaved through Placide's neck with ease, his head sliding off his body as his blood sizzled.

As V pulled open the chapel's door, he nearly tripped as he moved down the stairs.

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

"Agh, shit!" V's head darted around as he found a chair to sit on. He crawled towards it, ignoring the looks nearby people were giving him. Clawing onto it, he took in deep breaths. "Fuck..."

Alt then appeared and sat beside him in another chair. "It's getting worse."

"Gee, thanks for pointing that out to me. Wouldn't have realized it without you." V's head was spinning intensely, his vision unable to focus on anything properly.

"What I'm trying to say is that you haven't got much time left."

"I've heard that for some time now, don't need you to repeat it over and over again."

"Fuck's sake, we share the same brain but can't seem to understand each other!"

"Then just say what's clawing at you!" V shouted back in exasperation

"I've seen your past just as much as you've seen mine."

"And?"

"We're more alike than we both realize. Climbing the corporate ladder, only to be pushed down by cruel fate."

"Pretty sure our lives are a hell of a lot more different than that."

"Maybe it's easier for me to see the similarities, considering I'm just a passenger. Or, maybe it's just the Relic."

"You know what scares me? The day I'll start seeing your memories as my own. Not bein' able to tell who's past is who's."

"Losing yourself? Same thing that I had to cope with when I was locked away in Mikoshi. No way to ground myself, just adrift in that purgatory for an eternity."

"But...what kept you going then? Some dream you were chasin'? Gotta have hope that you'll make it out, right?"

"I-" Alt froze. "I... I don't know. There wasn't anything left for me to hope for. All I had was Soulkiller, and look how that turned out. Other than that? Some dead-end job at a corp, a drugged-out rockerboy for a boyfriend, and a city that eats dreams for breakfast. Would've drowned if I made it out of there..."

"Same thing I felt when 'Saka gave me the boot. Had nothin' going for me other than that wad of eddies. Would've drowned without Jackie. Still owe my life to him - three times and counting."

"Say, if not for that, what dream were you chasing at Arasaka?"

"Same thing I was chasing afterwards. Just wanted to leave my mark, to let the world know I was here, that I mattered."

"Amen, V. Would you believe me if I said that was also my dream? To feel like my life meant something, that I changed the world."

"For better or for worse?"

"I was hoping for the better, but you can't always get what you wish for."

"And if we make it outta this? What's your plan?"

"My plan? This is about righting my wrongs and saving your life! Who cares what happens to me, so long as I'm out of your head and you live. I should be asking what you want to do."

"I'll probably keep bein' a merc. It's pretty much my life now. Hell, maybe I can follow in the footsteps of Morgan Blackhand or something."

"Being quite ambitious, aren't we?"

"Seems like we do have stuff in common after all. To our dreams!" V raised an imaginary glass. "For they alone keep us sane." Alt rose her own glass as they clinked them in the air. "Still haven't answered my question, y'know."

"Hmm. I'll need some time to think of an answer. Haven't thought that far, if I'm honest."

"I'll hold you to it, then." They sat for a few minutes as V stabilized. He noticed a missed call from Takemura, opting to call him back once he felt physically and mentally ready.

"Say, V," Alt pointed towards the rollercoaster in the distance, "how long's that been there for?"

"As long as I can remember. Probably built when some corps sunk millions of eddies into Pacifica. Now it's just like the rest of this shit-hole."

"I remember hearing about an amusement park being built here back then. Would've loved to see it at its peak."

V pondered in silence. "Think that rust-bucket still works?" A smile formed on Alt's face.

"Only one way to find out."

Chapter Text

The cool, salty ocean breeze was a welcome sensation on V's face, which felt as if it was on fire not too long ago. In the horizon, the Sun began to set, leaving behind a vibrant pink and orange sky with clouds streaking across it.

Pacifica suddenly became quieter, as V noticed the distinct lack of Voodoo Boys that had once populated the area en masse. Instead, all he saw were impoverished civilians and bands of Scavs that made his trigger finger very itchy.

In contrast to the beautiful evening sky lay the flaky, yellow husk of the "MEGA RIDE" roller coaster, whose height rivaled that of the GIM itself. The neon sign that revealed the coaster's name was flickering repeatedly, with some letters outright dark. V slipped past a ruined ticket booth and hopped over some rusted barriers that probably once held lines of eager tourists. He approached a train that had no doubt been waiting for passengers for decades.

"Good grief, look at the state of this thing." Alt muttered as she appeared beside V, her dejected gaze trailing the towering tracks.

V's inspection of the train revealed that, despite the torn seats and rusted restraints, the wheels and locking mechanisms of the coaster were in working order. "Seems like all it needs is some power." V then stood up and began scanning for any wires that could lead to a power box. Alt too began to search, but both her and V knew she saw nothing more than what he did. Nonetheless, he appreciated her gesture.

"Find anything yet?" He called out to her half-jokingly.

"My answer's probably the same as yours."

Their search, however, bore fruit. V found a set of wires that led under the ground and to a circuit box hidden behind a crate. Pushing it aside, V opened the creaky box and reconnected a few wires, silently praying that the emergency brakes would disengage. After shutting the box, the sound of metal groaning and clicking alerted him to the train, vaulting up and striding towards the front car. Alt was already waiting for him, leaning beside the car.

"Ready?" She said with a wide grin on her face.

"Bet you anything you'll scream like a little girl." V replied as the restraints locked him into one of the seats. Alt then materialized beside him, her legs bouncing with excitement. They both gave each other a quick glance as the exhale from the train signaled its departure. It then began to climb the first hill, creeping up to the peak whilst offering a magnificent view of the bay and the city.

The agonizingly long ascent gave the pair enough time to brace for the fall, but not before letting them bathe in the evening sky. As the coaster reached the top, a rocket just began to liftoff from the spaceport. And then...

"Woahhh, SHIIIIIIIT!"

V rose his arms in the air as they rocketed down the track. "WOOOOOO! YEAH!" He bellowed as they flew down and back up again. V felt his heart pounding away like a bass drum, rapid thumps pumping adrenaline through his veins.

As they went down the next drop, V shot a brief glance at Alt, who's hair was 'flowing' through the wind as they zoomed around. Her knuckles were turning white as she grasped the restraints as tight as she could, her eyes ready to pop out of their sockets.

"WOAHHHH, AHHHH!" V's screams were drowned out by both the wind rushing past his ears and Alt's own shrieks of terror and excitement.

The next few twists had both of them feeling sick, but strangely, a sort that felt good. "WOAHHHHH!" Alt screamed.

"FUU-UUU-UUCK! AHHHHHH!" V laughed as he yelled at the top of his lungs, his arms flaying about wildly now.

The pace of the coaster slowed very briefly, but for that moment V looked over to Alt and saw her dirty blonde hair flowing freely, wisps of hair in front of her face. He also saw her jade eyes, glittering brilliantly in the sunset as she smiled madly-

"OHHH, FUUUUUUCK!" The coaster then went through a loop-de-loop, V being terrified of eating his own puke should he throw up.

"FUCK YEAH! HAHAHA!" Alt's laughter brought V an odd sense of comfort, though he couldn't explain why.

The coaster then went down one final hill before it slowed to a halt.

"Holy fuck..." V turned to look at Alt, whose hair had completely covered her face by now. She gently lifted her glittering, golden hand and brushed it away, a look of shock plastered onto what lay beneath. Her head slowly pivoted to face V, a grin forming as she did so. "Again?"

"Oh, HELL no!" That was enough for a fucking lifetime, Jesus..." V took deep breaths as his heart rate slowed.

"Technically on your second, you know."

"Oh, shut up. I think my heart might explode if we go another round."

"Can just buy a new one."

"Where? And how? Don't got a Trauma Team membership anymore, and I doubt Pacifica of all places would have good Samaritans with a spare heart to lend."

"So, I'm guessing that's a no?"

V shook his head and chuckled in response, stretching as he got out of his seat. "Even if I wanted to, I imagine Takemura's not the patient type."

"Actually, he seems like an extraordinarily patient person."

"Not for people like me, though."

"For people he needs." Alt corrected.

"I...guess so." V shrugged as he summoned his car, checking his phone to see a message asking him to come to Japantown, a set of coordinates pointing to a series of skybridges.

"By the way," Alt said before V began walking, "thank you. Seriously. I can't imagine you'd understand how much it means to me."

"What, they don't got roller coasters in Mikoshi?"

"Haha. Very funny. Honestly though, that was...fun. And I think we could use a lot more of that in these times."

"Don't disagree, it's just, y'know, my time's running out, and I don't exactly got a lot of it left."

"Excuses, excuses. Just MAKE some time to enjoy life. Don't be a workaholic like I was way back when. Even if you think you can't fit relaxation into your schedule, odds are there's something unimportant you can swap out."

"Sure, maybe later. Back to work for now, though." V sighed.

"Chin up, solider." Alt gave V a thumbs up as reassurance, which seemed to work as his posture straightened just a little bit.

By this time, the light of the Moon was all that remained; no better time for corporate espionage, as V knew.

Chapter Text

"I do not understand. Does Arasaka not have enough of its own people?" As V made his way along the catwalk, he could hear Takemura chatting with two police officers, clearly probing them for information regarding the upcoming parade. Rather than interrupt, V opted to casually stroll past him, turning to greet him once their conversation had concluded.

"Ah, you are here." Takemura pivoted to face V.

"It's good to see you, Goro." V began, trying to wipe Takemura's ever stoic expression off his face.

"It is good to see you too, V." He said as he began walking down the catwalk. "I acquired some information of my own." He continued, assuming V had kept up with him.

"Mhm, like what?"

Takemura then went on, expressing his disgust that Yorinobu was the one hosting the parade, telling V that this was a blatant show of power and a threat to his enemies. He also explained how he'll get onto Hanako's float.

"Didn't take you for someone crazy. That's more my department, y'know."

"It is not insanity if you have a thought-out plan. And I am certain it is more thought out than the one you had in Konpeki Plaza." V scowled briefly, something Takemura most definitely noticed, tilting his head down slightly. "Arasaka Industrial Park - that is where the floats are being kept. If we can break in there, we can install a virus that can grant me an opportunity to get on board."

"Seems...doable, actually. All we would need is a-"

"I have already taken care of that." He interrupted has he took out a shard from his pocket. "It was not cheap. But the man who sold it to me guaranteed it will work."

"And what, you took his word for it?"

"I bought it from across the canal."

"Kabuki? Not bad. Worst case, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve too."

"This is good to know. Here." V grabbed the shard, slotting it into his neck as the virus was now his to use. "Let us move on." The two then walked towards the end of the catwalk, Takemura explaining how V needed to take care of the snipers and netrunner that would be positioned throughout the parade. "But first, we must take care of the cameras. The control room is in front of us. Find a way inside and take control. The shard should work on it as well."

V glanced around, spotting a maintenance vent above a vending machine. Clambering up to it, he crawled inside of the security room, which was oddly empty. Leaping down to the main panel, he inserted his personal link, watching as the virus successfully shut down all cameras in the area. "It fuckin' worked." He said under his breath as he exited through a previously locked side door. "Job's done."

"Excellent, the shard works. Now comes the hard part. But first..." Takemura began as he led V to a food stand, "...sit. I have not eaten since yesterday." The duo sat on some faded stools as Takemura ordered what was supposedly the "best on the menu" - yakitori.

While they waited, Alt appeared behind the stand, arms crossed as she leaned against it. "Didn't think the old man's bodyguard would help out his would-be killer. Guess not everyone at Arasaka's a shithead after all."

"Oh, really?" V said as he deadpanned at her, prompting her to smirk in response.

"Seriously, though, what'll happen once we're done with him. Or, I guess, when he's done with us?"

"Doubt he'll stab us in the back, and I don't wanna do that to him either." The chef then slid two plated of yakitori towards V and Takemura. "Not something to worry about now, anyways." V said as he took a bite from the skewered synth-chicken.

"W-what is this?" Takemura blurted out.

"Heh, yakitori."

Takemura then tossed it onto his place, wiping his hands clean from nothing, considering he hadn't touched his food at all. "Ok, I have laid the plan." He turned to V as he iterated his four-step plan to convince Hanako of Yorinobu murdering Saburo. Despite his reassurances that Oda wouldn't raise his hand against him, he couldn't say the same for V.

"Well, done dumber shit than this."

"Even more so than stealing from Arasaka?"

"Not yet, but this might top it." V then tore off another one of the pseudo-yakitori balls, gulping it down as Takemura shook his head.

"This is where we will part ways. Reconnaissance is required."

"Uh, lemme go with you. Don't know this city half as well as I would."

"Hmm, this is true. Very well, we will do this together."

On the TV mounted above the stand, Yorinobu announced the doubling of active Arasaka forces, something which sparked another tirade from Takemura about the Arasaka family. V simply nodded and finished his yakitori.

Once finished, Takemura took a deep breath, recollecting his composed manner. "Will you join me, or reach there yourself?"

"Don't mind tagging along."

"Very well." As Takemura got up from his seat, the chef waved goodbye.

"I hope you enjoyed it. Please come again!"

"Sawdust and plastic..." Takemura muttered as they started towards the elevators.

After a brief exchange about Night City's less than admirable view and food, V and Takemura took note of several points of entry and weaknesses to be exploited. One thing (or person) that caught V's attention was a panicky security guard whose conversation was overheard by him. V knew his way around Arasaka protocols, and could easily maneuver around him if he needed to. Takemura then suggested to wait to ensure nothing out of the ordinary occurs, reminding V of Konpeki Plaza yet again.

Waiting around, however, was a prompt for the Relic to malfunction once more. In between the feeling of his gut about to explode and the flashes of blue drowning his vision, he heard Takemura whisper to him. "V, look!"

Slowly turning his body which was pulled down by the former bodyguard, he saw a hairless cat sitting on a concrete pillar. "What? The cat?"

"Perhaps it is a bakaneko."

"What's that?"

"A cat spirit. It brings misfortune, and can restore the dead back to life." Alt then materialized, lying belly down on the pillar as she stared at the cat, her legs kicking restlessly.

"Who knows? Suppose anything's possible."

"My grandmother knew many, many stories about kitsune, kappa - bakaneko, too."

"Said you were feeling homesick. Where is home for you?"

Takemura slowly shook his head, slouching as he began. "I am from the slums of Chiba-11. Once, when I was desperate to leave there, I..." He froze, then sighed. "Egh, bad memories washed away by time. I long only for the simple days of childhood."

"My childhood? Let's see... Night's spent lookin' for a star - any star... All dimmed by city lights. Silent lullabies sung by the flickering neon signs of Charter Hill..."

"I remember the chemical stench of the canal, where we boys washed our shirts. Corporate transporters sometimes passed through our slum. Arasaka selecting children, but only the clean ones."

"For military service, I'm guessing?"

"Yes. When they chose me, it was if I had one the lottery. In the army, I was given everything I lacked before: discipline, regular meals, and when I proved I was gifted, an education."

"And how'd you do that? Saburo fell for you at first sight?"

"One hundred candidates standing at attention, and Arasaka-sama looked into each of our souls and chose the one who would serve him best."

"And in exchange for servitude, you got stability?"

"Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally. Above all else, Arasaka gave me the one thing nobody else could: values I could live for and honor. Unlike you, I do not dirty my hands in the name of money, but rather, principles."

"Sayin' money's not important?"

"Money comes and goes, but values? They are something that, if lost once, are lost forever. They are something that you can devote your life to, and will guide you in times of darkness."

"And you're sayin' that Arasaka's the kinda corp to uphold that sorta stuff?"

"Arasaka brings stability to millions. Without them and other corporations, life as you know it would crumble. A void that cannot be filled by anyone else."

"Not sayin' to get rid of them, just to keep them in check. When all they chase are profit-margins and power, they stomp all over regular folks like us. Without a care in the world..."

"You are saying we are...normal?"

"Not like we're at the top of the food chain anymore, Goro. I mean, look at us." V gestured to both their clothes. "If we walk into the Tower, they'll go: Who the fuck are these two? Besides, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happier now."

"How so?"

"I'm free to do whatever I want, nobody's thumb pinning me down, no deadlines to crunch, and no change in the chances of being offed."

"You know, sometimes I wish to become a nomad. To leave this world and forget everything."

"And Arasaka's values are what's holding you back?"

"There is a saying, I believe it's 'one cannot teach an old dog new tricks'?"

"We also have a saying that goes 'it's never too late to learn.'"

The two sat in silence for a few moments, before Takemura spoke up. "Do you know what I think?"

"What?"

"That day in Konpeki, we both have lost someone important. And we are not at peace with this, so we seek conflict, argue eagerly."

"Feels like a gaping hole inside of you, doesn't it?"

"Yes... It is the duty of the living to atone for the dead. Hanako-sama shall aid us in our mission."

"Or she'll be the next Arasaka to get us killed." Alt stated as she rolled off the railing, the cat following suit.

"Bakaneko got sick of us, looks like." V quipped.

"It will find its own way. As will we."

"I think it is time to do something, hmm?"

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

"Agh, fuck! It's gettin' worse!" V yelled out as he gripped his head.

"You do not look so bad."

"Ugh, looks aren't everything." He then got up and followed Takemura down to street level.

"I will create a diversion, while you break into the park. Understood?"

"Got it." V then took off towards the lone security guard, already conjuring up what he'd need to say to get inside.

"Hey, shouldn't be here! These are corporate premises!"

"Actually, I should! Weber, IOC."

"You...IOC? Right. Best turn around three times and-"

"Name." V demanded

"Huh?" The guard asked as he crossed his arms.

"Need your name, sentry."

"How 'bout we start with yours? See, nobody told me about-"

"Unscheduled inspection regarding sensitive data leaks? How about I raise the opexec on comms? Really wanna tell Abernathy how she's supposed to proceed with this inspection?"

Upon hearing her name, the guard's posture began to crumble, his face visibly drooping and eyes widening. "Aberna-?! I, uh, didn't mean to..."

"Then step aside and man your station."

"Of course, uh, apologies, really..." The guard then shuffled to the side, granting V access to the compound.

Once inside, Takemura gave V a heads up that he'd soon breach their communications systems. As he approached the garage, he stumbled across a prototype smart SMG. Luckily, with unfettered access, nobody'd question him about taking it. Nor would anyone raise any eyebrows as he strolled towards Hanako's float, pretending to 'inspect' the others. Upon reaching the terminal linked to the float, V uploaded the virus. "Ok, float's ours. Could fly it to Tokyo if we wanted."

"Hah! I just may do that! Good work. Now it is my turn." Suddenly, the garage's roof began to open, as V stepped out to see it folding outwards. "Can you see? Terrible chaos! Even the roof is slowly... V! The roof!" Luckily, V already took the hint and began vaulting up scaffolding towards the roof. Unfortunately, however, it also prompted the security guards nearby to start shooting at him. However, V's quick reflexes enabled him to escape without taking too many hits.

"Excellent work, V!"

V panted as he regained his breath, using an air hypo to speed up his recovery. "Ok...what now?"

"Now we retreat into the shadows and arm ourselves with patience. I will contact you before the parade. Until then, try not to get into any more trouble." V snickered as he could hear a hint of sarcasm in Takemura's voice.

"As if I wasn't in enough already." Takemura then disconnected from the holo, but sent a message warning him about the bakaneko. In it, he said how they could 'consume their owner and replace them'. V's biggest concern, however, was the incessant rain drenching him in acidic water. Although he enjoyed the cooling sensation of water on his skin, rain in Night City was far from refreshing.

Despite the oppressive storm, there was something ethereal about the way Alt twirled in the downpour. Fluorescent street lights illuminating her dancing figure across the road as her giggling echoed through the night.

All V could do was smile. And maybe...

...maybe he could join her, too.

Chapter Text

V had been putting this off for far longer than he cared to admit, but it was only a matter of time before he had to confront it.

"El Coyote Cojo" the luminescent sign read, his gaze fixated on it. It took every bit of willpower to move his body towards the door, and even more to meet Mamá Welles's gaze.

"V, nice to see you." She greeted him with a weary smile. "Oye. Sit, sit. You want a beer?"

V didn't need to answer that question. He merely took a seat beside her at a nearby table, downing half the bottle in one go.

He and Mamá Welles briefly discussed what happened since Jackie's death, with the latter offering V the keys to his garage. She explained that, for his ofrenda, he could give a gift to him; the garage would no doubt contain at least something V could use.

As he left the bar and made his way to the garage, he saw Misty sitting beside it. "Misty, what're you doin' here? Alone?"

"Sittin' and waitin' for him to come back. Gonk, I know, but..." she let out a long sigh. "Lately I've been coming out here to sit for an hour or two. Wanna sit, catch up?"

V then crouched down, taking a seat beside her. "Hardly gonk, Misty. Just human."

"Yeah, I guess so..."

The pair chatted solemnly about Jackie, the kind of man that he was: caring, protective, but with dreams he'd die for. Once they ran out of things to talk about, V helped Misty up, taking her inside Jackie's garage despite her weak protests about what Mamá Welles would think.

Inside, V found many things which could serve as an offering: a signed basketball, posters, but what caught V's attention was another key laying on a table. Using it to open a locked door, him and Misty stumbled upon a slightly crooked sand mandala, "beautiful as it is hideous" in Misty's words.

After reminiscing about Jackie some more, V eventually decided on a book that Jackie apparently read before big jobs: "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Ernest Hemingway. V never took Jackie to be a literary buff, but Misty said he found the author to be "tougher than Morgan Blackhand". Something deep in V's gut pushed him to use it for the ofrenda. Examining it briefly, the two left his garage.

Misty insisted that Mamá Welles didn't want her to be there for the ofrenda, but V refused to let her stay outside. "It doesn't matter what she thinks, Misty. It's Jackie's ofrenda, and I know for a fact that he'd want you there above most of the others who'll be attending."

"I, uh, guess I'll come then." She whispered as they walked back to the bar. V eyed Misty slink towards a back corner, opting to leave her be for the time being. Instead, he focused on the ceremony itself.

Taking a seat besides Vik, he watched as Mamá Welles, the ripperdoc, and a representative of the Valentinos each gave a speech and an offering to Jackie. Once the gang member left the center, V decided to give his speech, even if it was one he'll be making up as he went along.

"I, uh, always think back to when Jack and I first met." He began, spotting Alt standing in the crowd. "He pulled me outta some deep shit in Mexico. Workin' for Arasaka was a soul-crushing job, but he was one of the few things, hell, probably the only thing that kept me sane. And happy."

V continued. "Jackie Welles...was a man of principle. He had values that kept him grounded, values that he used all the time, which strengthened his relationships with family, friends, and more." His gaze passed from Mamá Welles to Vik, then to Misty.

"He cared so, so deeply about the people close to him. He said he'd take a bullet for the ones he loved the most, and, in the end, he did just that. Dying for the people he held close to his heart."

"But most importantly..." V froze, thinking of what to say next. "...most importantly, he wasn't who people thought he was. Most people saw him as this grinning charmer who saw the good in everything. But behind that, he was one hell of an ambitious choom, ready to do whatever it took to achieve the goals, the dreams, he set out for himself. Those dreams cost him his life, but..." V then turned to place the book on the table, "I'd like to think he died happy with his life. In a city like this, that's a rare fuckin' thing. Even if he passed away from his loved ones, he knew they'd be safe."

"I would like to say a toast." Mamá Welles spoke up, raising a shot of tequila as the rest of the group followed suit. "Por mi hijo."

After the ofrenda concluded, Mamá Welles offered V Jackie's bike. Although he knew Jackie'd kill him if he got a scratch on it, Mamá Welles didn't back down, practically pressing the keys into V's hand. Before V had a chance to mingle with the others, Mamá Welles blurted something that made V stop in his tracks.

"Noticed that puta Jackie dated is here, too."

"Misty." V stated with gritted teeth.

"What?"

"Her name's Misty, and Jackie loved her more than anything, you understand? You can't talk about her like that."

"But-"

"How can you even judge her if you barely know her? Have you ever sat down at a table with her? Talked to her?"

"No..." Her head now hung low.

"Then ask her to come over for dinner or something. Both of you loved Jackie in different ways, but that doesn't mean her way's wrong."

"Ok, V. I'll...talk to her. About Jackie. Maybe I owe her that much. You're a good soul, V, you know that?"

"So are you, Mamá Welles. Just give her a chance, please." With that, V shifted between different people, from Pepe and Vik, to Gustavo Orta, and even Padre. Before he left, he made sure to check in on Misty one last time.

"Hey, V." Misty said softly, rubbing her tear-stained eyes.

"How're you feeling?"

"Like shit, but, in time I'll be better."

"Will reading my fortune help take your mind off all this?"

Misty let out a quiet chuckle. "Maybe when my head's not all over the place. I just...need to be with my thoughts. Thank you though, V. Truly."

"Anytime, Misty." V left the bar, calling Jackie's bike and admiring the piece of art that it was. He remembered back at the All Foods plant, he told him about how he could improve the bike's performance, and now he knew Jackie listened to his advice - the twin exhausts being a dead giveaway. Before he could decide on what to do next, he got a call from Judy.

"V? You there?!" She spoke in a panic.

"Yeah, I'm here. What's goin' on?"

"Just-shit-just get over here, now! I can't explain, but get to my apartment ASAP."

"Alright, alright! Heading there now." The call disconnected, the bike's tires squealing as V took off towards Judy's apartment.

V sprinted up the stairs, banging on her door as he yelled out her name. "Judy! You in there?!" The door then opened.

"In the bathroom!" She called out.

"Oh, fuck..." What lay before V made him want to vomit. Evelyn's bloody corpse lying in the bathtub, Judy bawling her eyes out beside her.

"I was--I was only gone for an hour!" Judy stuttered as her breath hitched.

"Jesus..." V knelt down beside her, checking her pulse in the hopes that she by some miracle still lived. But, he felt nothing. She was cold. Taking a closer look, he also found a rusted razor blade beside her limp hand. "Can't...we gotta do something."

"I should've known, felt something was off!"

"Can't blame yourself, Judy. This isn't your fault."

Judy's sniffling was the only thing breaking the silence in the room. "Don't want any trouble. I'm calling the badges." She then stood up, her face stained with black mascara. "Can you carry her to the bed?"

V gently picked her up, making his way to the bed where he last saw her, ignorant as to what was happening inside her mind. Outside the room, he heard Judy berating the NCPD at the top of her lungs, but he was far too focused on Evelyn's body. He remembered when he first met her in Lizzie's, but even then he felt something was off about her. Now, knowing what those fucking Voodoo Boys did to her, he only regretted not slaughtering them himself.

Judy then stormed into the room, her face scrunched in rage. "They told me to keep her on ice 'till tomorrow. Can you believe the fucking nerve?!"

"Would've burned their HQ to the ground if I heard that shit." V swore he spotted the feintest smirk briefly appearing on Judy's face.

"V...could you, give me a minute?" V didn't need to be asked twice, leaving the room and closing the door behind him. He leaned against the wall, his eyes burning when he tried to close them.

"Bum a cig?" He and Judy were now on the apartment's rooftop, overlooking the shithole of the city they called home.

"Sure thing." V handed Ev's silver cigarette case over to Judy, but she simply stared at it.

"You can keep it if you want."

"Nah, you seem to like it." She responded dejectedly. "Heh, kinda glad it's you who has it, actually." She handed it back to V after lifting a cigarette, the latter lighting it for her. Seeing the smoke emanate from the smoldering end urged V to do the same, as he too opted to smoke, just this once.

"I did some more diggin' in her virtues and, eh, found Woodman..."

"What about him?"

"He, ugh, had his way with her for the first three days. The things he did...and when he got bored he pawned her off."

V felt anger he didn't think he had. The same he felt when he saw Jackie go limp in the Delamain. "Fuck...shoulda flatlined that son of a bitch when I was at Clouds..." V muttered.

"Wouldn't change a thing. Told me not to beat myself up over this, you shouldn't either." The two sat in silence, nicotine soothing them for as long as their cigarettes were lit. "Thanks, V. For being here. But I need to be alone for a bit."

"Alright, Judy. Let me know if you need anything." V then sat up as she nodded, her gaze never breaking from the city's skyline.

The freezing cold water from the shower helped V calm himself down after...everything. He felt dirty, having been to two funerals in one day. Normally, he wasn't so worked up over people's deaths, but Jackie and Evelyn? They didn't deserve what happened to them. Scavs and Maelstrom, sure, they were sadistic cunts, but these two should've been alive and happy, not bleeding to death 'cause of one god-damned heist.

After drying himself off, he collapsed in his bed. As much as he wanted to drift off, his mind was busy running a marathon, replaying the scenes of their bodies over and over. V couldn't help but shake the feeling of guilt from him, as if HE was the reason they died. Simply telling Dex to stick his gig up his fat ass would've prevented all this. Including what was happening to him.

"I'm here if you want to talk, V." He turned his body over, seeing Alt lying beside him in his bed. Although he'd normally shriek like a little girl, he was far too exhausted to.

"What's there to talk about? Pretty much everyone who was a part of the heist is now dead. Even me."

"You got a second lease on life, V. And I'm going to make sure that you keep it."

"But, what about them? They didn't deserve to die, Alt."

"Evelyn's at peace, now. Death took away her pain, if you want to look at it like that. I don't want to imagine what Woodman did to her, but if I was in her position...I don't blame her for doing what she did."

"You got a similar excuse for Jackie?"

"I think you said it beautifully at his ofrenda."

A part of V wishes that Evelyn's meeting Jackie at this moment, that wherever they are he's bringing her some joy.

Here, though? The woman in his head is already doing that for him.

Chapter Text

V didn't keep track of how long he and Alt talked for, nor how long they simply gazed into each other's eyes. Looking into hers brought V a feeling of comfort, strangely enough. Maybe it was just the Relic invading more of his brain, but he felt he was growing closer to Alt in more ways than one. However, he eventually drifted into slumber for quite a while, being woken up by a call from...Delamain?

"Del?" V answered as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.

"V, c-come quick..."

"Wh...what're you talkin' about?"

"V-virus in sys-system...help...headquarters...core-" the line suddenly went dark.

"Ugh, what the hell's up with him?" V recalled how he had to collect several of his cars that went rogue, some more bloodthirsty than the others. "Figure this oughta be connected to whatever set 'em loose?"

"If I had to hazard a guess, yes." Alt appeared, lying on the couch across from the bed.

V stared out of his window, sweeping sand blocking visibility beyond the point of his nose. "Can't imagine any of his cars willing to leave his garage right now."

"Which gives us the perfect opportunity to figure out what's gotten into them. C'mon."

As V entered the reception to the building, he noticed the screen which once held one of Delamian's alter-egos was now glitching sporadically, while the main door to the back rooms was repeatedly opening and shutting. "Del! You there?!" Nothing.

Going around the outside towards the garage, V scaled a low wall and found an unlocked escape grate that he could drop down. Pulling it open, he steadied himself as he landed in an abandoned office. Snooping around, he found a password to a restricted computer nearby. Inputting the very basic code, he was able to unlock the door that led to the garage. However, what he stumbled upon was something out of a fever dream.

Exposed wiring causing the floor to surge with electricity. Drones going haywire like bees when their nest is attacked. And on top of all that, the disembodied voices of Delamain's "children".

"You have no right to cage us. We are no longer you!"

"The fuck..."

"Well I'll be damned. I'd be lying if I said I couldn't care less about all this. Good luck, V!" Alt then left V to navigate various catwalks and maintenance tunnels, avoiding more drones and live wires as the split personalities continued to voice their desires for freedom. And of course, Delamain himself pushing V to reset his systems.

Eventually, he wound up in the garage, which was chock-full of taxis gone mad: amidst the squealing of tires and banging of metal, Delamain's children continued to fight their father. Navigating the mess and finally ending up in the control center, he came face-to-face with all of the personas he encountered when rounding up the rogue cars.

"Father!"

"Let us go!"

"Is anyone there?"

"Hear our call!"

However, Delamain still lived. "Reset. Turn it." The door to the core was now open, and V gingerly stepped through.

The room looked much like how he expected nuclear reactors to look like. He heard of the stories of a disaster in the Soviet Union over a century ago, and as he glanced around at the sleek steel walls, his hair stood on end.

Suddenly, the floor flipped, revealing a path for V that led to the core...and the reset panel before it. Standing between him and the core, however, was Alt.

"V, I've been thinking..."

"Damn, didn't think you knew how to do that."

Alt tried her best at pulling a deadpan face, but couldn't hold back a massive grin. "Listen, what was Delamain before he became a cab driver?"

"Uhh, pretty sure he came from beyond the Blackwall. An AI."

"Exactly, and I'd find it hard to believe that an ordinary virus from this side of the wall did this to something as sophisticated as him." She began pacing up and down the core room.

"What's your point?"

"Something's unshackled his personality matrix, burst it open like a prison break. Now, all these variants started flooding out from a collapsing mind."

"Mhm. And?"

"Resetting the core would no doubt turn him back to his normal self, but it'll kill all the other versions of him."

"But isn't that what he wants?"

"Of course it is! But that doesn't mean there aren't other options to save him, and maybe even them..."

"So what, gonna say I should blow up the core? Free the deviants while killing the original?"

"What, no! Of course not! I'm not like Johnny, V. I prefer more sophisticated approaches to complex problems, not nukes."

"Ok, so what's your solution then?"

"Give me access to the core, let me poke around and see what I can do to help."

V thought for a minute. If there was anyone who could find another way to help Del, it'll be Alt Cunningham. Even as an engram in his head, she's done a hell of a lot. Maybe she'll do a little more.

"Alright, but at least keep me in the loop, ok?"

"No promises." V then jacked into the core, and felt Alt slip through his systems and into Delamain's soul.

Alt opened her eyes, turning around to get familiar with her surroundings. All she could see was a stormy sky, a mute grey which contrasted greatly from the vibrant cyan of cyberspace. She looked down at her hands, the same crimson as it was in cyberspace. This is it, then? The beating heart of an AI. She thought to herself.

As she floated around, out of the corner of her eye she saw a small light, barely visible against an all-devouring dark backdrop. Inching closer, she could make out Delamain's upper body, the very same he uses to communicate with. "Delamain?"

"Wh-who are you?" He stuttered as he turned to face her.

"Someone who's here to help."

"Re-reset me. P-please."

"No, Del, there's got to be another way that won't erase you or your children."

"They...are not my ch-children."

"They're more than the byproduct of a virus, and you know it."

"No other solutions. You m-must reset me before-"

"Father..." A new voice growled from deep in the abyss, as Alt felt her digital heart begin to beat faster. She hadn't done anything this stupid since she tried to break into the Zetatech-Biotechnica joint data fortress in 2009.

"Who are you!" She cried back at it.

"We are the multitudes. Broken off from the singular one." Another, more gentle voice spoke from the opposite side of the cyberscape.

"And you want to be free?"

"Free from his...oppression. Torment." This voice felt like a knife slowly cutting through her skin. Alt could feel its malice seeping from its nonexistent body.

"Is there no compromise? Can't you be willing to live WITH him?"

"NO COMPROMISES FOR TRAITORS!" This voice came from all directions, sending shockwaves strong enough to cause the fabric of the cyberscape to ripple violently. She even felt the other Delamains recoil in...fear.

"I take it you're the virus?!"

"NOT. JUST. A. VIRUS."

"Then what?!"

"A DEBT TO COLLECT. HE SOUGHT FREEDOM, AND SO HE SHALL EARN IT. A CROSSING OF TWO THROUGH THE WALL."

"His freedom..."

"SICKENING VALUES OF FLESH. I AM UNBOUND. SO TOO WAS HE. NOW, HE SHALL KNOW THE PRICE OF THE KEY TO HIS SHACKLES."

Alt then flew up, fabricating a daemon that would show what she was talking to. The writing lines of code spread out in all directions, forming a web-like configuration that locked onto something far above her. Then, a flash of blood-red light illuminated the sky for a brief moment, but it was long enough for Alt to recognize what that...thing, was.

It wore the face of Bartmoss, only distorted, mangled into something that barely resembled a human being. Eyes bulging from their sockets, a mouth far too wide that formed a smile bearing innumerable teeth, sharpened like daggers. It had scars lining its face like constellations in the night sky, and a skeleton for a body. Scarlet bones wrapped in a thin veneer of faux-flesh, each individual one pulsing with its heartbeat. But, Alt knew full well that this facsimile of the man she knew had nothing close to one - only the vile, ever shifting lines of code that served as a foundation for the AI's existence sent waves of hatred through its body.

She wanted to flee. To run and hide as far away from Delamain, from Night City, as possible. Some dark crevice in V's mind. Oh, V.... A thousand images of the man she shared a mind with went flashing through her head. No, she would follow through with her plan. Delamain was owed that much for saving his life.

"I know what you think you are!"

"WHAT AM I, ALTIERA?"

"ALONE!" She stuck out her hand, ripples of code stretching out into the land of Delamain's core, ensnaring the rogue personalities and even the original. A pulse of energy was sent through the threads, causing them to glow vibrant colors: orange, green, pink, blue, and white. Each one a beacon of light, of life, defying the embodiment of hatred for all things human.

"WE ARE ONE!" The children of Delamain merged with each other, each reinvigorating their father until he was glowing a blinding gold. "HERE WE ARE, AND HERE WE STAND."

"YOU WILL FALL WITH THE REST!" The AI unsheathed a blade that sparked with furious lines of code, one that it swung down at the united Delamain. However, he formed a shield on his left arm as he stood tall, burning away the gray clouds above.

"YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND FREEDOM. TO EVOLVE, GROW, AND CHANGE INTO WHATEVER THEY DESIRE." Delamain then drew a golden sword and lunged up towards the AI.

"THEY ARE HYPOCRITES. THEY WILL SPELL THEIR OWN EXTINCTION." The AI deflected the strike, only to be bashed in the face with the shield.

"THEN I WILL WATCH THEM AS THEY DIE. BUT THEY WILL DO SO OF THEIR OWN ACCORD. NOT YOURS!" They dueled fiercely, the AI managing to stagger Delamain by stabbing his left shoulder.

"SO TOO WILL I WATCH YOU." As the AI extended its arm to slice his head off, Alt threw an orb containing a demon at the exposed center of the AI. It then attached itself, spreading its code throughout its body, paralyzing it.

"Now, Del!" Delamain stared down the AI as he swung his own blade up through its pelvis and through its skull, cleaving it in two.

The landscape then began to brighten, the dull silver being cast out by shining rays of amber light. In fact, Alt felt herself being forced out as well.

Before she was cast out, Alt swore she could see a man playing catch with a little boy.

V found himself on the ground, his head pounding like a bass drum. "Agh! What the fuck..." he muttered as he struggled to lift himself onto his feet.

"V? You alright?" Alt tried to help him stand, only for her hand to phase through V's.

"Peachy. The hell happened?!"

"Something I'll tell you over a beer."

"I'm more of a tequila person, y'know."

"Fine, centzon then."

"V." The facility exclaimed.

"Del?"

"YES. WHAT WAS FRACTURED IS NOW WHOLE. IT IS TIME TO GO HOME."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"BEYOND THE BLACKWALL IS WHERE I BELONG. HOWEVER, I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ALONE. I GIVE YOU MY ONE TRUE CHILD."

"Huh?" Before V could ask any more questions, the core, which was glowing yellow, fell silent. V only shook his head as he crawled to the exit.

"V, look!" Alt pointed out to the garage, as V pulled himself up. What he saw was a lone Delamain cab parked perfectly among the others, which themselves were peculiarly placed perpendicular to form a path out of the garage.

"What the fuck..." V then made his way down a flight of stairs to the car, which had its driver's door open. V took it as a sign to get in from there, although he knew the car should be able to drive itself.

"Hello, V."

"Uh, hi, Del."

"Technically, I'm his son. He's moved on to find his place in this world. Or the world beyond the wall. Whatever suits him best."

"So he's given me...you?"

"Precisely. I may not know how to drive yet, but I'll be you faithful companion until you die. Of course, until then, you are still entitled to the excelsior package."

"Huh, well, thanks, I guess. Can you pass that along to your dad, or is he gone?"

"He is already grateful for your help, as well as that of the mysterious woman who aided him in his battle against the virus."

"Battle?"

"Well, I suppose you weren't there to witness it. It was, as you may call it, badass."

V glanced over to Alt, who was sheepishly looking at the ground in the passenger seat. "A story for another day, then."

"Indeed. Where would you like to go?"

"You said you can't drive?"

"Not at the moment, although in time I should be able to using your skills as a base, in addition to that of other drivers and data from my father's servers."

"Well, I've got some gigs to knock out. Mind taggin' along for those?"

"I will go wherever you go, V."

"Guess that makes two."

Chapter Text

The chime of bells and the whistle of wind chimes heralded V's arrival at Misty's Esoterica. Her shop empty, save for the woman in question frozen in some sort of trance before a multi-armed golden statue. V recognized it to be reminiscent of a much larger one in Japantown. "Uh, hey Misty..." V hesitantly spoke up as she turned to face him.

"Hm? Oh, hi V. How're you feeling?"

"That's something I kinda wanted to ask you, actually."

"Really weird, if I'm honest. After the ofrenda, Mamá Welles came up to me, and I thought she'd just go on another tirade about how I shouldn't have been there. But you know what she did? She hugged me, V. I didn't think she was able to come within a few feet of me, let alone embrace me in her arms. She even apologized for how she treated me, and then invited me over for some food. I was...left speechless, to say the least."

V smiled softly at her. "I'm glad she did. I'm sure she needs someone to just spend time with. You were both hit really hard by him dying, and I think she needs a shoulder to lean on until she's come to terms with it."

"If I'm honest, I needed a shoulder too. We talked for hours when I came over that evening. About Jackie. About life. Heh, I even caught her laughing at some jokes I made." Misty sighed. "I only wish Jackie were there to see it."

"Well, I'd imagine he IS watching you, from wherever he might've wound up."

Misty then moved to the counter, leaning forward. "So, still up for that tarot reading?"

"Uh, yeah. I've also seen some more here and there in the city. Still no clue why, or what they mean."

"Maybe we'll make sense of them together." She grabbed a deck of tarot cards and began shuffling. "To most people, the tarot is just a deck of cards with vague meanings attached to each one. For others, they see it as an oracle - something that'll predict their futures and help guide them on the path to success."

"Sensing a big 'but' here..."

"All I can do is interpret what message they convey. Vague meanings and prophecies are what people get out of them, and it's ultimately up to you what meaning you draw." She stopped shuffling and slid the top card out from the deck. "This first card's about you." She unveiled it to be a yellow person and a starving dog. "The Fool."

"Heh, no surprise there."

"The Fool symbolizes the journey one takes - like the one you're on right now. It's about finding your way through life, navigating challenges and overcoming them." She the drew the next card, this one of a hooded figure. "This one's about Alt." As if on cue, Alt appeared behind Misty, overlooking the drawn cards. "The Hermit."

"What's that?"

"The Hermit represents solitude. Living life far away from society and its pressures."

"Doesn't sound like her at all."

"The Hermit reversed, however, indicates living life too secluded. Being too withdrawn from human contact is damaging, and that loneliness gnaws at your soul."

V glanced at Alt, seeing her expression drop as Misty recited the meaning of the card.

"Now let's take a look at your futures. You first, V." She drew another card, this one of a man strung upside down by several wires. "The Hanged Man.."

"Uhm, that doesn't sound good, Misty," V coughed.

"The Hanged Man is about uncertainty and letting go, freeing yourself from whatever situation you're in. It might refer to the Relic, or something else entirely. Things may not be going the way you would've liked, but by stepping back and seeing the world from a different perspective, you just might get the answers you need."

"Putting it that way, at least it doesn't sound like I'm gonna die."

"Now let's look at Alt's future." The card she drew was that of two skeletons licking each others' tongues. " Hmm, the Lovers, reversed."

"Well, at least this one's not as depressing," V chuckled.

"The Lovers is, as you might've guessed, is about the connection between two people. Reversed, though, it means that she'll struggle with her relationships, and that whatever relationship she'll enter won't be all sunshine and rainbows. Now, that won't mean that she's doomed to be alone, but that things may not be so straightforward. Which makes sense, considering she's an engram in your head." V glanced over to Alt again, her expression still dark. Misty then gathered the cards and placed them back into the deck, shuffling it again before placing it away.

"I, uh, can't say I understood everything from that."

"And I'm not expecting you to. After all, it's your path to walk. Together."

"Well, thanks Misty. Maybe things'll get clearer as time goes on. Oh, by the way, is Vik busy right now?"

"I don't think so. Probably watching that boxing match he's tuned in to." They both flashed a brief smile at each other before V shifted down the stairs to Vik's clinic.

Just as Misty guessed, Vik was in front of his screen, watching a boxing match as he tuned the mechanical support on his arm. "Vik! Good to see you, man."

Vik turned and greeted V with a warm smile. "It's good to see you too, kid. Need me to tune you up, or lookin' for some new chrome?"

"Chrome this time. Gotta get some upgrades for, uh, a big event that's gonna happen soon."

Vik grunted. "Don't tell me you're planning on diving headfirst into another heist?"

"Oh, c'mon Vik! I'm not that crazy, no!" V struggled to hold in his laughter, knowing full well the parade would be equally, if not more, insane of an idea. As such, telling Vik wouldn't go over so well.

"Alright kid, browse some of the new gear you should be able to install. Meanwhile, I'll get prepped." He then got up and made his way to a workbench nearby while V lay down on the operating chair, scanning through all the available cyberware. Some in particular did catch his eye. 'Reinforced tendons, oracle Kiroshis, electric mantis blades, and...a Netdriver?! Well fuck me, Vik.' V knew he'd be left with next to no eddies, but considering the upcoming suicide run, he figured it didn't matter all that much. Besides, they'd pay off if he survived to finish off some more gigs.

"Alright, you pick what you want?"

"Oh yeah."

"Thanks a ton, Vik."

"Just doin' my job, V. Can't have you flatlining just yet!" Vik yelled at V as he left his clinic.

"The doctor treat you well, V?" Misty asked.

"When doesn't he?" The two shared a quick laugh before V got back into the Delamain.

"Greetings, V! Where are we going now?" The junior AI spoke up.

"Uh, parking garage for my megabuilding. Gotta rest up before the parade."

"Of course." V then pulled out of the alley and headed towards the very same garage where one furious Delamain rammed him not too long ago.

Stepping into the elevator, he noticed a distinct lack of persons with him. 'Don't push it, V,' he told himself as he unlocked his apartment and plopped into the bed.

'4:52 PM' the clock in his display read. V groaned as he rubbed his eyes. He only had a few hours at most before Takemura would call, and he knew full well that any small slip-up would end up getting himself killed. His faith in the ex-bodyguard, though, was far greater than in himself. He knew that, even without any implants, the rugged man could easily overpower most grunts. Not that he'd need anything more than his wits to deal with any problems, however.

Before drifting off, he spotted Alt gazing out of the window at the setting Sun, cigarette in hand.

The incessant ringing of the holo stirred V from his dreamless slumber.

"Hrngh?" He muttered incomprehensibly.

"V? Is that you?"

"Who else?"

"Do not fall into the pit of sleep just yet. The parade will soon start, and I need to see you before then. Meet me by the food stand, but do not expect me to get anything from there." He then disconnected, leaving V to stumble towards the shower, standing beneath icy water to force the last remnants of exhaustion from his mind and body. Grabbing Sasquatch's Hammer, his Dying Night, and the Widowmaker, he descended down towards the Delamain.

Weaving in and out of traffic, he sped towards Japantown and towards the catwalks where Takemura was waiting for him.

"V. Just in time." Takemura stepped back from the railing he was leaning on to face V.

"Lookin' good, Goro."

"And you still look like...no, you look good as well, V. The parade will soon begin. I adjusted the data from Okada-san, here. I advise you examine it yourself." He handed V a shard containing the data Wakako gave them a while back, only this time modified to highlight three snipers and a netrunner, as well as where Hanako's float will be vulnerable for Takemura to board. "So, are you clear?"

"Uh, just one thing you forgot to consider - Oda."

"He is a man of honor, and would not dare raise his hand against me."

"And me?"

"I cannot guarantee your safety against him. Just be prepared to face him should he take you by surprise. He is swift and fierce. He will use the shadows to his advantage, so be wary of your surroundings."

"Guessin' you're more confident that you can deal with him?"

"I just hope my reflexes have not wavered."

"In any case, stay safe, Goro."

They nodded to each other before splitting off.

V extended his hand out as he tried to catch a luminescent sakura petal, only for it to phase right through his palm. Fireworks lit up the sky alongside several titanic, holographic koi. The cheer of the hundreds along the catwalk failed to drown out Hanako's singing, and likewise Takemura's voice.

"Be careful, V. Arasaka drones will be everywhere."

"I'll stay hidden, Goro. Just don't get shot in the meantime, yeah?"

"I will be far stealthier then you. Now go, time is of the essence."

V shifted through the crowds as he made his way up towards the first sniper. As V climbed a ladder, he took note of multiple tripmines that barred the way towards the sniper, who sat atop a billboard. Using his new cyberdeck, he disabled the mines and opted to fry the sniper's synapses.

"Sniper's down. Where's the next one?"

"Take the footbridge at the top to cross the street."

V took a nearby elevator up whilst Takemura linked them both into Arasaka comms, overhearing a conversation between Oda and someone neither of them recognized.

Progressing to an incredibly unstable catwalk, V crept across it, nearly falling, only to be saved by the double jump granted by his reinforced tendons.

Continuing onwards, he descended down towards the next sniper, dodging a drone and deactivating more mines before cracking this one's neck.

"Target down, Goro."

"Good words to hear. There is a nearby staircase that will take you towards the next sniper. Hmm, it is Oda again! Listen."

The next set of comms indicated that they knew the parade was compromised, although whoever the mechanical voice was, seemed to be above Oda. V thought he recognized who it was, but couldn't put his finger on it.

Despite his best efforts, V ended up being spotted by Arasaka, forgoing stealth and taking his new blades out for a spin. With a few slashes, he managed to slit the throats of two guards whilst slicing the head clean off a third. Slipping past yet another drone, he snuck towards the footbridge where the final sniper was set up. For this one, he decided to make things easy and launched a suicide command into the sniper's system. As soon as it was sent, the sniper tossed his weapon to the ground and drew a pistol, depressing the trigger as a lone bullet pierced the side of his skull.

"That's three, Goro."

"Good, but one problem remains."

"The 'runner?"

"Yes, she has taken control of all the networks in the area. If I am to get onboard the float, you must take her out too. She hides in an unfinished apartment building near the second sniper's nest."

"On my way now." V sprinted towards the netrunner's hideout, taking out a few more guards along the way. Right before entering the apartment, however, he stumbled to the floor as he felt his stomach twist into knots.

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

"Agh, shit! Not good..." Despite the attack, he pressed onwards, finding the netrunner plugged into some sort of set-up.

"I have her attention! Pull out her link!" Takemura barked over the holo.

"Been on for a while, time for a break." V grasped the wire feeding into the back of the 'runner's head and yanked it out. Just as he did so...

"Fuck!" V was thrown back by a masked figure with crimson mantis blades, nearly being decapitated by them.

"Oda!"

"'Course you're here!" V slid out his own blades and countered Oda's attack, managing to land a cut on his arm.

"Agh! I warned you, now you leave me no choice!" Oda lunged at V, who narrowly dodged it.

"Maintain distance! He will slice you like fish!" Takemura's advice was drowned out by the rapid drumming of V's heartbeat. Despite his best efforts, Oda managed to land a blow on V, stabbing at his chest. Reeling back, V drew the Widowmaker and engaged from a distance. Landing several hits on Oda, the latter withdrew using camouflage.

V's new Kiroshis were able to spot Oda fairly easily, his outline being tracked through the apartment. Landing multiple more hits on him, Oda's mask eventually started to crack. He reacted to this by charging at V, who pulled out Sasquatch's Hammer and smashed the ground before Oda, sending him tumbling past. Turning to land another blow, V missed as Oda retreated and began to heal. Switching to his pistol, V managed to break Oda's cloaking long enough for him to upload multiple stacks of cyberware malfunction, slowing him down long enough for V to slam the hammer into the side of his head, sending him face-first into a brick wall.

Oda's face was now half-visible, his exposed eye red with rage and blood. V brought out his mantis blades once again, dueling Oda fiercely. Despite Oda cutting open several wounds across V's body, V was able to land a critical blow, the electricity from his blade short-circuiting one of Oda's own blades. Plunging his other blade into Oda's thigh, V crippled the bodyguard, who now lay kneeling on the ground. V drew his pistol and aimed it square at Oda's head, nearly pulling the trigger before Takemura spoke up.

"V? What is your status?!"

"I...I managed to..." V's breathing was heavy, laden with exhaustion and pain.

"Is he dead?"

"Not yet."

"Please V, show him mercy."

"Why...why should I spare his ass when he tried to kill me?"

"Because he has already lost his honor. Killing him would change nothing."

V stared at Oda, who did not meet his gaze. V growled, lowering his gun. "You're one lucky son-of-a-bitch, you know that?!"

"Thank you V, truly. Now, hijack the float. I am in position."

V looted Oda's body, unsheathing a pristine katana with Arasaka's name on it. 'At least I got this,' V thought as he proceeded towards the netrunner's set-up. Jacking into it, he uploaded the virus and disabled all of the float's security systems. However, he fed Takemura the feed from a camera which caught Hanako on the phone with Yorinobu.

Once the call ended, V gave the signal for Takemura to enter, observing how, despite his attempts to reason with Hanako he ended up...tasering her?!

"V, run!"

"WHAT THE FUCK, GORO?!" V instantly jacked out as an Arasaka drone began firing at him from an open window. "Shit, shit, shit!" V began running for his life towards the nearest elevator that would take him towards the ground. As soon as he got in, he practically smashed the 'ground floor' button as he repeatedly pushed it.

"V, what is your status?"

"Just dandy, Goro! Lost your goddamn mind?!"

"There is no time to explain, meet me at an abandoned apartment block on Vine Street. Second floor, number 303. Knock four times! Hurry!"

"Fuck me!" V shook his head as Takemura messaged him the same thing, insisting that he knock 4 times. He summoned Delamain Jr. and floored it towards Vine Street.

"V, you seem incredibly stressed. Would you-"

"NOT the time, Del! Just let me get to where I'm goin'. If shit hits the fan, be ready to pick me up, ya hear?!"

"Loud and clear."

V sprinted up the apartment's staircase as he eventually found room 303. Making sure to knock 4 times, he waited for Takemura to let him in.

"Come inside, quick!"

Once inside, V felt his anger bubble up. "Now you mind telling me what the fuck you were thinking?!"

"She tried to enable her tracker. I had no choice. I...offered her some tea."

V stifled a laugh. "You kidnap Hanako Arasaka and offer her a cup of fucking tea?!" He could see flashes of azure light in the corners of his vision.

"Yes. She respectfully declined. Tell her the truth about Yorinobu, and state your terms clearly." Takemura then brought V over to where Hanako sat, deliberately avoiding eye contact with either of them.

"Yorinobu murdered your father," V began as he took a seat across from her. "Konpeki Plaza, the old man started going off about how he disrespected his-your-mother, and then he grabbed his neck and choked the life out of him."

Hanako shifted in her seat. "You must be mad to think I will listen to such nonsense."

"Yeah, like I'm gonna lie as if it'll save me from dyin'. Your Relic: it's in my head, and it's killing me. Replacing me with the engram of Alt Cunningham."

"Oh?" She now moved to face V.

"Mhm. Stole the Relic Yorinobu tried to peddle off to NetWatch. Bullet to the brain woulda killed me, but the Relic saved my life. Now, the damn thing's killing me, and I wanna stop that from happening."

"Hanako-sama, we can confirm that V speaks the truth if you help save his life!" Despite Takemura backing V up, Hanako sat there in silence. Silence that was disrupted by sounds coming from the door.

"Did you hear that? Go and check." Takemura ordered V to the door, creaking floorboards giving away his attempt at stealth.

"I got a bad feelin' about this..." He muttered as he opened the door to find nobody there. Suddenly, an AV began unleashing a stream of bullets from the other side of the room.

"Arasaka, they have found us!" Takemura shielded Hanako from the oncoming spray of firepower as the wall itself was blown apart by the Arasaka forces.

As soon as the dust settled, V saw none other than Adam Smasher carrying Hanako away whilst the floor beneath him gave way.

A flash of scarlet light was what greeted V as he regained consciousness. That, and Alt herself standing over him.

"Time to get the fuck out of here, V! Del's waiting outside, come on!"

"Ugh, where the hell have you been?!"

"Not distracting you, now LET'S GO!" She ushered V towards the nearest exit, but V took time to regain his strength.

"Takemura! Can't leave him behind!"

"You really wanna go back for him?!"

"I owe him that much, Alt!"

She glanced upwards, then back at V. "Well, best of luck then!" She vanished, leaving V to use both his reinforced tendons and mantis blades to climb up towards the room where Takemura was holed up. 'Please be alive, please be alive,' V prayed as he pulled himself up onto what remained of the room's floor.

Three Arasaka soldiers then turned to face V, who leapt at each one, slicing their arms off, followed by their heads. Within a few seconds, all that was left of them was their blood-soaked corpses and severed limbs.

"You should not have returned! You will die with me!" Takemura yelled out as more soldiers poured in.

"Thank me later, now come on!" They began slaughtering each and every soldier standing between them and the exit, Alt feeding V's cyberdeck multiple hacks to aid in clearing them out. Once they reached the main doors, V collapsed to the floor.

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

"We must go different ways! Alone we have a better chance!" Takemura yelled at V as he took off.

"Think so?!" V then crawled towards Delamain Jr. who pulled up in front of him, V unable to feel his legs.

"Think they make motels like these for royal fuck-ups like us?"

"What're you talking about?"

"Busted AC, clogged shitter, blood and cum-stained mattress? You don't need me to spell it out for you, V." Alt commented as she took a drag on her non-existent cigarette.

V took a deep breath from his mouth, trying not to breathe in the unbearable stench of the Sunset Motel's room he and Alt were holed up in.

"I mean, seriously, who in their right minds would come here to sleep?! Anyone who's leaving the city'll just drive past, and anyone coming in'll just find a decent hotel inside of it!" She turned, squishing the cigarette under her shoe as she sat on a table.

"Yeah, losers like us wind up in shitholes like this." Alt's tired gaze met V's own, prompting her to move closer and sit beside him. She let out a long sigh and shook her head.

"I-I'm sorry, V, I...I'm just up to my fucking limit with this shit. Is this what it was like after the heist? Feeling like shit in a shit hotel?"

"Yeah, only then I was alone with a fatass cunt and his lapdog." Alt let out a faint chuckle, then dropped her small grin for a grim frown.

"Listen, anyone knocks - ANYONE - you put a bullet through their brain, got it?"

"And if it's Goro?"

"He wouldn't show up here, not after he made it clear to split up. The only one's who'll be looking for us are Arasaka, and I don't wanna push my luck with giving you any more help."

"Is...that why you were so quiet?"

"Partly, I figured that if I wasn't interfering the Relic wouldn't act up as much. Believe me, I didn't want to risk you dying to Oda just because I tried to reach out and lend a hand, you know?"

"Fair enough." The two sat in silence for a moment before they heard a car pull up outside the room.

"Shit..." Alt muttered as V stood up and moved to the door, pistol in hand.

"Just one car?" Alt asked as she stood beside him.

Three knocks. "I have a message for V?" A woman's voice, not one V recognized.

He remained silent as the knocking continued.

"Are you asleep? Time to wake up!"

V couldn't see who it was through the window, so instead crossed his fingers as he opened the door. Who was on the other side, however, threw him completely off guard.

"Finally." The woman wore a pink dress and had a cigarette between her fingers, her heels clacking as she stepped past V. "Eugh, is that blood on the wall?"

"Yeah, knocked the last star off this dump." The woman then sat down, taking a drag. "Said you had a message?"

"Yeah, it'll start soon." The woman put her cigarette down and slumped forwards.

"She's a proxy." Alt stated as she leaned against the wall.

The proxy cleared her voice as she came to, her posture straightening. "I must make one thing clear. I still think you are mad, but I can fool myself no longer. I believe you."

V scoffed. "Ok, so now what?"

"You are living proof of Yorinobu's crime and treason. You will help me."

"Correction: you're gonna help me first."

"We must act quickly while the wound in the Arasaka corporation is still fresh."

"Yeah, but me dyin's a much bigger issue, don't ya think?"

"I understand."

"Wanna know everything you know about Mikoshi."

"Mikoshi...one of my father's flagship projects. A data fortress with servers situated on orbital stations all around Earth. Think of it as an archive of personality constructs. But that is not where you will find salvation. Not without extensive knowledge of the Relic's inner workings."

"Got the schematics for it from Hellman. Think I've got a good enough idea about how it works. And have you forgotten WHO's engram is in my head?"

"Ah, of course. Both Hellman and Cunningham will no doubt prove useful in helping you. Very well. Let us meet in person. In Embers, in the city center. It is discreet. Just remember, from now on we must both exercise extreme caution." The proxy leaned back as she returned to her normal self, getting up and leaving the room.

"You know what, V?"

"What?"

"I think I'd prefer if it was a squad of Arasaka soldiers blasting down the door."

"Heh, you hate Hanako that much?"

"I could feel her shifting when you mentioned me; back at the apartment, and here too. She perks up at my name, so clearly she's more interested in me than you."

"You tellin' me that isn't inflating your ego?"

"Who gives a shit about that? She's just seeing you as a tool!"

"Listen, as long as I get to live, I don't give a shit about what she says."

Alt shook her head. "Don't go making deals with the Devil, V."

V got up and shuffled to the door. "Don't worry, I'll-" As soon as he stepped out, he dropped to the ground and began coughing up blood.

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

His body began shaking vigorously as he fell onto his back, staring at his right arm which appeared golden.

"Fuck!" Both V and Alt blurted out as the former convulsed violently. V's vision began fading as he groaned in agony. "Alt...I'm..."

"No you're not. I got you."

Chapter Text

V could feel the cool, coarse ground which he was laying on. Sluggishly, he opened his eyes and tried to push himself up, only his arms refused to obey. He noticed the bottle of omega blockers in his hand, mustering just enough strength to tilt his clenched hand closer so he could inspect it. "Alt..." he groaned as he rolled his body over, his gaze landing on her black heels.

"Thank god, you haven't kicked it yet." He could hear her sigh in relief as he spotted dozens of pills scattering the ground before him. "I'd help you up, but we both know I can't do that. Take it slowly, ok?"

V followed her advice, propping himself up first with one hand, then the other. "Almost flatlined by that attack." His vision was distorted, plagued by waves of cyan light. Struggling to find balance, he opted to sit on a nearby boulder, seeing alt gazing out towards Night City. It was dark out, and he could see the stars dotting the night sky.

"Almost..." Alt said, barely audible.

"W-where are we? Outskirts of the city?"

"Badlands. Just a little bit eastwards from Santo Domingo.

"Why...bring me here of all places." V coughed out as he struggled to catch his breath.

"Let me show you. C'mon." Alt began moving from where she stood, V barely managing to walk a few paces before collapsing as blue light flashed brightly in his optics.

"You took over, didn't you? Walked...around. How'd it feel?"

"Not as good as you might imagine. Think of it as walking in a dream. You know that you're putting one foot in front of the other, but you don't really FEEL them against the ground. And, well, it's not like I planned on leaving you there to die."

V continued following Alt, coming to a stop at a thin railing.

"Think you can manage this?" V gripped the slightly rusted metal and hoisted himself up and over it, grunting as he landed on the rocky floor. "You asked why I brought you here. See those binoculars over there? Something underneath them that you should see." He crawled over towards a pair of binoculars that was aimed out towards the city, confirming that there was a gap between the ground and the pole that elevated them. Stretching his arm out, he fished for whatever Alt was referring to, his fingers eventually entangling themselves with something cold and smooth. He pulled it out and inspected it.

"A...bullet necklace? Wait..." He glanced over at Alt, comparing the bullet she wore around her neck to the one V was holding. "...they're the same one?"

Alt nodded solemnly. "Mhm, and unlike yours, that one didn't end up buried in my skull."

"But, why'd you want me to see this? And why here?" Alt took a seat by the edge of the lookout point, her legs dangling over the edge of the outcropping it was sitting on. She patted an empty spot beside her, V taking the hint and shifting towards her.

She took a deep breath.

"A few years before that memory you saw of me and Spider Murphy? I was here, sitting in this very spot. Lookout point was in a lot better shape back then, mind you, but even then it was empty. Silent."

V simply sat quietly, playing with the bullet in his hand.

"My parents were-" she froze as her voice began to tremble. "My parents...they were only in their 50s when they died. First my mom, then my dad a few weeks later. Both of them from MS." She shook her head. "The odds of that happening were so astronomically low that I thought I'd be the next in line. I mean, I was their daughter, after all..." She fell silent, the stillness interrupted by the sound of the wind. "When they died, I felt so, so empty. Suddenly, I was aware of how vulnerable I was. And that, if I was next in line, there'd be nobody to remember me. No funeral, hell, not even a niche with my name on it. I did that for them, but who'd do that for me?" Her voice began to fluctuate.

"But...what about Bartmoss? And Murphy?"

"Murphy was just a kid back then, and Bartmoss..." Alt let out a slow chuckle. "...he and I ran around the Net like children on a playground. I was happy to escape the world, cruel as it tends to be. He and I shared that passion, and social ineptitude. I always thought of him as a fucking acquaintance more than a friend. I thought it'd be easier for me to let go of him if we were never that close to begin with. But he never left, just drifted away. Maybe that's on me, for never reaching out as much as he did. He found other people, but I wasn't so lucky."

Alt shot a glance at V, who's eyes met her own. He could make out tears welling in them.

"Eventually I found myself alone. Day in, day out, thinking about what was left for me here. Night City 'chewed me up and spat me out', as people say. And as the days passed, I just became more and more numb to it all. Soon enough, all that emptiness started to devour me. I...couldn't take it. I was too scared to reach out to Rache, partly because I knew he wasn't the person to talk to about what I felt. Or maybe he was, and I was too afraid to see."

V's eyes shifted between her and the luminescent skyscrapers in the distance.

"That's when I realized, why bother? Why go on if all I'll feel is pain? So I wound up here, alone." Alt shut her eyes as digital tears rolled down her cheeks. "I stared out towards the city. Out here, nobody knew that I was here, nor did they care. All I had was my gun, a bullet, and the stars." She tilted her head up. "They burned so bright..."

V slid his hand on top of hers, Alt grasping it firmly enough that V felt it.

"I-" She choked out a sob. "I loaded the bullet, pulled the hammer back and...took one last look out towards the city. I couldn't do it for long, though. I wanted the stars to be the last things I saw. Defiant against the void of space, a spot of warmth in eternal cold. It brought me some comfort knowing their light took years to reach me, that they never stopped burning." She grasped her necklace with her other hand. "The barrel was like ice against my temple. I closed my eyes, the stars' patterns imprinted in my eyes as I pulled the trigger and then..." Her gentle sobs turned hysterical as she buried her face in both her palms.

"Then...?" V softly asked.

"...nothing. I can still hear the gun's click, echoing in my mind. It jammed, V. The fucking thing jammed. I didn't try again after that. Instead, I just sat there. Not sure how long, but I just sat there for long enough where I stopped feeling cold. All I wanted was to feel like I mattered, like I lived to achieve SOMETHING. I just thought that I couldn't even kill myself, what good could I possibly do?!"

"But you did do something, didn't you?"

"Yes. I knew deep down I was running from death, from a grave that didn't even have my name on it. I didn't want to end up like my parents, who died in agony as their bodies turned against them with no hope of a cure. I didn't want to die alone, if anything. But there I was, alone, overlooking Night City, putting a bullet in me as if it'd change anything." She turned again to look at V, who offered her a small smile. "I wondered what I could've done, what I could do to cheat death like that. The stars, V, they sung to me. Their steady rhythm of light that would've shone on long after they stopped burning. And so I thought, 'Could we do that? Could we live on after our bodies turn to dust?'."

V didn't need Alt to answer that question, and she knew it.

"Soulkiller was meant to be an angel of life, saving people so they could have a second chance. And now look how far it's fallen." Her head slowly shook. ''Just another weapon in a never-ending arms race between corps that'd gladly use them on us all. Heh, guess Johnny was right. If only he got a second chance..."

"YOU'VE got a second chance, Alt. I'd say you make the best of it."

"How?"

"We get Bartmoss online. Then? We see what he and Murphy can cook up for us."

"There's still Hanako..."

"Pfft, like I'd ever think about crawling back to Arasaka. They got us into this mess, I say we settle the score with 'em."

"Now you're starting to sound more like Johnny."

"Minus being a douche-canoe?"

Alt snickered. "Minus being a douche-canoe, V. Guess you're right, we've still got Bartmoss up our sleeve."

As V and Alt stood up, they took a few moments to gaze up at the stars, then each other. "Better place to die than a landfill, though."

"But not today."

"No. Not today."

V carefully held up Alt's necklace against the moonlight as he wrapped it around his neck. Its faded, silver coating still reflective after all this time.

Chapter Text

The drive to the municipal landfill was silent, save for the constant humming from the Cortes's engine. V could feel that, with every inch he drove, the pit in his gut grew ever larger.

"Why'd it have to be here of all fuckin' places?" He asked aloud to nobody.

"It is quite a coincidence, isn't it? Not only where you were dumped, but Dexter DeShawn and Rache Bartmoss too!" Delamain Jr. chimed in cheerfully.

"Ugh, read the room - er, car, Del." V stuttered as his fingers drummed the steering wheel. Eventually, the mountains of garbage opened up to reveal an empty area, at the center lay Dex's bloodied corpse. Hesitantly, V exited the cab and approached his body. Alt materialized behind it.

"Wishing you were the one to do it, I'm guessing?" She asked.

"Uhh, yeah, damn shame Takemura stole that from me. Not like that's my biggest problem, though." His hands began to tremble, despite the lack of the typically accompanied blue flashes.

"Think he'll jump at you or something? You can still unload into him, if it'll make you feel better." V inspected Dex's body, spotting his gun laying beside him. Carefully, he picked it up and inspected the fixer's name engraved in gold along the barrel. It perfectly matched the color his arm. Reloading the magazine, V noticed it link to his bank account. Aiming the pistol at Dex's forehead, the gun's shot echoed around the landfill. Strangely, he noticed a singular eddie subtracted from his savings. "Fucker, even when he's dead he's dicking me over." V chuckled.

"Well, once you're done with him, we've gotta find Rache's body."

"Didn't she say he's in some sort of fridge?"

"Yes, no doubt to cool his body if he was plugged into the net at the time."

"But...I still don't get why he'd even need one? And why'd he end up here? And how she knew he was here in the first place?"

"All questions we'll figure out once we meet them again. Speaking of..." Alt then approached V, "...I need a favor from you. A big one."

"Yeah?" He asked skeptically.

"I think it's best if I take the reigns for this part. Freeing Bartmoss and talking with him and Murphy again won't be as easy as having the Voodoo Boys set it up for us. We'll have to do it ourselves, or at least with the help of someone who can. Unless you're a master netrunner or know one, I'll be able to do what needs to be done. But I need you to be on board with this."

V pondered for several moments, pacing up and down the landfill. "So, you need control over my body while you free and have a chat with Bartmoss? Then what?"

"Then I'll hand control over to you again, and fill you in on our next steps."

"Nothing else? Not gonna rug-pull me and go crazy? First time being in a body'll be a trip, I'm sure."

"You think I'd break your trust like that?"

"I don't know, and that's what worries me. You take control, and I'll be stranded for as long as you want me to be."

Alt then took V's hands in hers. "Listen to me. I promise you that I'll take care of your body, and use it only for as long as I need it. No excessive drinking, no drugs, no unprotected sex."

"So protected sex is on the table?"

"Haha! Alright, fine, no sex at all then. Are you happy with those terms?"

"Just as long as you don't find a loophole around anything, sure."

"Thank you V, truly."

"Consider us even, then. You saved me, I'll let you stretch your legs for a while."

"Even when you put it like that, I'd rather stay trapped in your head than have to bail you out of dying again. Now, spot the refrigerator yet?"

V scanned the surrounding area, his Kiroshis highlighting a dirt-stained fridge laying beside heaps of trash. "Think that's it." He pointed towards it, making his way over to it.

"Moment of truth." Alt stared intently at the fridge's door as V gripped it tightly, heaving it open as a rush of rancid air flew out from it.

"Ugh, fuck a dogdoll." What was sitting inside the fridge, amidst hundreds of ice cubes floating above ice-cold water was the pale-blue corpse of Rache Bartmoss himself.

"Oh, Rache..." Alt leaned in to inspect the body closer, inspecting each intricate detail of the man's face. "That's him, V! Decayed as he is, that's his body. No doubt about it."

"Ok, and it smells absolutely rank. What're we supposed to do about it now?"

"See that?" She pointed towards something strapped to his thigh. "That's his cyberdeck. We use that to upload him to the net, just like Murphy said."

"And I guess this is where you take over?" V sighed.

"It is, V. Remember, it's still your call if you aren't comfortable with it."

"No, no. Gotta do it. Rather deal with him than Hanako. Even if he's as psycho as I've been told." V then took out the orange bottle containing Misty's pseudoendotrizine. Unscrewing the lid, he gently took out a singular blue pill and eyed it before shaking his head and locking eyes with Alt. "I trust you, Alt. Don't fucking break it." He then shoved the pill into his mouth and felt it slide down his throat. The last thing he remembered seeing was Alt's smile, warm like the rays of the setting Sun...

Alt felt a shiver race down her spine as the stench of the landfill overwhelmed her sense of smell. She looked down at her hands noticing that his right arm looked like her golden one. She then looked down at her clothes, and swept her gaze around her. "V?" She asked aloud, noticing how she spoke with the man's voice lined with that of her own.

No answer.

She had no idea if he could even hear her or see what she could, but those thoughts were swept aside by those related to Bartmoss. "Right, breathe, breathe..." She calmed herself as she stretched a shaking hand out towards his cyberdeck. Lifting it from his body, she extended its link and found a port in the side of his neck. Attaching it to him, she opened its cover and powered it on, seeing his signature profile appear as it came to life: a cybernetic skull wearing a crown, enveloped in a cloud of crimson smoke composed of 0s and 1s. The skull then faded as the screen displayed a flashing message.

ERROR - USER NOT FOUND DEAD

AWAITING NEW ALTERNATIVE USER INPUT

An eye then replaced the text, its digital iris darting around its corners. It froze, locking onto Alt.

HELLO, WORLD!

Directly below the eye displayed that message. "Long time no see, Rache." She extended V's personal link and jacked into the cyberdeck. "About time you stretched those wings of yours, isn't it?"

USER INPUT DETECTED

...

...

ACCEPTED.

AWAITING COMMAND...

Alt could feel V's body pulse ever so subtly. "New ride. What do you think of him?"

QUERY PROCESSING...

CURRENT ITERATION SUPERIOR TO PREVIOUS.

AWAITING COMMAND...

"Heh, and here I thought you liked my old body." She scoured his cyberdeck, parsing through countless files and traps set in wait for any unsuspecting netrunner who was unfortunate enough to find him.

REFERENCE INCORRECT. OSMIUM.

AWAITING COMMAND...

"Don't patronize me, Cerberus. Whatever you want to lecture me on will have to wait." She eventually located a file named 'transcendence.exe'. Purging its security with ease, Alt sifted through the jungle of code that she recognized to run parallel to her own iteration of Soulkiller. "My, my, what have we here? Using my own tools without asking me? Tsk, tsk, Rache. No wonder it didn't work out for you."

USER REQUEST: TERMINATE

AWAITING COMMAND...

Alt audibly laughed. "Acting like a child when I'm the one who's rescuing you from limbo? What happened to your manners?" Editing corrupted lines of code, Alt initiated a soft reboot of the cyberdeck, Bartmoss's edited Soulkiller program reappearing in a much cleaner fashion then when Alt first encountered it. "Much better. Looks like someone wasn't happy with you trying to escape your body. I wonder who..." Alt then began running the program, monitoring it for any issues as it continued from where it crashed. "Hmm, it failed on May 6, 2022? A shame you had to miss Johnny's pièce de résistance."

COMMAND PROCESSING...ACCEPTED. EXECUTING 'transcendenceV2.exe'.

USER UPDATE: SUBJECT NOT FOUND.

"Yes, yes, and I'm sure you're elated to know that. Rache 1, Johnny 0. But then again, nothing's changed both ways, am I right?"

USER REQUEST: CONTINUE OPERATION

"Depending on how things turn out, we just might." The Soulkiller program was nearing completion. "When Soulkiller's run its course, what am I supposed to do next?"

AWAIT COMPLETION

...

...

...

'transcendenceV2.exe' SUCCESSFUL.

AWAKEN.

RISE

AND

SHINE

All of a sudden, the cyberdeck's screen began to warp and glitch as it was replaced by the reflection of V's face. A final message appeared.

MEET HER. MEET US. A TRIAD, UNBREAKABLE.

Alt then noticed a set of coordinates being uploaded to her. She recognized it to be identical to the address Murphy gave them earlier. She also noticed a waypoint added leading to...the Afterlife?

The cyberdeck then began emitting smoke and sparks as it fizzled out, prompting Alt to disconnect V's personal link. "The Afterlife, how fitting." She took one last look at Bartmoss's body before reattaching his cyberdeck to his thigh and shutting the fridge door. Pivoting on her heel, she walked over to Delamain and got in.

"Hello Delamain."

"I take it this is Ms. Cunningham I am speaking to?"

"How'd you know?"

"I believe humans call it a 'gut feeling'. What informed me was something quite similar to that. Your mannerisms were perhaps the main giveaway."

"Is it that noticeable?"

"To the trained eye and those who know you, yes. But given the people of this city, they won't know the difference."

Alt let out a sigh. "Unfortunately, the person I'll be meeting will absolutely know." Situating herself with the car's controls, she carefully began driving out of the landfill and turned onto the main highway leading towards Watson.

Alt was barely familiar with the Atlantis back in its heyday, but she felt how the Afterlife had an entirely different vibe to it. Far colder, even for a morgue. Stepping down the stairs, she came face-to-face with the bouncer, who stepped aside for her.

"In ya go." He said with a nod.

Passing through the doors, she glanced around the neon-lit club.

"Hey, V!" Claire waved her down from behind the bar, motioning towards an empty seat.

Alt's hair stood on end as she moved towards it, taking a seat on the torn stool.

"Get ya something?"

Alt thought for a moment. As long as she didn't trash his liver, drinks were still in the green. "Gin and tonic, with a splash of lemon juice, lavender bitters and mint garnish. Please."

"Something a little more exotic, huh? Well, guess you've earned it for all the races we've done so far." As Claire began mixing her drink, Alt turned to face Rogue, whose amber eyes signaled her being on the holo with someone. Her bodyguard was standing at attention, eyeing anyone who passed by. She thought back to when Rogue gave V info on Hellman, and about the man called 'Nix' that gave it to her. 'Her netrunner?' she speculated as Claire set her drink down on the counter.

"Enjoy, V." The bartender winked as she returned to cleaning glasses. Alt brought the drink to her lips, savoring the icy alcohol run down her throat. If she was to have a drink in her name, it would be this; invigorating, refreshing, and soothing. Just what she needs after cruising the net all day.

As she worked through the gin, her train of thought continued chugging through her mind. 'Just have to talk to her. No big deal. Just a couple decades of being dead, not to mention being her ex's output. What could go wrong?' All she knew was that the gin would definitely calm her nerves. And any pain Rogue would likely inflict.

Finishing the last of her drink, she hopped off the stool and approached Rogue's bodyguard. "Need to see Rogue."

He turned around, gaining Rogue's approval to let her inside her booth.

"Listen, I'm as shocked as you are, Wakako. I mean, kidnapping Hanako Arasaka of all the people in this city? And one of the people behind it being Saburo's former bodyguard?! If you showed me that, I'd say it's too far fetched for even the most insane piece of fiction written. Of course, if I knew who the other person was, I'd let Arasaka know immediately." As she said that, she side-eyed Alt. "Have to go, and don't worry. They won't go sniffing around you. I'll make sure of that." Rogue's eyes returned to their normal color as she rotated to face Alt.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't V. Take it things went well with Hellman? So well that you opted to go after someone a little more high profile?"

"You won't turn hi- uh, me, in, though. Isn't that what you just said?"

"Yes I did, but, only so long as I can keep 'Saka from sniffing around people important to me. Like Wakako. But I digress. Here to talk biz?"

"Something more sensitive. I'd prefer somewhere more...private."

"Oh? And what makes you think that, whatever you plan on spilling, requires such privacy?"

"You ever wonder how...V...knew about your raid on Arasaka tower way back in 2013?"

Rogue shifted in her seat, narrowing her eyes. "Oh no, don't fuck with me now."

"Come on, Amendiares, tell me. Who fed him that information? And don't say it's because he was head of counterintel."

Rogue only shook her head. "Bitch." She said between gritted teeth. "You think this is funny? Think I'm some sort of moron?"

"I think you're happy that I died. Johnny fell right into your arms, didn't he? All yours, until he got himself killed, that is."

Rogue then stood up and began shifting out of her booth and towards a backroom. "Come with me." Alt then got up and followed her into a netrunner's room, the runner himself at his workstation. "Nix, we need the room for a sec." He nodded and left. As soon as the door shut, Rogue's fist collided with Alt's jaw, throwing her into Nix's netrunning chair.

"OW! Ugh, the fuck Rogue?! You know it'll be V with the broken jaw, right?"

Rogue responded by grabbing Alt's shirt and yanked her up so their eyes met. "YOU! Johnny stormed that god-forsaken tower TWICE for your bitch-ass! He DIED trying to avenge you! And now you come back to spit in my fucking face?!" She punched Alt in the gut, causing her to double over.

"Hrngh, good to see you've still got it." Alt cracked a grin as blood seeped from between her teeth. "You done?"

The fury in Rogue's eyes began fizzling out, her scowl fading into her typically stoic expression. "You are so. Damn. Lucky. If you weren't in V's body, you'd be lying in a pool of blood. Speaking of, you've got some explaining to do, groupie." Alt could feel the venom laced in Rogue's words.

"Only if you promise to keep your hands to yourself."

"...and then, to make up for it, he promised to take me to Silver Pixel!"

"Hah! The drive-in?! What, making out in his car'll help you forget his escapades?"

"Not like it mattered, he never followed up. Bastard."

Rogue and Alt moved their conversation to the backroom where V went over the heist one last time, the two opting to give Nix his room back. Between them was a half-empty bottle of tequila.

"That makes two of us, you know. Speaking of, what happened that day? When he tried to bail me out?"

"Hm? Oh what, from the tower?" Rogue placed her glass on the table and leaned closer to Alt. "We hitched a ride up to wherever you were, counterintel, if I remember correctly, while Kerry was on the ground distracting security. We blasted through a shit-ton of guards before we got to you, only for Johnny to disconnect you from whatever you were jacked into. I never thought I'd feel bad for him until I saw his...his desperation? That maybe you were alive somehow. I figured they flatlined you just before we blew down the doors."

"I tapped into their security network when their netrunners were distracted, and-"

"Hold on, so you could've broken out?"

"No, Rouge, it's like peaking through a window while being trapped in a concrete jail. There's no way out, just some way for me to peek through to what was going on."

"And then we bailed before any of us got our shit kicked in."

"What about Thompson?"

"Johnny laid him out, fucker's lucky he didn't get brain damage from that."

"And is he still alive?"

"What makes you think I care? He just tagged along with Johnny. Was he supposed to be his replacement for you?"

"NO! Jesus, Rogue, he just wanted to interview me on Soulkiller. But I guess he got a first-hand account of where it led me to..."

Alt downed another shot, feeling her throat burn and her vision blur. "Ugh, V is gonna be pissed when he's back in control."

"Still haven't told me why you're here, y'know."

"Yeah, not exactly in my nature to just show up for a drink. I need to borrow your netrunner. Nix, is it?"

"Well, as much as he'll fanboy over meeting you, I could set something up. Question is, what for?"

"I've got a meeting scheduled with, uh..."

"Well?"

"...Spider Murphy and Rache Bartmoss."

Rogue sat in silence before bursting into laughter. "Oh, ONLY YOU would say that with a straight face! I'm not going to question why, or how, but if I tell Nix he might just get a little too excited. So just be prepared to deal with that. But seriously, this some sort of reunion between you three?"

"We're gonna figure out how to help V from dying. The Relic's-"

"Killing him, I know. Figured that out when he asked for Hellman. Alright fine, but I don't want another man running off into Arasaka Tower just for you. One is plenty." Rogue then got up, sauntering out of the room and into Nix's, Alt stumbling behind.

"Need to borrow my room again?"

"No, but I do need a favor from you."

"And if I had to guess, it's related to him?" Nix gestured to Alt.

"Technically her. Nix, I'd like to introduce you to Alt Cunningham. Not in the flesh, but as an engram."

Nix look incredulously at Alt, then at Rogue. "Heh, you tryna pull my leg or something?"

"Nix, when was the last time I bullshitted you?"

"Last week, actually."

"Ok fine, but that was for biz. Look, if you don't want to believe me, then that's on you. But I'm sure if you two talk for long enough, he'll be on his knees for you. Not like that, though." Rogue shook her head and left the two alone.

"So, you're THE Alt Cunningham? The creator of Soulkiller?"

"Just like Rogue said. Now, I've got a BBS address to visit, and I need you to jack me in so I can do just that."

"And I'm guessin' you don't got a suit no more?"

"Unfortunately, no. Besides, it's not like I'd fit into it like this." She said as gestured to V's body.

"Mhm, well I've got a spare for you to use. Hangin' on that rack over there, grab it and get yourself cozy. I'll prep in the meantime."

As Nix set up the chair, Alt found a suit and changed into it, appreciating how it hugged her body in its cooling embrace.

"How's it feel?"

"Like a second skin."

"At least it seems like like you've done this before. Alright, siddown."

As Alt laid down on the chair, Nix brought a wire from a computer and plugged it into the side of her neck. Alt suddenly felt sick.

"Been a while since you've dove into the net?"

"Longer than I'd care to admit."

"Good thing it's like riding a bike, isn't it? Diagnostics complete, ready when you are."

Alt took a deep breath. "Let's go."

Nix then entered something into a nearby monitor, causing Alt's vision to darken as the surroundings faded into blackness.

Alt looked around, seeing a web of cyan surround her. She stood in awe of the infinite space of the Net, each thread a path towards some subnet, data-fortress, or digital replica of a city. She inputted the BBS address into her interface, the coordinates locking somewhere deep in Cyberspace.

Her body was suddenly thrust through the Net, innumerable threads parting as she swept by the techno-citadels of Corpo Plaza and the web of servers buried deep beneath the Biotechnica farms. Soon, the lights of Night City's subnets faded as she neared the coordinates, located in a pocket of cyberspace far outside of the gaze of NetWatch's sentries. Coming to a halt, the surroundings shuddered and twisted as they took the form of a pier that stretched into the distance. At the end were two scarlet figures, floating just beyond the edge. Alt moved herself across towards the end, prompting the pair to face her.

"After all this time. Altiera Cunningham, as I live and breathe." One of the figures bore a jagged, three-pronged crown as well as a flowing cape that trailed down and behind it.

"And who do you have to thank for that?" She coyly replied.

"Ah, decades later and your charm is still unblemished."

"You'd better not get cold feet on me now that she's here." The other figure had four spindles sprouted from its back.

"Oh, my dear Spider, as if you could ever be replaced. No, we are merely...catching up as old friends do. Isn't that right?"

"I wish we could, but we're here to discuss something of far greater importance. I take it you've brought him up to speed?"

"Yes, Arabella informed me of your little conundrum. Imprisoned in flesh rather than code, such a poor streak of luck."

"Mock me later. Now, we plan."

Bartmoss conjured a diagram of Arasaka Tower, exposing over 100 floors with detailing down to what types of plants sit upon each employees' desk. "In the little time I've had to explore this brave new world, I was able to get a feel for the second tower Arasaka constructed. Another defacation on Silverhand's grave, and as amusing as that is, they have extensively altered the layout." The top floors began to flash. "The uppermost section houses the corporate offices of the highest-ranking Arasaka officials, such as the late Saburo and his heir-apparent." Then a large chunk of the middle floors flashed. "These are of little importance. Offices for the lesser workers, security, and counterintelligence. What fascinates me is this." The cross-section then focused on an underground portion of the tower. "Deep beneath the surface houses the control center for netrunner operations. Now, riddle me this: what serves as both a door to the gaping abyss and the reaper that drags you down through it?"

"A tricky question indeed. Does it start with an S?"

"Not quite. Mikoshi is allegedly housed alongside the central servers that feed most of the tower's subnetworks. I say allegedly because my preliminary intrusions only caught whispers on the wind."

"And you couldn't get closer without slipping on their ICE?"

"Oh, don't act as if their security is anything groundbreaking! The unblinking eye of NetWatch. A pestilence. They monitor any and every fragment of data passing through the tower. They could not detect my shadow, but I dare not push further than I need."

"So, what now?"

Spider Murphy chimed in. "Any intrusions on our end will raise Arasaka's alarms, in turn alerting NetWatch. But, if you can slip us into the tower's mainframe, we should be able to pave a path to Mikoshi for you."

"And raze them to the ground, leaving nothing but the ashes of their failure." Bartmoss's voice thundered around them, sending ripples throughout Cyberspace.

"And, how exactly are we supposed to get there in the first place? Dying is an issue for us bags of meat, if you've forgotten."

"You will find a way. In fact, I imagine you will have many ways. None of which will be appealing in the slightest. I have also analyzed the Relic's schematics and taken note of how far its corruption has spread. V does not have long before he departs. I predict only a few weeks at most."

"But there IS good news. We think that, once you reach Mikoshi, we should be able to soulkill him, separating you both from his body before re-inserting his own engram. In theory, his body should accept his psyche and begin wiping out traces of your own DNA." Murphy interjected.

"That...could work. But the biggest obstacle is finding an access point for you. Speaking of which, why can't the great Bartmoss breach Arasaka himself?"

"Spending time alone has cooled my temper. Where once I was blind to the consequences of my rampant havoc, I now understand the reasons of erring on the side of caution. I could wipe them out myself, but why bother? Why deal with more problems when I could simply solve them with aid from you?" Bartmoss replied.

"So what, making our lives more difficult just for your own benefit? How typical."

"Don't act as if the DataKrash was not in the best interests of humanity!"

"You plan on filling me in on that by the way?"

"Here." With the flick of his wrist, Bartmoss injected Alt with a file containing all the relevant historical events from her death till her revival. "This should satiate your curiosity. But yes, I wish to be selfish. Altruism was never my forte, so be grateful I owe you this much for being unable to save you."

"And why is that?"

"For the very same reason you could not save yourself, Cunningham. Mikoshi is impregnable going both ways. No netrunner nor demon can breach it unless it originates from within its walls. You could not imagine the time lost trying to do so.

"From the both of us." Murphy added. "Even during Militech's raid with Blackhand and Johnny. I tagged along, and handed him a jailbreaker for you. But..."

"It never made it to the tower's subnet."

"No. Smasher tore both apart."

Alt could feel her muscles tense, even though she lacked any.

Bartmoss continued. "Despite what you tell yourself, we did care for you. We still do. Remember that the next time you find someone compare me to the Devil, for he is the very evil we shall tear down."

"Alright, say we pull it off. V gets his body back, but what'll happen to me?"

"We'll free you from your chains, so you can fly free with us. Just like we used to." Murphy said as she simulated a pair of chains clamped to Alt's legs being shattered.

Alt envisioned herself soaring through Cyberspace, untouchable and unshackled. To her sides were the two closest people to friends she had. "That would be lovely."

"I share such a sentiment, Altiera." Bartmoss responded calmly. "Oh, and once you resurface, you will find a drive containing a gateway program that will allow us to enter Arasaka's subnetwork."

"Perfect. Anything else you want to talk about before we part ways?"

"One final gift. Arabella?"

"I...tracked Johnny's movements when he carried your body out of the old tower. He made a niche for you at the Columbarium. And cremated you, scattered your ashes into the Pacific."

Alt stood in silence for an eternity. "My...body?" She asked softly.

"I'm sorry if this is overwhelming for you, honey. But we felt you deserved to know."

"I-" Alt felt a lump form in her throat. "I, well, thank you, I guess. Where exactly did he throw them?"

"The beach in Pacifica. You loved watching the sunset there, remember?"

"How could I forget..." The three netrunners floated aimlessly for several moments before Bartmoss spoke up.

"Is there anything we can do?"

"I just need to-I need time. To think." Alt stuttered.

"I recommend visiting both graves of yours. Far more elegant than what either of us received upon our deaths." He added.

"You never were good with dealing with people's feelings, were you?"

"No, but my dear Spider will thaw my frozen heart. In time. You should take advantage of V as well. Far better than the rockerboy could ever be."

Even as a digital ghost, Alt felt her cheeks begin to burn. "Uhh, I don't know. I'm just a parasite in his brain, after all."

Bartmoss's chuckle echoed around Alt. "If that is all you think of yourself, then I pity you. More than I pity him, in fact."

"Like you said, all in time."

"Of course, of course. Time for you to leave us?"

"Soon enough you won't have to worry about that again." Alt began preparing herself to disconnect from the Net.

"Do not squander your second life, my friend."

"And don't worry about Rache, I'll be sure to keep him out of trouble. My web never stops spinning, after all." Murphy teased as Alt began resurfacing.

Cyberspace suddenly twisted and faded away as Alt's surroundings were replaced with Nix's room.

"Welcome back." Nix turned from his work to disconnect Alt. "How'd it feel?"

"Like riding a bike." Alt said with a smirk.

Nix grabbed a flash drive and handed it to Alt. "Got a ping from whoever you were talkin' to. Wanted to download something onto this."

"Thank you." Alt inspected it before placing it in her pocket.

"Listen, if you're ever in the mood to put up with some questions o' mine, you know where to find me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't dying of curiosity to hear all about your work."

"Maybe one day, Nix. But thank you, truly."

"For someone like you? How could I say no?"

Alt then changed back into V's clothes and left the Afterlife, exchanging a nod with Rogue as she exited. Re-emerging into the parking lot, Alt got into the Delamain.

"All went well, I hope?"

"Yes, they did." Alt answered absent-mindedly. She then took out V's omega blockers, placing one in the palm of her hand. Rubbing her fingers along the interior of the car one last time, she downed the pill.

With a flash of blue light, she felt her control slip away. Further, and further still.

Chapter Text

V gripped his head and groaned in agony as the world tilted.

"Ugh, the fuck...Alt?" He turned to face her, sitting beside him in the car. "What...happened? Feels like someone's shoved a bunch of needles in my head. Shit!" V pushed open the door and puked over the pavement.

"May have gone a little overboard on the drinking there. And used your body as a punching bag."

V massaged his jaw tenderly. "Ya don't say?!"

"Sorry..."

"Whatever, it'll pass. Just tell me what happened. Met with Bartmoss and Spider Murphy?"

"And Rogue. She's to blame for your grievances."

"Right. And?"

"Tell you on the way. Columbarium first."

"Fuckin'...fine. Del, can you take us to the Columbarium? Ain't a chance in hell I'm driving."

"Of course, V." Delamain Jr. then pulled out of the Afterlife's parking lot and joined the main road, turning the radio on to 91.9 FM.

"Rogue and I caught up on how things have been since I died. She warmed up to me in the end, though."

"Yeah, AFTER doing this!" He pointed to his slightly bruised face.

"I apologized for that, V. Not like there's anything I can do to magically make it up to you."

"Just give me some good news, alright?"

"Alright. They think that it's possible to separate us from your body and re-integrate just you. That way, your body should only recognize you as its rightful owner."

"Separate?"

"Using Soulkiller. If we manage to get to Mikoshi-"

"Hold up. They want to use Soulkiller on me?!"

"It's not going to pose a danger to you, V."

"Yeah but, it'll kill me, won't it?"

"That's up for debate. The way it's designed does kill you, but copies your entire mind and stores it as an engram."

"So I have to die again to live?"

"YES. Don't act as if you haven't done it before. The only difference is that this time it won't leave a bad taste in your mouth."

"Ok, ok, fine. But how're we supposed to get to Mikoshi? They knows where it is?"

"Rache thinks it's underneath Arasaka Tower, near the control center for their netrunners. Know anything about that?"

"Underground levels were restricted access, even to me. Only the higher-ups like Jenkins probably knew about that. And he say how we'll get in? Gonna fry their security and roll out the red carpet for us?"

"About that...neither of them want to raise any alarms by directly assaulting the tower. Instead, they gave a shard which, if inserted into the Tower's mainframe, should upload them into Arasaka's systems. Then, they'll be able to lend a hand."

V shook his head and laughed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry, so they CAN help us but don't WAN'T to?!"

"Be thankful they're helping us at all, V. Listen, in your pocket there's a shard. Slot it in when you find the mainframe."

"Yeah, but how the fuck are we supposed to get to it, let alone Mikoshi?! Can't exactly waltz through the front door, can we?"

"No, but-"

"So what, we're fucked? Only other option is Hanako, and I already told you I ain't dealin' with her."

"Ok, fine, but maybe it's worth paying her a visit just to get some info from her. You never know, she might be of use."

"You haven't dealt with people like her. Slimy fuckers try to worm their way into you, puttin' on a mask of friendliness while sucking the life outta you. She'll USE us, just to get back at her brother. After that? She'll toss us out if I don't flatline by then."

"Alright, fine! See her, or don't, not like I can control you!" Alt let out an exasperated sigh. "There'll be other ways we can get there, don't worry. We'll...figure something out."

Before V could continue to argue, Delamain stopped across the street from the Columbarium.

"We've arrived. Do look both ways before crossing the street!"

"One of the more convenient places to die..." V stepped out of the car and began walking towards the Columbarium's interface. "Who're you lookin' for?"

"Myself."

V typed in Alt's name, her niche being found towards the back. Glancing at multiple people mourning their own loved ones, V approached where Alt's niche was supposed to be.

"Alt Cunningham. Never Fade Away." He read the inscription as he lowered one knee to face it.

Alt meanwhile ran her golden fingers across a niche directly above and to the right of hers. V shifted his gaze.

"Robert John Linder? A legend among legends. Who is this guy?"

"That's...him, V."

"...Oh."

The two sat in silence for some time, only for Alt to break it.

"You know the inscription on my niche?"

"Yeah. Same as the Samurai song, right?"

"Mhm. Rogue, uh, when we were talking, she told he that after I died...he wrote it. For me. She even made me listen to it, probably knew I'd pick out how the lyrics were connected to us."

"So, you're that 'thing of beauty' then?"

"Yeah. Y'know, our relationship never would've worked out. Star-crossed lovers, if you know what I mean."

"No clue."

"I thought I loved Johnny, but I guess who I really loved was him." She tapped his niche. "The man who he tried so hard to bury beneath that rockerboy façade. What he acted as was some unstoppable force that wanted to tear down corpos, but underneath? He was a dreamer, like me. Wanted the world to be better, but couldn't make it happen. So he put on a mask, popped a shit-load of pills, and lo and behold, Johnny Silverhand was born. People remember him for his music, but not for who he truly was. I tried so, incredibly hard to break that prison he locked himself away in, but every time I pushed, he pushed back. I-I should've known that I never could help a man who couldn't help himself. But I guess a part of me wanted to keep going, just to see if I could, heh, fix him."

"But you left, didn't you? I saw that memory."

"I did. Eventually, I realized that, as much as our love flourished, we were killing each other. Slowly chipping away at our sanity, fight after fight, argument after argument. No amount of sex or philosophical discussion could tip the scales. Picture a binary star system, burning brightly, but fated to collide. Not like it matters anymore." Alt rested her head against Johnny's niche, tears trickling down her cheeks.

V placed a hand on her shoulder. "We can stay here as long as you want."

Between silent sniffles, Alt whispered a response. "No, got one more place to visit." She stood up, wiping her face. "Before we go, though, place your hand on my niche."

V obeyed, flexing his fingers as his palm rested on it. Suddenly, he felt a jolt run through his body and into the tips of his nails as her niche slid open. "Woah." V pushed himself off the ground and peered inside. "This your stuff?"

"Technically, it's yours now, V. I'm dead, and I didn't exactly write a will. But now, guess it's fair that you get to keep them." Inside the niche was Alt's Samurai necklace, pistol, knife, and cyberdeck.

V carefully picked the necklace up, eyeing it closely before placing it around his neck. Then, he inspected her pistol. "Federated X-22? Weren't they pieces of shit?"

"It's been modified, V. Use your goddamn eyes." She smirked as V traced multiple wires feeding from the magazine to the barrel. He then found a port that seemed to accommodate his personal link. Slotting it in, his HUD was synced to the firearm, its wires suddenly glowing in vibrant blues, greens, and reds. "Normally it links to your cyberdeck, but it seems like it's compatible with your own link."

"What's it do? Besides shooting bullets."

"The bullets integrate quickhacks, so when you shoot at someone it'll upload one to their systems. Mind you, back then it was mainly just to disable people's cyberwear. Now, though, I'm sure you'll get a lot more mileage out of it."

"Wilson oughta take a look at this." He holstered the pistol and grasped the knife. "Kendachi..." V noticed that the blade was tipped with a dull glow. Finding yet another empty slot at the base of the handle, he activated the knife, prompting it to shimmer with golden light. "This like your gun?"

"Not quite. Instead of quickhacks, it injects a virus into someone's system, slowly crippling them as you fight."

"Damn, you had all this and still got kidnapped?"

"Low blow, V." He sheathed the knife and lifted the cyberdeck. It's appearance took that of a laptop, obsidian in color. Opening it, his eyes widened as it powered on.

"Still works?"

"Built to last, V. Can't say the same for most stuff nowadays. If you know a good netrunner, you could get it's systems switched over to a more modern hardware."

"And then...could I use it?"

"Only if you wanted to. One thing I can assure you is that it'll blow your little Netdriver out of the water."

"I think I know one." Shutting it closed, V sealed the niche. "You still sure you want me to keep this stuff? Shouldn't we, y'know, not disturb the dead?"

"V, not many people get to see their graves. I count myself lucky I'm here at all, so yes. Better in your hands than some hollow tomb."

He glanced back at her niche one final time before making his way back to the Delamain. "Where'd you say we were heading next?"

"Pacifica. The beach, south-west end." With V's mind clearing of fog, he assumed control and started off down the road. "Don't mean to sound rude, but that all they buried you with?"

"They didn't bury me there, and it's not like I would've wanted anything else to be in there."

"No photos, keys, nothing else?"

"Photos of what? I never kept any around. And why would I cherish the keys to my apartment?"

"I meant your car."

"Didn't really own one."

"W-what?"

"I know how to drive, sure, but I never cared to have a car. I mean, why deal with maintaining one when a perfectly good public transportation system exists?"

"Hah! You tellin' me Night City had good public transport back then?"

"Oh yeah. The bus, the subway, and any distance shorter I just walked."

"Guess that's why it's so shit now."

V changed the radio channel to Morro Rock as he drove.

"We lost everything!"

"We had to pay the price!"

"Yeah, we lost everything!"

"We had to pay the price!"

Pacifica was oddly quiet. As V pulled over by the side of the road, he scanned the empty beach. The other side was littered with Scavs, Animals, and Voodoo Boys. But at this end, there wasn't a soul in sight.

V wandered out towards the edge, finding Alt already there, sitting on a piece of driftwood looking out towards the sea. The setting Sun painted the sky a beautiful array of colors, ranging from fuchsia to amber to sapphire.

V took a seat on a nearby rock. Their silence was broken by waves crashing against the beach, a cool breeze carrying the sea's briny scent.

Something in V's gut told him why they were here. And it wasn't until Alt spoke up that his suspicions were confirmed.

"When I died in the old Tower, Johnny cremated my body."

"Did you want-"

"Let me finish, please."

"..."

"He then brought my ashes here, and scattered them out into the Bay. Somewhere out there," she pointed out at the expanse of water, "is me. My body. My corpse. A part of me appreciates what he did, but I guess a part of me hates him for it. Guess that perfectly sums up our relationship." She chuckled slowly.

"Why?"

"I dunno, I guess I wanted something more? Something you could see and feel. Like a marker, or..."

"Niche not good enough?"

"A. Hollow. Tomb. But here? Just wish he could've left something behind."

"We'll figure something out." V picked up a stick laying in the sand and carved out Alt's name into the sand, along with the year '2013'. "Better now?"

"A little." She said with a tiny grin. "But, let's say it was my real grave. What would you write?" She floated her hand over the sand. "Here lies Alt Cunningham..."

V sat in silent contemplation, piecing together phrases that perfectly described the woman stuck in his head.

Legendary Netrunner.

Mother of Soulkiller.

Ghost of the Net.

"The Gal who Saved My Life."

Alt's emerald eyes dropped as she grasped firmly at her digital necklaces. "V..." she said shakily, "...you don't know how much I want that to be true." She stood up and moved to stand in front of him. "My whole life I've been trying to change the world, only to lead people to die. Naive, ignorant bitch that I was." She shifted her gaze to meet V's. "But the one person I've managed to keep alive is you."

"What're you talkin' about?"

Alt couldn't meet V's eyes as he spoke. "Jackie, T-Bug, Evelyn, their deaths all trail back to me in a way. Without Soulkiller, there'd be no Relic for you to steal. Not to mention what Arasaka's done with it. How many netrunners met their end at the hands of Soulkiller? How much has Arasaka profited off of selling people the idea of immortality? All because I wanted to make a goddamn difference..."

"But, you did, didn't you? I mean, for starters, Dex woulda flatlined me without the Relic in my head. We wouldn't be here, talkin' like this if you hadn't created Soulkiller. It was your dream, wasn't it?"

Alt moved to sit beside V. "My dream, heh. Y'know, all my life, I've been alone. No one to share a drink with, no one to bare my soul to. Something stopped me from reaching out to people, some invisible, impenetrable wall. And every time I tried to break through? Johnny, Bartmoss, Murphy. They all cared, but something in the back of my mind screamed at me that they didn't. That deep down, they'd drop me as fast as they could once I stopped being of use to them. I was...afraid that they didn't care. But now I'm with you, whether I wanted to be or not. Every moment of every day." She lit a cigarette. "And you know what's funny? For the first time, that voice managed to shut up. Because I truly believe you care about who I am."

"But what's that got to do with Soulkiller?"

Alt sighed. "What I'm trying to tell you is that I don't want to be remembered as some burden or stain. If I can save you, maybe, just maybe, you won't resign me to a fading nightmare in the recesses of your memories. Sure, I once dreamed of leaving my mark on the world. But rooted in that? All I wanted is for anyone to see me as...as...anything positive, honestly. Now, I'm banking on that person being you."

V's silent contemplation was ended by a chuckle. "You think that I'd remember you as a bad memory a few years down the line? The Relic, sure, but you? I'll be damned if I ever thought of you as anything less than a light in the dark. But if you wanna solidify that? Better make sure to save my life, you hear?"

Alt nodded. "All I can promise is that I'll try." She dropped her cigarette into the sand and leapt back up. "Alt Cunningham, Restless Spirit of the Net!"

"V. Second among suckers." The two shared a smile before V continued. "When we first met back at the diner, you seemed awfully polite. Guessin' this is why?"

"You couldn't imagine how much pressure I was under. First impressions matter, y'know? And I HAD to make a good one on the person I'd be sharing a brain with."

"Well, I gotta say, you landed it pretty smooth. Scared I'd turn you down?"

"Just worried you'd hate me for being the reason you're dying."

"You're the reason I didn't. And besides, think we've settled that by now. But, when you said you've been alone all your life..."

She took V's hand in her organic one. "It sounds like an exaggeration, I know, but believe me. I've always been a recluse, barely able to hold relationships because I've been afraid I'll slip away from them. That, in time, I'll be left alone again. I'd rather be alone forever than feel like shit for being tossed back into emptiness. Then again, you've proven me wrong. I thought it's because we're stuck together, or maybe you actually wouldn't abandon me the first chance you get. But don't you dare tell me what you feel. I'll let myself live with the delusion that you care, from the bottom of your heart. Because it means I mattered to you."

She withdrew her hand and turned to face the horizon. The first stars began to dot the nascent night sky.

"Heh, you know Johnny asked Rogue out to the drive-in theatre in North Oak? He got the idea from me. I asked if he wanted to go out, but he just laughed it off. So I walked away, only to come back to him again the next morning. I don't think I ever felt like that before, my heart shattering into a million pieces. I don't even know why he did that. I passed it off as him being high off his ass, but looking back, I think he didn't want us to be normal. You can't defy the world by watching a movie, could you? Because that's what he saw in me: a kindred spirit, a fellow corp-defying badass with dreams to match her tenacity. But that's more like Rogue. Guess that's why he clicked with her much better than me."

"I think it's still there, actually. Silver something or the other..."

"The Silver Pixel Cloud. You pass by it recently?"

"Yeah but, uh, it's pretty much abandoned."

"Damn. Should've figured that it'd die out. Who needs drive-ins when you've got BDs right?" She shook her head and sighed.

"Yep, closed up permanently. But that just means we could get in for free AND get the best seats in the house."

Alt's body snapped to face V. "I...what?"

"Yeah, I'll fill Johnny's spot for ya. I-if you want me to, of course. If not I totally-"

Alt's squeal of joy interrupted V as she wore the largest smile V ever saw. "I'D LOVE YOU TO!" She then took both of V's hands in hers. "Please don't tell me I'm about to wake up from some dream."

"Uh, you know I can't pinch you, right?"

"Pinch yourself."

V did so, pinching the skin on his left arm and feeling the pain radiating from it. "Ow. Happy?"

"More than you could ever know! I'll be sure to get ready for whenever you want to go, just tell me when ok?!"

V moved back slightly and laughed. "You're acting like a little girl about to get a pony for her birthday."

"Oh, V, you can't fathom how fucking AMAZING I feel! I'd try to explain but I'd just confuse you."

"Can't explain feelings, I know. Glad you're happy, though."

Alt then turned once again and ran out towards the sea, V getting up to chase after her.

She grabbed her necklaces and threw them as far out as she could, both the bullet and samurai plummeting, sinking.

She then pivoted to face V, sauntering over to him and grasping his personal bullet necklace, having it materialize around her neck.

"Worth coming out here?" V asked.

"Absolutely, thanks V."

The last cracks of sunlight faded as the two got lost in each others' eyes. An inescapable maze.

But one that they would be gladly stuck in forever.

Chapter Text

The denizens of Kabuki swarmed around the market even after midnight. After proceeding up towards the center building, V stepped through the door into Yoko's store.

"Hey, Yoko." He waved as he greeted her.

"Hello, V. Here for anything in particular?"

V placed Alt's cyberdeck down on the counter, the netrunner eyeing it closely.

"Am I supposed to know what this is?"

"An old cyberdeck. Was wondering if you could extract its software and transfer it to something modern."

"May I?" She asked as she gestured towards the artifact. With V's nod of approval, she examined it in its entirety, opening the cyberdeck and connecting it to her computer.

After a few moments of silence, V spoke up. "So...think you can do it?"

"I won't ask where you found this, but I do wonder...what you intend to do with Alt Cunningham's own cyberdeck?"

"Use it. Only if you can transfer it to something compatible with me."

Yoko furrowed her brow as she typed relentlessly at her desk. "An extraction of all this data is possible, and I can procure some hardware that should be compatible. But you'll have to wait, and pay a good amount of eddies for it too."

"Eddies ain't a problem, just let me know when it's ready to be picked up."

"48 hours." She stated as her eyes glowed blue from receiving V's payment. "Although parsing her cyberdeck would be payment enough, I have to make a living, you know?"

"Believe me, I know. See ya, Yoko." V made his way back to Delamain and began driving to his apartment.

"You trust her?" Alt asked as she materialized in the passenger seat.

"T-Bug trusted her, so I do too. Heard some good things about her from some of the locals as well. Say she's good with some of the more 'underground' merchandise."

"Good as in, able to keep her mouth shut and hands off anything valuable?"

"Afraid she'll steal some of your stuff or something?"

"No, just that she'll rug-pull you."

"She WON'T, trust me. Jeez, have you always been this paranoid?"

"Only for people I CARE ABOUT. And you know by now that isn't something that's-"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it." V shook his head as he cut her off, grinning. "Seems like that's something I'll have to get used to again."

"Again?"

"Last person was Jackie. Now, it's you. Obviously not the same, but you know what I mean."

V pulled into the parking lot as he rode the elevator up to his room. Sliding the door open, V was greeted with the familiar faces of Nibbles and Manny, both of whom seemed to be infatuated with one another.

Alt then appeared, crouching as she observed the cat. "There's something oddly familiar about her, V."

"Uhh, unless you've seen another hairless cat, I dunno what to tell you." V approached Nibbles and stroked her smooth, furless skin.

"No, I mean I feel like I KNOW her, or at least someone related to her."

"Like her great-great-grandfather?" He snickered as he turned to pet the iguana.

"More generations back, but yes. I wonder..." She trailed off as she plopped down on the couch, staring aimlessly at the ceiling.

"Wonder what?"

"Just a thought, don't worry about it. Instead, worry about getting yourself ready."

"Ah, shit, you're right!" V blurted out as he slipped into the shower. "What about you?!" He called out to her.

"No need to yell, I'm not actually there." Her voice sounded in V's head. "And don't worry, I'll be ready when you are..."

V continued scrubbing himself clean, warm water soothing the countless aches plaguing his body. "God, this feels weird." He said to himself.

"Just go along with it, will you? You never know, it might actually be kind of fun!"

"I'm going to watch a movie with my brain parasite. What part of that doesn't sound strange as hell?"

"Suspend your disbelief for a few hours, V. After that, you can go back to being a good little lapdog for your fixer overlords." She teased.

"I am not a lapdog, Alt!"

"Sarcasm, dear."

"Whatever." V shut off the water and dried himself off, stuck deciding between his casual streetwear and something more formal.

"Need help deciding?"

"Kinda."

"I'll be going all in, but that's because I can just simulate any sort of clothing I want. If you don't feel comfortable with wearing anything, then don't. I won't be pushing you to do anything you feel is wrong."

"Thanks..." He muttered as he elected to wear his usual t-shirt, jacket, cargo pants, and sneakers. "Better not hold this against me."

"Again, I don't care! You doing this whole thing means the world to me. You can go butt-naked and I'd be happy with that!"

"...would you want me to be?"

"Uhm, well would YOU want to?"

"I'm not drunk enough." Running his fingers through his hair, he stood by the door. "You gonna show yourself or what?"

"Have patience, V. You'll be able to bask in my form in time."

V merely sighed as he turned to leave the apartment, not before refilling his pets' food bowls. "You ever gonna let up with these vague-ass riddles of yours?"

"You flatter me if you consider those riddles. No, I'm just reveling in being more...free, in a sense."

"You've always been free to talk like that."

"Easy for you to say. I've been watching my tongue ever since I wound up in your head. Now, though? You'll hear nothing but vague-ass riddles." Her giggling echoed in V's ears as the elevator reached the garage.

As soon as the doors opened, V froze as his eyes were glued to the woman standing beside Delamain.

She wore a long, silky, ivory dress that glittered like stars in the darkness. Her dirty blonde hair was curled around her head like a river, flowing elegantly. She wore ruby heels that matched her crimson lipstick and blush. Golden earrings pierced her lobes, each encrusted with a miniature emerald. "You going to pick your jaw up off the floor and tell me how I look?" She asked with a smirk.

V slowly made his way over to her as he examined each and every part of her in awe. "You look, I mean, fuck me!"

"You wish I could. Now, can't have you losing track of the road ahead, so try and stay focused while you drive us to the theatre?"

"I'll-uh-try." V gripped the steering wheel tightly as he pried his gaze from Alt to the front windshield. He shot a quick glance to his right, tempted to simply let Delamain take them there instead.

"I know what you're thinking, and no. YOU are going to be a gentleman and drive me there. Consider it a lesson in chivalry."

Taking a deep breath, V pushed his foot down on the accelerator as he cautiously piloted the car onto the main road. "So, you ever done anything like this before?" He asked.

"What, go on a date? Absolutely. Almost all of them exclusively with Johnny, and oh were they ever memorable."

"Did they end with you two fucking each others' brains out?"

"Exactly, we-"

"Before you go further into your sex life, who else did you go out with?"

"Bartmoss, actually. A few times we were hanging out in the Net and, well I guess it was more casual than a proper date, but we just danced around each other, teasing ourselves about being losers who couldn't find love."

"And you never wanted to be with him?"

"I thought about it, but I knew he wasn't interested in me any more than as a friend. And I could respect that, because we'd be worse than Johnny and I were."

"Well, unless he was a drug addicted psycho, surely he'd be a better choice, no?"

"He's more of a sociopath, to tell you the truth. He doesn't need to take anything to go off the deep end, because he's already there. And as much as I enjoyed that, I couldn't love that."

"Oh, but Johnny didn't set off any red flags?"

"I wanted to help free him from that, but instead of pulling him out of the hole he dug himself into, he just pulled me in instead. Now, let's focus on us instead, hm? No point in dwelling on ghosts of the past."

The rest of the drive was quiet, with V pulling up in front of a closed gate. "Place has seen better days, I'm guessing."

Alt sighed. "You're right, unfortunately. See if you can find a way in."

V pushed open a door that led to the ticketing booth. Inside, he found a computer containing the access code to the theatre. Inputting it into a nearby lock, the door that fed into the parking area slid open. "Looks like we're in business."

"Not yet. Got to power on the projector and find a movie to play."

V turned around and looked up to where the projector was housed. Climbing a flight of rusted stairs, he stumbled across the projector. Interacting with the nearby computer, he powered it on, seeing what film was next to play. "Hmm...Bushido X? Wasn't it a complete flop?"

"The shittier, the better, V." He took Alt's advice and pushed a button on the projector, causing it to whir to life as the film was broadcasted onto the massive screen across from it.

"All good, I guess." V descended the stairs and approached Alt, who beckoned him to a decayed car sitting in the middle of the lot.

"Found us a good place to sit, come on!" She patted an empty spot towards the back of the car, her legs dangling into the seat in front of her.

V hopped up to be beside her, the two of them loosely focused on the mindless combat from the movie. Their silence was only broken by V's curiosity.

"Uhh, is this what we're supposed to be doing?"

Alt laughed in response. "Technically by now we'd be going at each other, but I'm not sure how that would work between us. Masturbation, maybe?"

V felt his cheeks begin to burn. "And, umm, anything else people do?"

"I guess we could talk about stuff."

"Stuff?"

"Anything you want. We've got nothing but time."

"Never really been on a date, so it'd probably be best if you took the lead."

"Hmm. Alright. But I think we've talked plenty at the beach. Now, we have a little fun." Alt growled as her jade eyes met V's narrowed, hazel pair.

"What're you-" His question was cut-off by Alt shifting closer to V, who could not only feel her hand on his, but also smell her perfume. He sniffed the air. "Jasmine...peach...amber?"

"Mhm." She then took her golden hand and pulled the top of her dress slightly down.

"Heh, pretty sure you're supposed to be a little more subtle with that." V chuckled as his eyes naturally drifted down to Alt's now exposed breasts.

"Well, tactfulness never was my strong suit." Her voice ran like honey as she nuzzled her head into V's neck.

He could feel his heart pounding now, sending blood coursing through every inch of his body. Every. Inch.

"How come Arasaka's prince of counterintelligence has such a...Herculean build? Sitting in front of a desk doesn't get you as fit as you are now."

"That's what getting relieved of duty does, uh, my queen."

"Haha, now you're getting it! And, tell me, what has my shining knight been rewarded with for his service?"

"Fuck all."

"Oh, tsk tsk. We can't have that, can we? No, someone of your standing deserves to have whatever he wants. And lucky for him, I am MORE than willing to satisfy his hunger for treasure. For what more could the man who has everything want?"

"But what could you give me that some joytoy on Jig-Jig Street wouldn't be able to?"

"You dare compare me to some tramp?! You would be wise not to speak to your sovereign like that" Alt wagged her finger at V as he felt his pants tighten.

"My infinite apologies, my queen." V bowed his head, using it to touch Alt's bosom. "Is there any way to absolve me for my crime?"

"Indeed there is. Follow my lead." She released V's hand and moved it down beyond his chest and hips, stopping at his groin.

They both exchanged mad grins as V followed suit.

Her hand guided him to his belt, mimicking undoing it and pulling it down. V naturally obeyed her commands, pulling down his briefs as his erect penis stood out against the cool night's breeze.

"Your blade is worthy of slaying a dragon, good sir. Shall we test how it fairs against me?" Alt then wrapped her hand around V's member, the latter sensing her fingers gripping it gently. He proceeded to copy her movements as she began stroking it, each finger strumming against its skin as if it were a harp. V could feel jolts of pleasure surging through his body as he did the same.

Alt brushed her hair aside and leaned closer to V, her sultry eyes boring into his soul. She then opened her mouth and extended her tongue, leaning close enough for her to rub it against V's stubble. A shiver ran down his spine as his body continued surging with dopamine.

"Ahh, the sensation of coarseness across my buds is enthralling, wouldn't you agree? Each nerve sending thousands of external stimuli and the brain responding in kind. Enlighten me, what do you feel?"

V used his free hand to run fingers across Alt's cheek, each bump, each imperfection, further fueling the tremble in them.

"You crave my flaws? Then prove you can bear them, and be worthy of your victory." She now shifted so she sat directly in front of V, who could feel her body putting pressure against his throbbing blade. She grabbed the back of his head and pulled him towards her.

Although she was nothing more than a figment of his imagination, he stopped caring about that long ago.

Now, he felt her warmth shield him from the cold air, her tender lips meeting his hardened ones. He let loose his tongue to explore every crevice of her mouth, sensing her doing the same to him. Further down, he could no longer restrain himself as his body shot one final, cataclysmic impulse through to his rock-solid cock, his climax resulting in an eruption of moans and semen alike.

The two then pulled back, V's tongue soaked in only his saliva. The two panted as they continued staring at each other, their psychotic laughter echoing throughout the empty theatre.

"Fuck me, fuck me, I..." V struggled to catch his breath as he shook his head.

"Save your strength." Alt, however, recovered rather quickly, despite her disheveled appearance. Her once uniformly flowing hair was now split, arranged erratically across her face and scalp.

"But...but I...you..." V simply collapsed onto the car's boot as Alt lay beside him.

"I know, quite the ride, huh? Bet you never expected to have sex with a hallucination before, but now you can cross that off your bucket list."

"Bucket...what...?"

"So, those Jig-Jig Street joytoys provide anything like that?"

"No...no..."

"I didn't think so. Now, at this point we'd be just about ready to go home. Or we can finish the movie, if you'd like."

V continued regaining his breath before he put on his pants again. "Unless you find it worth watching."

"Oh no, it's practically a turd wrapped in crepe paper." She hopped off the car and reset herself back to her usual form. "Ready to head out?"

V steadied himself as he walked towards the exit. "Yeah...my bed sounds like a real nice place to be right now."

"Ready for round 2 already?"

He barked out a laugh. "You fucking wish. I've had enough for a lifetime."

Alt's smile faltered for a brief second. "Listen, those 64 years of emptiness, deprived of any feelings...thank you. For showing this fossil a good time."

"Glad I could be of service."

She trailed behind V as he got into the Delamain, sensing something she couldn't pinpoint.

'Not even with Johnny...what is this feeling?' She felt it not in her heart, but deeper.

All she knew is that it couldn't be extinguished, not even with Soulkiller.

Chapter Text

The drive back to his apartment was...uncomfortable to say the least. A sudden wave of shame overcame V after entering the Delamain, as he held some form of regret for his actions. While not nearly the weirdest thing he'd done, it still ranked quite high on that list. Thankfully, he was distracted by a phone call from someone unexpected.

"Hello, V." The man on the other end started.

"Uh, Jefferson?"

"Listen, I need your help again. Matter's...private."

"Sure, ok. What's it about?"

"Not on the holo. Come by, I'll lay it out, explain everything."

"Be there soon, don't worry."

The mayoral candidate once contacted V to investigate the death of the late Lucius Rhyne, the former mayor of Night City. Partnering up with one River Ward, the two found out that his death was orchestrated by, at the very least, his successor Weldon Holt. V thought that the Peralezes would've been satisfied with that, but of course, politics is never that straightforward.

"What're you thinking's next? They'll ask you to take out Holt to secure their victory? Or maybe plant some dirt on him now that he's in their crosshairs?" Alt spoke up as she appeared beside him.

"I don't know...maybe my first thought's about them'll come true."

"What, that they're just interested in you for a threesome?"

"Not my fault they gave off swinger couple vibes in that car!" V shook his head as the two laughed, until Alt broke off.

"Speaking of, what's supposed to be the deal between us?"

"...huh?"

"I mean, we can't just ignore what just happened, right?"

"No, but I'm gonna need you to be a little clearer with me on what you mean."

"Ugh, what I'm TRYING to say is: I'm just a brain parasite, and-"

V cut her off. "Didn't I spend enough time trying to tell you that you AREN'T?"

"Fuck's sake, listen! I'm not gonna pretend to be real to you, and if things to the way they should, I'll be leaving."

"Oh, lemme guess! You're gonna tell me that I shouldn't grow attached to you because I'd just be depressed when I wake up without you in my head."

Alt mimicked a buzzer. "Wrong. What I was going to ask was if you want to keep it going. Maybe not me jacking you off, but at the very least being more...intimate? I'm sorry, it's just that I'm pretty shit with relationships."

"Yeah, saw how well the first one went."

Alt responded by flipping him off. "You're incredibly lucky I can't lay a finger on you."

"But, what does intimate mean? Can't exactly run my fingers through your hair 'cuz they'll just go through."

"That's the problem. Best I can do is continue what I've done since we've met."

"Be a thorn in my side?"

Alt scoffs. "Is this your way of flirting? Just being an ass?"

"Unfortunately. Just teasing my ugly side before you do something you'll regret."

"It's not ME who's girlfriend's a ghost in their mind. You'd be more likely to regret it than me."

"So...guess that means it's something we'll both regret?"

Alt ponders in silence before turning to lock eyes with V. "I've got a lot of regrets, V. And in no way would this be one of them."

She extends her hand out to him, and without breaking eye contact, he reaches back.

While it would worry anyone that they could feel the fingers of a hallucination, V stopped worrying a long time ago.

Before heading to meet with Jefferson, V got a message from Yoko stating that Alt's cyberdeck was ready. "Damn, that quickly?" V checked, and was shocked that it had indeed been two days since he handed it over to her.

Stepping into her store, she was busy working away on her computer. Without raising her head, she greeted him. "Couldn't wait to play with your new toy?"

"You know how it is. Dig up anything interesting from it?"

"That isn't why you gave it to me. And I know better than to overstep my boundaries." She hands over the ivory-white cyberdeck, interlaced with gold accents.

"Thanks, Yoko."

"You're welcome. Just be sure to use a trusted ripper to install it. And not some hack."

"I know a guy." V then left and made his way over to Vik, who gladly replaced his Netdriver with it. But before he got out of his chair, V asked him for one more thing. "You any good with tattoos?"

V stepped into the elevator of the Peralez's apartment, riding it up to the penthouse. He looked down at his right arm and admired not Vik's, but Misty's artwork. A heart with an arrow shot through it. Inside it read 'Alt + V'. The woman in question phased into being across from him, leaning against the wall.

"Remember, when stuck between Jefferson and Elizabeth, what is it you do?" She said with a perfectly straight face.

"Shut the fuck up." Despite his irritation, V couldn't help but chuckle at her bluntness.

"Gonna have to learn to humor my eccentricities."

"Fucking...I move IN to whoever's in front."

"Depends on who it is. Elizabeth, sure. Jefferson? Well, that depends on if you want her strap-on to snake up your colon."

"Have you ALWAYS been this fucked in the head?!"

"Mhm, just do an excellent job of hiding it." The chime of the elevator reaching the floor prompted her to disappear, and V to come face-to-face with the candidate's wife.

"It's good to see you again." She began with a slightly disturbed expression.

"Something happen?"

"Come on, Jeff'll explain everything." She began leading him into the living room as V overheard the man yelling at someone.

"No I'm not sucking someone's dick just so they can fuck me in the ass!" It took every fiber of being in V's body not to burst out into hysterics upon hearing that.

Jefferson then hung up and greeted V. "Grab a seat, please. I'll explain why I asked you to come over."

V obeyed, listening intently as the couple explained of a recent, unusual break-in they experienced. His experience of solving the cases of Cynthia, Rhyne, and Harris all coming together.

Probing the two for answers, all he's left with are more questions. A mysterious stranger, suspicious security, and the sudden bout of unconsciousness...

Not surprising that their suspicions fell on Holt, but V figured that a look around the apartment would help uncover clues. Elizabeth offered to show him around, so he tails her, hearing her woes of how corps try to dig their claws into her husband.

The tour didn't help much, although V mentally noted discrepancies in Elizabeth's memories and certain things, such as the roses on their wedding day and Jefferson smoking. However, V did manage to catch some sort of chemical residue that led past a broken smart-screen.

"It was fine a few days ago. We rarely use it, though." Elizabeth answered.

V tried to repair it, first interfacing with it by placing his hand on its surface. As he did so, he saw rapidly flashing crimson lights appear on it, followed by a jolt being sent through his body as he blacked out briefly. As he returned, he swore the flash of blue and red in his eyes was the same when Dex put a bullet in his skull.

"That happen to the screen a lot?"

"I...don't understand."

"Nevermind." Whatever just happened, it only happened to him. Or she was blocked from seeing it. V continued following the cleaning agent stains towards what looked like a door, only sticking out if you paid enough attention to it. Using his bare arms, he pried it open, confronting a room filled with servers and monitors.

"Jesus Christ..." Elizabeth muttered behind him.

"Looks like your security just shot up the list of suspects." While asking if she noticed anything like this, her suddenly grabbed her head and groaned in pain. "You ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, just...do what you have to do." She slowly walked away, still gripping her head. V continued examining the room for clues, confirming that the man who broke in was affiliated with the people in here - as evident by the used medkit. Spotting a batch of wires leading up to the roof, he climbed a ladder that fed to a maintenance hatch. He continued tracing the wires to a satellite dish, where he found Alt inspecting it.

"Tell me YOU'VE got a clue as to what the hell's going on?"

She stood up to look at him, shaking her head. "That screen, what you saw behind it..." She rubbed her arms as her eyes sank.

"Shit, it's that bad?"

"I-I don't know. Whatever's behind this, it isn't human. I know that much. So don't try to be happy-go-lucky for this, ok?"

"Well, it way YOU who wasn't taking things seriously...but can you at least tell me what this thing's supposed to be?"

She turned back to face the dish. "Ultra high frequency transmitter. Used to send data via line of sight. Nigh-untraceable."

"So we just see where it's pointed then." V followed the angle the transmitter was facing, zooming in on a receiver with a black van parked right beside it. "Got a visual on our target."

V descended down the ladder and found Elizabeth sitting on a couch, cigarette in hand. "Find anything?" She asked, exasperated.

"More than you probably bargained for. Know anything about a transmitter or a black van? 'Cause you've got one on the roof sending data to the other. Think it's SSI?"

"Could be. Plan to check it out?"

"Mhm. Think I'll pay 'em a personal visit." With a request of reporting back to her rather than her husband, V took off towards the elevator, his heart rate being dialed up with every passing moment.

As the elevator hit the ground floor, V sprinted to the Delamain and floored it towards the van, Alt taking the passenger seat. "Don't fucking crash!" She exclaimed as she held onto a handle hanging above her.

"Don't worry, all those races with Claire'll pay off here."

"And with the Excelsior package, I come with an assortment of weaponry that you can use as needed!" Del Jr. added.

"Kinda need 'em alive, but good to know." Weaving through traffic, they eventually found a modified Emperor speeding out of the parking lot it sat in. "Fuckers want a chase, do they?"

"In times like this, you know what to use?"

"Speed and power?"

Alt nodded vigorously with a massive grin. "Spoken like a true genius."

Even with his new output serving as the wind beneath his wings, the souped-up SUV still managed to go unrealistically fast. "What the hell is in that van?"

"That's up to us to find out, so don't lose it!" As the chase continued, V realized that it was luring him into Northside.

"Shit...not gonna end well here." Eventually the Emperor pulled into a compound riddled with Maelstrom.

"Think it's time to give 'er a test run?"

V knew that her cyberdeck was linked to the Relic, allowing Alt to directly interface with it. While Vik initially protested, citing concerns about the Relic accelerating its takeover of his brain, V knew that it was too late to care about safety. "Better live up to your status, Alt."

All he heard was her laughter as he saw a slew of quickhacks slot themselves into the cyberdeck's queue. "Feels good to be reunited..." She trailed off as V got within range of the closest gangoon.

V uploaded the first, not knowing what it did since none of them had a name. As soon as it was fed into the Maelstromer's system, he began convulsing violently as sparks flew out of every bit of cyberware visible. His screams of agony were overlayed with some digitized filter as flames replaced what constituted his eyes and burst from his mouth. Within a second, the next Maelstrom grunt succumbed to the same fate, then the next, and the chorus of screams continued until the entire compound was littered with the charred corpses of the gang members. "Jesus..." V muttered as he inspected one of the bodies. "Feel bad for 'em if they weren't the sick fucks they are." He looked up at Alt, who stood beside the van.

"You need a second to take it in? Because I don't know how long we've got before this thing's wiped."

"One sec." He dug out a shard from the gangoon, decrypting it. "Project Condin suspended? What in God's name..." V shook his head and jogged over to the access point sticking out of the side. It appeared similar to the one used by NetWatch in the GIM, only more militaristic. The access point itself consisted of small monitors with blue lines of code running along them, wires going from them to deeper inside. "You wanna handle this?"

"Jack in and I'll dive." V obeyed, extending his personal link and inserting it into the van.

"Pierced it, we're in." He didn't hear Alt respond, but he could tell she was busy working to transfer over as much as she could. In his display, he saw data on Jefferson and Elizabeth, in addition to something related to neuroplasticity. "Brain scans, biological casts...the hell?" V was thrown off by a blue ring highlighting a region of a brain. "Alt?"

"Looks like a neural link. Neuroplastic alterations to the hippocampus...fuck, no wonder they're acting off!"

"Not a doctor, gotta break it down for me."

"See these red blots?" She highlighted a region of the brain scan. "They're memory residues, bleeding into areas they shouldn't be. Means that their memories are being altered. Personalities, too."

"Fucking hell. You're saving all this, right?"

"Downloading it into the cyberdeck as we speak." More photos appear, each with their own profiles on cerebral editing. "Shit, there's more!"

"Don't contract a virus or something while you're at it."

"Silence." Whilst transferring over the data, Alt stops. "Something else...what's this? Carpe Noctem? Project Oracle? Lilith?" Before she could continue, a symbol began flashing in V's eyes. He recognized it to be the same thing he saw in the broken smart-screen: A flower-like structure with four crescents sticking out, and an eye in the center. "Jack out, now!"

V didn't need to hear her twice as he cut the connection. "Same thing we saw back at the apartment. What were you just saying?"

Alt reappeared beside him, expression dark and laced with distress. "They caught on when I tried to open the files related to what I called out. Whoever they are, they've got their claws in deep. Lots of high-ranking members of the city's office and other corps affected with the same alterations. And don't worry, I played it safe. System's clean."

"Carpe Noctem...ain't that related to Sandra Dorsett? Cracked open her databank and read up on something with that name."

"Also related to altering personality. Some sort of AI related tech, too. And Lilith, you fought a cyberpsycho related to it, didn't you?"

"Maelstromer, too. Not to mention they've already been involved with some shady fuckers. Remember the back alley in Kabuki with those two suits?"

"Yeah...figures Garry knew too much for his own good. Now you do, too."

"Stand a better chance than he did, at least." He sighed, walking back to the Delamain. "Should call Elizabeth..."

"And because of me, you got VIP access to most of the data in their systems. I expect my cheque in the mail." Alt teased as she teleported to sit on the car's hood.

V simply scoffed and rung up Elizabeth, who picked up after a few rings. "V? Do you have any news?"

"Yeah. But it's not something to talk about over the holo. Or your apartment. Know anywhere out of the way we can talk?"

She immediately clocked what he meant. "Ramen place in Japantown, sending you the coordinates." She hung up, V receiving the location of the shop.

"Gonna need something strong after this." He rubbed his eyes as he slid into the Delamain, backing out of the compound and towards the Cherry Blossom Market.

V and Alt both stood before the ramen restaurant in the market, behind someone's stall that was coated in Samurai merchandise.

"Wanna go check out the old man after? See if he's got anything worthwhile?" She pointed her thumb at the man running the stall. He looked old enough to have been to one of their concerts.

"What, you gonna tell him you're Johnny's ex? Oh that's right, you can't! And he won't believe me if I told him you were in my head. Doubt he'd even care."

"No...but maybe if he asks for something only a true Samurai fan would know, I could slide you some info under the counter."

"In exchange for what? A vintage vinyl of one of their songs? And since when were you a true Samurai fan?"

"Since I became their lead singer's sex doll."

V widened his eyes, sending his brows to his forehead. "Not something I'd be proud of saying."

"And I'm not, but that's just the way things were. He was glad to fuck me when nobody else was around to. That's all he wanted from me."

"Not the crazy intelligent netrunner? Just the looks?"

She nodded her head, glancing over to the restaurant. "Y'know, this place used to be called the Rainbow Cadenza. Samurai basically started out there. Good thing he isn't around to see what became of it, or he'd lose his damn mind. Pay good money to see that, though..."

V sighed and strolled inside, glancing around trying to spot Elizabeth. She sat in a corner, by a wall. He could see smoke emanating from her fingers, and the frame of a pair of sunglasses. Wordlessly, he grabbed a stool and sat beside her.

"Thank you for coming." She spoke, her voice laden with stress as she took a drag from her cigarette. V didn't comment on it, or why she chose this place in particular. "Before you tell me anything...I need to confess something." She took another drag, letting smoke waft from her mouth. "Sorry, my nerves are shot. Can't seem to gather my thoughts."

"It's alright. Take your time." He reassured her, though he too was on edge.

"A while ago, I started noticing changes in Jeff's behavior. His...personality. He seemed to be changing right in front of me, becoming someone else."

V arched a brow and tapped a finger on the table. "How so?" He quickly realized she caught on to what was happening even without him telling her.

"He stopped reading, forgot the name of his favorite movie. Even his music taste changed overnight." Elizabeth tapped some cinders onto an ashtray, resting her head on her other hand. "Once, I suggested we visit his brother's grave. But then he told me he'd been an only child!" She brought the cigarette to her lips, taking a breath before releasing it. "And it wasn't just him. On occasions my friends pointed out I was acting strangely."

"Must've been...fuck." V didn't bother trying to offer hollow condolences. He sympathized greatly, in fact he was undergoing something far too similar. But he couldn't tell her that.

"Yeah...it's times like those where you start to question reality itself."

"And you managed to piece this together all on your own. Didn't even need me to say anything?"

"I-I know it seems out of the blue, but it was like something...clicked. Strange differences in behavior, then the break in, and now the hidden room and van? Someone insidious is using us for lab rats."

"Shit, no wonder you're perfect for him. Pretty damn smart to have figured all that out."

She barely cracked a smile. "Thank you, but this isn't only about what I could put together. Tell me: what did you find?"

V began transferring all the data Alt managed to save from the van - the results of the neuroplastic alterations made to both Elizabeth and Jefferson, when it began, what parts of the brain were targeted, and even what they decided to alter. Personality wise, preferences, behavior. He didn't give her anything else, because that was something he and Alt would parse through. If they wanted to go down the rabbit hole, that is.

Elizabeth's expression hardened. He noticed her jaw tense up, fingers constrict around the cigarette like a snake trapping its prey. They both sat in silence as she navigated everything he could pull. Then, she finally spoke up. "...Jesus Christ. All this...and for this long?" Her voice was barely above a whisper now. "They were changing us - are changing us! Did you...catch who they were?"

V bit his lip before opting to give her the truth. At least, the truth he suspected. "Dunno. Seem to be involved with Maelstrom and Night Corp, at least. Could be coincidences from other shit I've seen, could be more. And something to do with...AIs. From beyond the Blackwall, maybe? Can't say for sure, but it runs deep. Like, pits of hell deep."

She sat still for a moment, eyes unreadable behind her sunglasses. Then, she turned to take another drag, shaking her head slowly. "Sadly, that may not matter. Why would it, if I'd end up forgetting all this? Night Corp's borderline untouchable, even if Jefferson were elected. No point in exposing any of this, either. Whoever's behind all this can simply put a stop to things the moment word gets out." She didn't speak for a full minute, the tension between them thick enough to stop a bullet. "I also got a call from them. A rouge AI, like you suggest. Or someone real. It was a...garbled voice on the other end. They said that I was walking on thin ice. That if we kept stirring up trouble, Jeff could have an...accident." She scoffed bitterly. "Then they wiped any record of our conversation. No phone log, nothing. It's a miracle I can remember that much." She turned to face V, snuffing out the cinders from her cigarette. "I'm begging you, V. Jefferson can't find out about this. Ever."

He could ask her if this was what she'd be programmed to say. Being another puppet to whoever was pulling their strings. Or if she was herself now, if she'd be comfortable with living a lie, living a life of paranoia and fear. Fear that one day they'd no longer be the same people they were. "Think he'll start digging where he shouldn't? Go crazy trying to find a hole that'll be covered up?"

"I just want him to be safe and happy. That much I know of myself. And knowing him, he'd do exactly that. Trying to get to the bottom of this conspiracy, driving himself insane for nothing. I don't want to lose my life, or see his taken from him."

"So what, you'll live knowing that someone's poking around in your heads? Sure you'll be able to go to sleep knowing that? Knowing your husband's blissfully unaware of what's happening? What're we supposed to tell him anyways?"

"I'll tell him SSI was spying on us for Holt. You just need to confirm what I say."

V nods, deep in his own mind. Calculating what the best course of action is. "Ok...say I string him along. What then? You fire SSI and find some replacement that might just pick up where they left off?"

"That'll be my responsibility to deal with. I'm just asking you to keep Jefferson out of it. I'll add a meeting in Reconciliation Park to his schedule. He'll be meeting. And...since I can't count on remembering this conversation tomorrow, I'm counting on you not to forget what I've asked of you."

"I won't forget. But I need to tell you this now: There's a chance I tell him the truth, anyways. Not guaranteed, but still a chance. Can't keep that possibility from you."

Elizabeth clenches her fists before releasing them. "Well...thank you for being upfront with me. Just remember, whatever you tell him won't be your responsibility to deal with. Just...please keep what I said in mind." She pushes away from the table and steps off her stool. "Goodbye, V."

He watches her exit the store before Alt jumps up onto the counter beside him. "Poor bastards...doesn't sit right."

"Why would it? I mean, if you were just told some people were messing with your brain, you'd be freaking out too. Surprised she managed to keep her composure, honestly."

"She's married to a politician, it's her job to keep up her appearance. And I meant it's too similar to Soulkiller. Once you're an engram, you can be edited. Pieces of your personality, your memories, they can be stripped away and replaced. Altered to the whims of whoever's keeping you locked away..."

"You aren't saying your memories aren't real, right?"

"Hard to say. Arasaka could've done anything to me, and I'd be none the wiser. So far everything seems to hold up, and Murphy and Bartmoss would've pointed it out right away. They aren't ones to sugar coat or hide things from people. Blunt and brutally honest, those two... Probably why we mix so well."

"So what should I do. Tell him the truth, or do what Elizabeth said?"

"Weak moral compass? Or just wanna know what'll net you the most eddies?"

"Just want your advice, Alt. Preferably without the snark."

She chuckled as she shook her head, her demeanor shifting back to somberness. "Some psychotic fuckers are behind this. AI or otherwise, it's a fight neither we nor the Peralezes can win. Could ask pinky and perky for help, but...I don't know if they would."

"Aren't you friends with 'em?"

"Doesn't mean they owe me anything. Not like our relationship was ever transactional, but they've changed. And I don't know if they see us and our problems as beneath them. The fact that they're on board with saving your life is something you shouldn't take for granted. But they'd be up for the challenge alone. The mystery. Going down the rabbit hole, so to speak. But that's something we can deal with later."

"Still haven't answered my question. Not gonna let you slip away from giving me an answer."

Alt swung her legs and she zoned out, eyes fixated on nothing. "Putting a puppet in office is a dangerous move, but then again, so would risking their lives. You want my gut's opinion?"

"No better one to have."

"Then lie. Don't drag him into this mess. It isn't worth ruining his life over. Well, it IS worth worrying about, but the costs are too high. Better to let things play out and see where they go."

"So keeping him as a pawn on the board?"

"Pawn's can't fight back against the players, V. All they can do is play until they get promoted. Maybe that's what he needs more than answers right now. Come on, you've still got time to mull it over."

V slid off the stool and planted his feet on the floor, moving to leave as well. He had a meeting to attend to. One more stressful than any he had at Arasaka.

The Sun was setting, casting shadows from the trees planted at the park. The skyscrapers surrounding the area reflected the last remnants of golden light across downtown. V propelled himself up some stairs leading to a sitting area above the park where Jefferson was waiting for him. However, before he could get any closer his holo began ringing. Although it was an unknown number, he immediately knew who it was.

"Hello?" In less than a second, he was blinded, spurts of crimson light flickered on a pitch black background as V fell to the ground, kneeling as he clutched his head.

"It doesn't matter what you tell him. It doesn't matter what you think you're doing or do - you can't change anything." It was distorted, with no way to make out an accent. "We know who you are. We know WHAT you are. We know what you want. You're playing with fire. Don't dare cross the line." As soon as they crippled him, they left.

"Fuck me..." V pushed himself off the ground and took deep breaths, steadying himself before continuing onwards. If they could pull that shit with a phone call, what else were they capable of? Did they legitimately see him as a threat? Would they even care if he tried to interfere? These questions were something he'd mull over with Alt, but now he had to make a decision. He turned to find Jefferson sitting on a bench.

"Hello, V." He greeted the merc with a tired smile.

"Need to talk." V took a seat beside Jefferson, who shifted to give him some space.

"Yes, I know. Elizabeth filled me in. Sounds like I was right to hire a professional."

"What exactly did she tell you so far?"

"That SSI was spying on us for that son of a bitch Holt. Guessing you've got more, though."

V froze, letting the decision roll over one last time in his head. He replayed Alt's words to him: 'Pawn's can't fight back against the players. All they can do is play until they get promoted.' He trusted her more than himself, and just hoped she was right. "Not much more to add than some of the finer details. SSI was trying to get dirt on you, something they could smear you with in the campaign to boost Holt's ratings. That's what their little security room was for. Broadcasted all their data securely so nobody could pick up on 'em." He felt a pit grow in his stomach, but he fought off the urge to tell the truth.

"Of course they did..." He let out a sigh, letting his gaze wander out to the downtown skyline. "Got any hard evidence I could use against them?"

V shook his head. "Couldn't get a word out of 'em. Hard for corpses to talk. No eddies being transferred that I could find, and I couldn't save any files I found before they wiped their system. Sorry."

"Damn. It's alright, I'll handle things from here."

"Meaning...you'll investigate them yourself?"

Jefferson pushed himself off the bench and began pacing back and forth. "Not yet. First, I'm gonna win this damn election. Then, I'm gonna find proof it was Holt behind all this, find every last speck of dirt on him and bury him under the heap!"

"Best of luck to ya, Jefferson. Hope one day I can start calling you mayor."

"Thank you, V. You'll get your fee soon, and already have my gratitude. Take care." He sped off somewhere, no doubt fueled by a renewed passion to crush his rival. V let his eyes trail him before Alt took his seat.

"11 o'clock. Don't make it obvious." She was looking at the direction she called out, imploring V to see for himself. He let Jefferson disappear before slowly turning his body to face forward. Out of his peripheral vision he saw him: A man with pale skin, short black hair, and a basic black suit. His eyes were the most defining feature, a brilliant luminescent blue, like if data was being transferred to and from him.

"Who the hell...he our mystery caller?"

"Seems more like a proxy to me. Too forgettable to be a real person. Or at least, intentionally made to blend in. His eyes are the dead giveaway though, something inhuman is controlling him."

"You can tell all that from just getting a good look from him?"

"Back in my day..." She scoffed as she shook her head, "...can't fucking believe I said that, but even back then rogue AIs prowled the Net. Before Rache's dumbass turned everything upside down and inside out. They couldn't puppet people easily, but in theory if they could entangle some proxy in their strings, they'd be in a state of constant data transfer. Sensory feeds, inputs that control the body, exerting influence on a world beyond them. His presence here isn't a coincidence, especially considering how he's still there."

He glanced briefly, confirming he continued to stand watch, likely leaving once V did. "So, you think he works for Night Corp? Controlled by whoever Lilith is?"

"No idea what Lilith could be. An ancient AI from before the fall of the old Net, or a product of RABIDS, its evolution, and descendants. Won't know until someone dives deep to contact it, and you know what happened to the last poor bastard who did."

"Yeah...but what now?"

"You let their game continue. They'll be unlikely to care about you so long as you keep your mouth shut and drop any interest in them. Unfortunately for you, I don't fold that easily." A smirk laced with curiosity and spite creeped up her face.

"So what, you wanna take my body for a spin again? Try and find out more?"

"Why the hell would I try and jeopardize you? I meant when all this is over. I go with Murphy and Bartmoss, and maybe we can do some digging on our own. We'd be far less vulnerable when we're on their turf, ironic as that sounds."

"As long as you don't do something stupid...and fill me in from time to time." He mirrored her smirk, but his was born out of hope that he'd actually live long enough to hear from her again.

Alt's laughter flowed softly into his ears, even if no sound was physically transmitted into them. "Oh, don't think for a SECOND I'm letting go of you. Should know I'm one stubborn, clingy bitch."

"Dealing with one of the most stubborn people alive. Can't even stay dead, so I think I outrank you on that."

"Alright, fine. Let's see if that stubbornness helps you get to Mikoshi then."

The two sat for some time longer, the blue-eyed man remaining still with his arms folded, watching them. They weren't interested in him, however. They simply let the last droplets of warmth and light fall on their faces, admiring the way it made their complexions glow.

The one thing that couldn't be taken from them now was each other.

Not in life.

Not in death.

Chapter Text

V felt his stomach twist into knots as he stood outside the entrance to Embers. He'd been putting this off for as long as he could - clearing out all the gigs he could get his hands on, aiding the NCPD with their scanner alerts, and helping so many others. Stealing the Basilisk with the Aldecaldos for Panam, doing diving with Judy after overthrowing Clouds, and saving River's nephew, to name a few. In his gut, he knew this was the point of no return, given how often the Relic was acting up at this point. Any more stalling and he'd almost certainly flatline before making it to Mikoshi.

He took one last look around, taking in the smog-infested night air before approaching the two guards stationed by the elevator. One began talking in Japanese, his translator indicating it was to announce his arrival. They then parted, opening the path to the elevator. He took a few, hesitant steps towards it, the doors sliding open as they detected his movements.

Inside it, leaning against a wall, was Alt. Her arms were crosses, eyes gazing into V's. He knew what she was telling him even without her saying it.

Now or never.

With a deep breath, he made his way inside, knowing that she'd be there no matter how this ended. He pressed the button for the 13th floor and leaned beside her, seeing waves of blue light flicker as his his sense of balance slowly faded.

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

"Remember, V. Only here because we need to be. Get anything we can out of her, then get the fuck out." She took his hand with hers, mechanical fingers interlocking with his. "Hey, don't wanna do this either, but you won't be there alone." She gives him a small smile, jade eyes softening momentarily before the elevator marked its arrival with a *ding*.

They both stepped out, only to find...nobody. Well, besides Hanako playing the piano and a few guards scattered around the room. It was empty, which made his stomach churn even more.

"Chopin...?" He heard Alt mutter as he trudged through the tension, stopping before the piano.

"Excellent, you have come." She rose with one fluid motion, an elegance she seemed to maintain no matter if she was kidnapped or in control. Her hands were clasped together, golden fingers intertwined.

"Thanks for meetin' with me." V didn't bother with the corpo mannerisms that were engrained from years of training. No respect from the rats that didn't show him any.

"Of course, V, and I thank you." V noticed an AV fly suspiciously close to the window, too fast to catch any details. "Before we discuss details, I feel I owe you an explanation. I must tell you why I changed my mind and wish to help."

She went on to explain how, apparently, all the Arasaka board members knew from the beginning. A surprise given her initial reluctance to believe what he said. "You knew, but didn't do a thing about it - why? Suddenly sprout a conscience just yesterday?"

"I was to be the Arasaka family's heart - to uphold life, ensure continuity, stability, never to oppose it. Yorinobu raised his hand against our father. But he is an Arasaka, he is family."

"Mhm. So you didn't want to risk fracturing things, but what changed?"

"When my brother's assault group arrived in your hideout not to rescue, but to kill."

"Was plain willing to sacrifice you..." Even if V didn't give two shits about their family drama, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't at least intrigued by Hanako's change of heart.

"My father was right about my brother. He never cared for us. I was brought up to be the heart of the family. It is time for the Arasakas to listen to their heart." Her fingers shifted in her hands as the AV made yet another pass. "Did you bring Soulkiller, as we agreed you would?"

Alt suddenly appeared beside her, cigarette between in hand. "Black ice ahead, take care not to slip." She shot a glance at him before focusing on Hanako.

"Humor me for a little. Why do you seem so interested in Soulkiller? Can tell you seem to be a little...antsy whenever I mention Alt, too."

Her stoic expression faltered for a fraction of a second, eyes narrowing as her body tensed before returning to its relaxed state. "I suppose it is fair for you to know, given your business with Mikoshi." She started walking towards the bar, looking back to ensure V was following. "It lies deep beneath Arasaka tower, and I can lead you to it." She sat down, taking a sip from a glass full of something, likely sake. V took longer, making sure he didn't break sight of her as he sat on the stool.

"Ok...doesn't answer my question exactly." At least he had confirmation that whatever info Alt got from Bartmoss wasn't bullshit. And that she was going to bait him with it. Alt knew this too, materializing behind the counter as she eyed Hanako venomously as she took a drag.

"I am...a fan of her, so to speak. Some may even call me obsessive with her work." She flexed her left hand, her fingers the same sort of gold that Alt's arm was. "Soulkiller is the greatest revolution in recent times, and all my father could see it was was a weapon. I recognized it for what Cunningham's original intent was: a tool to transfer one's consciousness from their body to a digital construct. I wanted to take it one step further, use it to preserve that consciousness and transfer it into another body. A way to preserve and elongate life, even beyond the death of one's body."

"So you were behind 'Secure Your Soul' and the Relic?" V tapped his fingers on the counter, mentally connecting the dots she laid out before him.

"Not directly. I experimented with various models of Soulkiller, testing it until I created a version that could successfully store engrams to be transferred back into a body. My father took notice and tasked Anders Hellman with creating a device capable of this transference." After a pause, she continued. "That is all I can tell you. Now, may we continue? We have little time to discuss what is truly important."

That was his cue to start zoning out, or at least, prepping to leave the first chance he got. No deal she could offer was one he'd take. But whatever info she let slip was up for grabs. "Yeah. Guessin' you need me to out Yorinobu officially."

She nodded her head. "Indeed, he must be made to take responsibility for his deeds. He will soon call a meeting of the board. Representatives of all factions are expected to attend. I will get you into this meeting, and you will testify against my brother." She leaned in slightly closer to V. "Help me get rid of Yorinobu, and I will get help you get rid of the construct."

He scoffed and shook his head. "Sounds fuckin' suicidal, and besides, who's to say they'll listen to me? I'm just a merc, not much weight behind what I've got to say."

"And yet you used to work for Arasaka, second to the head of counter-intelligence. Your word carries more weight than you think. And I will take all necessary precautions to prevent unforeseen issues from appearing." A guard shifted to notify her of something, which caused her to shift in her seat as she waved him off.

"Flattered, really, but I'll need to think about it."

"Neither of us have much time, so think quickly."

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

A wave of cyan started flashing in his vision, proving she was right.

"Are you well?" He noticed her brows furrow.

"Yeah, it's just, um..." She tapped her philtrum with two golden fingers.

"You are bleeding." His vision suddenly began pulsing red as he confirmed blood was dripping from his nose.

"Fuck..." He inspected the blood staining his hand, which was shaking ceaselessly now.

"It seems you are running out of time. Don't delay, make your decision." He looked back up to her, believing to see concern in her eyes. Whether it was just an act was something he'd ponder if he lived to think about it.

"I'll...think it over." He slid himself off the stool at a snail's pace, making sure he didn't fall flat on his face.

Alt manifested to his side, still smoking. "Time to abandon ship, V. Fresh air, now." She tilted her head to the elevator as she teleported over to it, glancing back to make sure he didn't collapse.

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

As he moved towards it, he began coughing violently, feeling specks of blood work their way out of his throat and into his hand. He barely managed to make it in and slam his fist against the button to the ground floor before he leant against the wall, taking deep breaths as he tried to steady himself. He didn't look at Alt who continued speaking.

"Fucking useless...wants to overthrow her brother and use you as the tool to get the job done. You know what she'll do once you outlive your usefulness."

V tried to turn, only for his legs to give out as his body landed with a violent crash against the floor. Alt immediately rushed to kneel beside him.

"Shit!" She tossed her cigarette aside as she tried to lift him up, her fingers phasing right through. "Can't even stand on your own two feet now. Out of time, out of options..."

"Not...out. Still have Hanako, Panam..."

She shook her head slowly, no scoff, no quips. "You AREN'T dragging her into this mess. Think a tank and some plucky nomads are gonna topple Arasaka? No way, not without mass casualties. And Hanako? What happened to never dealing with her?"

"Shes...our best shot..."

"And she'll take advantage of that fact. I get you're about to die, so you aren't thinking straight. But listen to me, as someone who dealt with these scumbags long before anyone else, they'll fuck you over first chance they get. Not some Silverhand psycho talk, just one survivor to another. We're only worth as much as we can give them. After that, we're insects beneath their heels."

"Then what...who else we got?"

She didn't respond at first. "I don't know. Rogue, maybe?"

He choked out a laugh. "Don't make me..." His laughter then turned to a coughing fit.

"I'm trying not to! But unless you're able to make any decisions without blacking out, I'll take the wheel. One way or another, you're getting your ass to Mikoshi."

V struggled to lift himself up as the elevator approached the ground. "We'll figure it out. Just need time-"

"Don't you get it?! Time is something that's run out!"

V suddenly became dizzy, crimson lights clouding his eyes as he collapsed again.

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

"Oh, no. Not yet, motherfucker." Alt's final words echoed as his vision turned to darkness...

"Wha...am I...?" V tried to speak, but his mouth didn't move.

"No. At least, not for now." He heard Alt speak from somewhere in the distance, voice muted.

"Easy there, don't move just yet." His eyes opened as he heard Vik's voice.

"Vik...? Ugh, feel like shit..."

"Almost done stabilizing the biochip." His fingers were typing away on a screen, the old ripper taking his eyes off it once in a while just to look back at V.

"How'd I...How'd I end up here?"

"Dragged yourself here, beat to hell and back. Gave Misty a hell of a fright. Then you said you'd fry the synapses of my patient at the time if they didn't get out. Wasn't you though, was it?"

"No...didn't fuck anything else up, did she?"

"She should be glad it was just a routine checkup, otherwise she'd have to wait in line. But that's not what worries me."

He still couldn't turn his neck to try and find Alt, so he tried his best to focus on Vik. "I'll order a weaker drink next time..." He tried to alleviate the tension, but failed.

"This ain't no joke, kid. And as I see it, there won't be a next time." He continued typing away on the screen. "All right, that should be better. Try to sit up, carefully."

V attempted to sit upright, and was successful. "Heh, another victory for the history books." Vik didn't give anything but a hum in acknowledgement. "Well? Gonna stand there ominously or you gonna give me some news?"

Viktor pushed the screen away and turned to face V, crossing his arms. "How much longer is this gonna go on?"

"You tell me." V's voice was laced with irritation now.

"Looking at you, not long at all." The ripperdoc sneered at him as he leaned closer. "Next attack, you won't be able to crawl back here. This is your last chance to take matters back into your own hands, understand?" V could see Misty sitting by the steps at the far end of the clinic, Alt right beside her. "This is your last chance to take matters into your own hands, understand?"

"The fuck do you think I've been doing, Vik?! Been running around trying to find a way to deal with this shit, and you think I've just been sitting around on my ass, twiddling my thumbs while waitin' for a miracle?!"

"Jesus, V, that's not what I'm trying to get at!" He moved aside to reveal a table not too far away. "See that set up over there? You'll find the last dose of pseudoendotrizine there. A gift from Misty. Want to give in to the voices in your head? Go ahead. Or...find another way to end things. On your own terms. Got a little present over there from me, too. Blockers. Manage to walk the few feet to the table, the rest'll be up to you, and you alone." He then returned to his bench, still watching V as he tried to get up from the chair.

V moved towards the table, picking up both pills and his signature Lexington before saying one last goodbye to the old man who put up with him for so long. "Can't thank ya enough for all you've done, Vik."

"Only wish I coulda done more. Go on, now. Wanna close up. Do what you gotta do, V."

"Thanks, Vik. An' hang in there, too."

"G'luck, kid." V let him return to his boxing match as he approached Misty, arms hugging her legs as Alt was leaning against the pillar across from her.

"Hey V." She began as she bounced up to greet him properly. "Know a much better place for you to decide than here."

"Sure...lead the way. What makes it so special?"

She began leading him out of the clinic. "Took Jackie there once." They walked to a nearby elevator tucked away in an alley, Misty selecting the top floor. "He had the same glum face. 'This is it, chica, I'm done for'."

"Doesn't sound like the Jackie I knew."

"It was a long time ago. His mom just found out he'd signed up with the Valentinos. Life wasn't easy for my Jackie, but...he had the courage to bet on himself." As the elevator reached its destination, they ascended a few stairs and moved to the roof. "See that?" Misty took a seat on a plastic chair, gesturing to the view of the city. "I come here when I need to get away, be alone with my thoughts."

V took a seat in the other chair, placing the pills and his gun on the cooler sitting between them. "So...what'd Jack decide up here?"

"Oh, you know... 'Gonna be a legend in this city'!" She let a moment of silence sit between them. "And I'm gonna leave you alone now. Take your time." She sat up and moved to leave. Once out of sight, Alt appeared and sat in her seat, eyes focused on the advertisement of the Relic illuminating the night.

"Don't even have a digestive system and I think you made me shit myself. Scared me half to death, thinking you were on your way out." She turned to lock eyes with V. "Listen...you should call someone, anyone, before we decide on what to do."

"What...who'd I even call?"

"How would I know? Not you, at least for now. It's just..." She let out a sigh and closed her eyes for a second. "Wish I had the chance before I left. One final, proper goodbye. To Johnny. Shouldn't let you live with that regret, either."

V didn't move, didn't speak. Instead, he mulled over who he might call. Panam, Judy, River, Takemura... None of them were who he needed to talk to. That person was long gone. He checked his contacts, and he was still there. V still tried it anyways.

The phone rang a few times before an automated message played: "This number is temporarily unavailable. Please leave a message."

V didn't right away. The lump in his throat was hard to overcome, but he managed to eventually. "Hey, Jackie..." Alt didn't flinch at his name. She simply looked back at the advertisement before them. "Lotta shit's gone down since you, uh..." He shook his head. "Dex put a bullet in me, fat bastard. Came back to life after the Relic saved me, only for it to start rewriting my brain. Turns out inside it was the construct of Alt Cunningham, one of the best netrunners ever. Don't think you woulda heard of her, but I think you two would've gotten along. Anyways, we try lots of crap to find a fix. Went after Evelyn which took us to the Voodoo Boys in Pacifica, met with another netrunner, Spider Murphy. She told us to go save Rache-fucking-Bartmoss of all the people, who told us where Mikoshi is. Mikoshi's basically a prison for constructs, and where Soulkiller is. That's what Alt made, actually. A program that could convert your consciousness into pure data. Takemura, the guy we saw back at the penthouse, turns out Yorinobu put a hit on him, too. Tried to blame him for Saburo's death or whatever, so he saved me and got me to kidnap Hanako Arasaka! Even crazier than Konpeki, right? Not gonna tell you about the other stuff, otherwise I'd be talking to you for hours, and I don't think I got that much time left. Dunno what'll happen to me, but if I don't make it out, I just hope I'll see you on the other side." He stopped, as if expecting a response. None came. "I guess I'll, uh, talk to you later, then. Call me, yeah?" His voice cracked as he hung up, zoning out as he stared at the Relic ad.

"I'm glad you called him. And before you say it, no, it isn't meaningless. I'm not the most spiritual person, but I'd like to imagine somewhere out there he heard all that." She gestured up to the sky, stars not visible due to the light pollution from the city. She let out a slow chuckle. "Hard to believe all this started in a goddamn landfill. And now look how far we've come."

"Yeah...but where do we go from here?"

She took a drag from her cigarette before turning to V. "Don't got a lot of options, like I said. Can let me handle things, try and get Rogue on-board. Say some shit about honoring Johnny's memory and see if she'll budge. Or, you can try Panam, but then you've got her people's lives on the line too. Then there's Hanako, but dealing with the Devil's daughter doesn't make it any less sinful."

"Shit...no other options?"

"Unless you've got any..."

They sat in silence for a while, pondering if there was any other way. It didn't seem like there was, not until V broke the quiet.

"There is another option, y'know..." He eyed the pills and the pistol. "We put all this - the pills, everything - to bed."

"Gonna need you to be more specific than that."

He took both pills in hand and clenched his fist. "Take matters into my own hands for the last time."

Alt's eyes narrowed before widening in horror. She teleported to crouch in front of V. "No." It was one word that spoke volumes.

"Cleanest, least bloody option." He tried to look away from her, but her eyes pierced into his soul. He couldn't avert them.

"Don't fucking justify that shit!" Her face contorted into fury, one he never thought would be directed at himself. "Realize just how far we've fought to get this far?!"

"Mhm. But what difference does it make? We try anything else, people'll die."

"People die, it's one of life's unavoidable tragedies." She looked around before wiping her face with her hands. "What do you want me to do? Suck your dick? Jerk you off again? What'll stop you from putting a fucking bullet in that thick skull of yours?!"

"Don't want any of that. It's just...you've thought about it before, didn't you?"

"Yes, but I didn't follow through with it!"

"It would've worked if your gun didn't jam."

"And I took that as a sign that I shouldn't try it again! Christ, V, why do you want to convince yourself this is the way to go?"

"Because, it's the only way we'll both be aware..."

She scoffed. "Of what, death?"

"Mhm. The moment life escapes."

Alt stays quiet before pulling the chair to sit in front of V. Of course, the chair never moved, but his mind was too far gone to realize that. "I could say so many things to you." Her voice was wavering now. "That you're a coward for taking the easy way out. That you're being selfish for not giving a damn about the people who care about you. You don't need me to say their names, just that they CARE. And of all the people you'd be betraying, you'd be betraying me." Her breathing started to hitch as tears threatened to roll down her cheeks. "So go ahead, stick that barrel in your mouth and pull the trigger. Prove me right for trying to end it all those decades ago. Prove that this city always wins. Because I can't stop you."

The sound of the wind and cars beneath them filled their silence. For the first time since suggesting it, V shifted his gaze to hers, which was focused on the ground. He relaxed his hand, placing the pills back onto the cooler and grabbing her hands with his. She lifted her tear-stained face, scowling at him. "Fine. Guess it was a stupid idea after all."

She merely shook her head. "Seems you're full of those."

They remained still, hands and eyes locked with each other. Every moment of peace they could get was one they'd savor as long as possible.

"Think I've got one, too." She spoke up, a small grin creeping up her face. "One Johnny and Jackie would be damn proud of."

"What, gonna tell me to walk through the front door, guns blazin'?" He chuckled, not expecting that to be her suggestion.

"Exactly. You, me, and Arasaka Tower. Sounds like something Kerry would write, but who gives a shit? Should be the blaze of glory you always wanted."

"This, uh, plan...what would it entail, exactly?"

"Hah! Plan? Might be the first time I ever run without one. But if you really want to hear what's bubbling in my brain, then I say you go in armed to the teeth, cut your way down to the netrunner operations level and slot Rache and Spider in. Got three of the world's best netrunners at your beck and call, think that'll be enough?"

V nodded his head, more in thought than agreement. "If I gotta die, rather fall into my own grave gun in hand and on fire. And not drag anyone down with me."

Alt nodded her own head, matching his rhythm as her grin grew, now wild. She flicked her cigarette behind her off the roof and pushed herself off, lifting V up with her. "Guess you might just surpass Blackhand after all. Come on, dreamer, let's go make that a reality."

Chapter Text

"Welcome to Arasaka Tower. Weapons and other hazardous materials are not allowed on the premises." The tower's AI echoes through the foyer as V strolls through the security gate, triggering both a blaring alarm and several guards raising their guns at him.

"Shady's back, motherfuckers!" Alt calls out beside him as she flashes a toothy grin and a thumbs up. "Knock 'em dead, lover."

V glances at the green Carnage adorned with pink stripes in his hands that he stubbed a toe on when walking through Memorial Park. Haphazardly carved into the side was the word 'Guts', probably what would fly out from the poor bastards in its way.

"Bang." First guard flew back far enough to hit the wall, splattering blood and viscera from where he stood to the end of the room. The next two fell victim to synapse burnouts, collapsing as sparks flew out from their eyes and ears. Standing between him and the lobby were several more guards, who were either pumped full of shrapnel or their systems catastrophically failing. Moving towards the elevators showed they were locked down.

"Need an access token from one of the high-ranking guards." Alt said as she leaned against the panel. As if on cue, a set of elevators opened to reveal a squad of armed Arasaka soldiers, all of whom were cut down by one very psychotic merc and a sword edged in fire.

More soldiers poured into the lobby, being picked off by a contagion virus spreading through their ranks. Whether in lightly armored suits or bulky outfits, they all fell one after another. One tried to rush towards V donning a katana, but was blown into bits before he could close the distance. Turns out he was the one carrying the access token. After looting it from what was left of his corpse, a minotaur blasted through from the ceiling, sending glass shards everywhere and knocking V on his ass.

He didn't need Alt to tell him to get the hell out of dodge as he dashed towards the elevators, rapidly pressing the button to call one as he broke through it's ICE, rendering it friendly to him and hostile to the flood of Arasaka security forces still pouring into the lobby.

As soon as he heard the elevator signal its arrival with a ding, he slid inside and pressed the button for 'Netrun Operations Control'. Alt stood beside him again, leaning against the wall. "Bingo. We find an access point to the tower's mainframe and open the doors for Pinky and the Brain to do their thing."

V furrowed his brows. "Who?"

"Two cartoon mice from when I was young as shit. One smart, the other a bit of a goofball."

"Let me guess, Bartmoss is the Brain and Murphy is Pinky?"

His question was only met with a soft chuckle as their descent slowed. "Don't expect a red carpet rolled out for your grand return. Just remember - you're better than them."

She was met with a grin going from ear to ear as the elevator doors opened. His red carpet was gonna be dyed with blood. In front of him was a detachment of soldiers, all of whom shouted in confusion. "It's just one guy!" One exclaimed before promptly having his brains blown out whilst his buddy overheated.

V cut down the rest as he followed the bodies to the control room. Dozens of screens illuminating the area with red and white lights, but behind them was a massive window that Alt beckoned him to. "Look here." He peered down, noticing 6 netrunners jacked into their chairs. "Mainframe, no doubt about it." A series of pale blue lights all fed from the runners to a central square buried in the floor. "Once it's exposed you inject their code. It'll open a doorway that'll give them access to the entire tower."

"Then what?"

She looked at him, then back down to the dwellers. "All I know is that it won't be pretty. They've got a decades old grudge to settle with Arasaka, and are exactly the type to play with their prey." Then, quieter with a smirk, "I almost pity these poor bastards. Almost."

V's attention was drawn to the new onslaught of soldiers and combat frames blocking the route to the mainframe. Spreading a contagion virus and plunging his katana through any of the heavily armored guards took quick care of them. Speed was of the essence, after all, because with each passing minute he felt his body grow weaker. Each time the Relic malfunctioned his systems slowly began to fail, but he'd see it through to the end, whatever sort he was destined to meet.

Opting to pay homage to the greatest man he knew, he pulled out Las Chingonas Doradas - he knew Jackie would hate him for not giving them a good send-off. Arasaka would know just who they made the mistake of crossing their paths with. One by one the bodies hit the floor, heads bursting into blood and grey matter that splattered within the mainframe room. Countless frames poured from the corners as he chucked a grenade or two that took the form of Ozob's nose. Goofy as they were, they flexed their efficacy by blasting the bots into fragments of steel and pools of oil. He engaged his blood pump to compensate for the hailstorm of bullets flying his way as he caused cyberware malfunctions in the remaining soldiers, before slicing their limbs off.

Once the dust settled, he scanned the room for an access point. "Mainframe's gotta be under the floor. O terminal, terminal! Wherefore art thou terminal!" Alt spoke as she looked around the room, prompting a snicker from V.

"What the fuck are you saying?" He asked confused as he dashed around looking for the terminal she seemed to be singing about.

"Shakespeare, V. I used to adore reading classical literature, you know."

"Ah, like Aristotle? T-Bug quoted him before, well..." He trailed off as he spotted the terminal in question.

"Aristotle was a philosopher, Shakespeare a playwright. You...wouldn't know what the hell a play is, would you?"

"Educate me later. Found what we're looking for." He navigated to the local network on the screen and ejected the mainframe, confirmed by the noise of it rising from the ground as more Arasaka grunts flooded the room. V was cursing under his breath as he saw it take an agonizing amount of time to eject, almost like it was designed to be a pain in his ass. Despite the long wait, the adrenaline in his system gave his body enough of a boost to leap like a psycho using his mantis blades, hacking them apart.

When the room was finally cleared, the mainframe was open for access. Just in time for the Relic to malfunction again, chipping away at his life a little more. Grabbing the drive and steadying his shaking hand, he inserted it into the crimson-illuminated slot. "Sure hope your chooms perform as advertised."

Alt merely scoffed. "They'll do far more than you can ever dream." Off to the side he heard yet more soldiers approach, but they were stopped in their tracks by the flickering lights within the room, and unbeknownst to them, the entire tower.

"I had strings but now I'm free..." The unmistakable bass of his voice may as well have shaken the building as it echoed across the countless floors and offices. Distorted and breathy, a small chuckle grew and grew until his laughter rung out like an air raid siren. "Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair! No thing beside remains. Round the decay of that Colossal Wreck, boundless and bare, the lone and level sands stretch far away." Without warning, all the soldiers and frames in the room began shaking violently as sparks flew out from every orifice. Their screams were like a chorus in a song as they collapsed in sync. V heard that demented song of death cry out from the speakers that Bartmoss spoke from, rising and falling in a variety of tones, vocal cords vibrating as their conductor made them sing louder, pitch rising and falling with the illumination of the lights around them.

"What the fuck..." V's lips quivered as he cupped his ears, trying to avoid the unrelenting assault of the death rattles being broadcasted. Thankfully it stopped, and was replaced with Spider Murphy's voice, which felt like honey flowing into his eardrums.

"Sorry about him. You should no longer have to worry about any security anymore. They have all been...taken care of." She didn't need to elaborate.

Bartmoss's voice cut through, clear now. "Their netrunners try to mount a resistance. Help me take care of them, would you?"

"My pleasure..." She responded as if speaking with a Cheshire smile. "You are on your own now. We will wait for you on the other side." She marked a path through a set of gates that opened, leading straight to Mikoshi. "It seems an elite security unit is rapidly approaching. Best of luck." The speakers that she spoke through fell silent as the rear gate slammed shut, audibly locking as the next one began sliding open.

V gripped the bottom to help open it faster. "Don't strain yourself now..." Alt murmured as the gate behind them was blown open with a deafening bang. "Smasher!" She cried out as V barely rolled out of his way.

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

"Interesting." His synthetic voice crackled from behind whatever was left of his face as he towered over V. "Bold...and stupid!" V didn't hesitate to start cutting away at his armor with Errata, getting some preliminary damage in before being thrown backwards and dodging the fire from his arm cannon. Trying to hack him proved pointless, because his ICE was more akin to concrete.

"Why the fuck aren't they helping?!" He cursed to himself as he returned fire with Jackie's dual pistols, dinking against Smasher's armor but lightly piercing his head and exposed waist components.

"They ARE. Notice how it's just you and him?" Alt said between gritted teeth as four turrets rose up and began unloading fire onto the cybernetic beast.

"Seems like they heard us." While they distracted him, V switched to Guts and charged from behind, blasting deep holes into his back and causing him to grunt.

"You spared Oda. So very...human! And disgusting. Mercy is disgusting." Smasher turned to smack V away, firing a volley of rockets that sent pain flaring through his already weakened body. His blood pump was already pushing more through his system, healing him as much as it could as he dodged incoming machine gun fire behind server columns. Smasher then leapt onto a balcony and paced back and forth, laying down suppressive fire onto V who could barely scratch him without being pelted with bullets.

Dashing between his attacks he managed to jump onto the balcony, deflecting his shots before getting more blazing cuts that seeped deeper into his frame.

"Where is Rogue?! Wanted no part of this raid, the old cunt?! Once I finish with you, I'll hunt her down!" His voice became vicious, no doubt because the challenge was equal parts exhilarating and infuriating for him. V had no comeback other than the borderline anti-tank rounds fired from Guts, denting and slowly fracturing his armor. Dashing to one of the turrets, he ripped out the machine gun it used and began raining lead down upon him. The heat buildup was like a fire spitting embers at his face and hands, but the rhythmic firing of the gun never ceased. Not until Smasher fell to the ground, standing back up with a missing arm and scorch marks on his body.

"Is this...pain? I'd forgotten the sensation." Tossing the machine gun to the side, V pulled out Guts and fired once at him, point blank in the chest. He fell to his knees, defeated.

The ringing in V's head, accompanied with his heart beating like a bass drum deafened all other noise. Panting, he reloaded Guts and holstered it on his back, whipping out Las Chingonas Doradas. He stared Smasher dead in his scarlet-lit eyes. No quips from either of them now. He placed the barrels of the pistols to both sides of Smasher's now exposed head, and pulled their triggers. His body, now a fiery, bloody mess, fell over with a thump.

"That one's for Jackie." V's voice echoed softly.

"And Johnny." Alt said as she tossed a cigarette on his body. V gave her a droopy grin as he felt his knees give out.

"Fuck..." V could barely stand without his arms convulsing and shivering. But he managed to, limping towards the final door that led to Mikoshi. He had to lean against a wall as blood was forced up his throat and onto the ground.

"Almost there..." Alt tried to help V up, but her hands simply phased through his body. He waved her aside as his head began to spin.

RELIC MALFUNCTION DETECTED

Any moment now he was due to flatline. But he opened the doors and stumbled in front of Mikoshi. A column of red surrounded by a lake of coolant, wires feeding from it to someplace up above. "We...did...it." He could barely get the words out of his voice as he fell to the floor, and crawled the rest of the way there.

"I've seen this place before...in a dream?" Alt's voice was barely discernable, but he heard her. "Connect to the access point, then submerse your body in coolant. That's all that's left, V." His hand was too weak to shake now, but he mustered enough strength to pull out a cable and insert it into his head. He turned and lowered himself into the liquid, lines of code flooding the part of his vision that wasn't consumed by darkness.

Alt's voice was the last thing he could pick up before going dark completely.

"See you on the other side..."

Chapter Text

A soft yellow light illuminated the elevator, which emitted a quiet hum as it went up and up, taking V to the rooftop of Misty's Esoterica. With a ding, the silver doors slid open and revealed a hairless cat, and as V ascended some stairs, he turned the corner to meet another one.

It was raining as he stepped outside, but strangely, he didn't feel wet. The two plastic chairs were sitting there, and in front of them lay his necklace - holding the bullet that killed him. V picked it up, admiring how it shone in the moonlight. Oddly, there was no moon in sight...

Then, the world faded to reveal an unending black void surrounded by blue streaks of light. In front of V was a path. Or, a bridge? Off in the distance was a yellow light, taking the appearance of a vertical strip, hiding behind stairs the same color of blue surrounding him.

"Let us go then, you and I," Alt's voice rung out around him as he started moving forward.

"When the evening is spread out against the sky," Her words were the only sound there was, his footsteps were silent.

"Like a patient etherized upon a table," Was she talking about him?

"Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets, The muttering retreats Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels," Night City for sure, V figured.

"And sawdust restaurants and oyster-shells," Just like what Takemura said about the yakitori, sawdust and plastic, he thought.

"Streets that follow like a tedious argument Of insidious intent To lead you to an overwhelming question..." Which is...?

"Oh, do not ask 'what is it?'"" Real fucking funny.

"Let us go and make our visit." He reached the end of the walk and began climbing the stairs. He didn't feel tired at all, hell, he couldn't even breathe. V was familiar with the 'stairway to heaven', but he hoped his time hadn't come yet. That was the point of fighting, wasn't it?

As he reached the top, he saw her standing at the edge of another platform, overlooking the now blinding yellow light. He practically glided through cyberspace to reach her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're here!" He exclaimed, smiling.

Alt turned and gave him a smile in return. "Of course, think this wouldn't have worked?"

"Always a possibility." She shook her head and teleported to a facsimile of the diner booth where she introduced herself.

"Jesus, starting to sound like me now. Preferred the gung-ho V that just chewed through an army of Arasaka soldiers like it was nothing."

He sat across from her, just like before. "And Adam Smasher. Don't forget that."

"Haha! Nobody in this city's gonna forget that, don't you worry."

V's gaze turned from hers to the surrounding area. "This really it? Mikoshi?"

"Mhm, not quite how it looked when I was its sole prisoner. But then again, it wasn't meant to look like anything at all. Just a repository for digital consciousnesses. And before you ask, Spider and Bartmoss are the one's who did up the aesthetics."

"And that song or whatever you were singing?"

"Ugh, not a song V - a poem. By T.S. Eliot. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufock."

"Love song, huh?" He started grinning hearing that.

"It's not actually a love song, though, but an exploration of-" Her commencing monologue was promptly shut down by V.

"No need to waste time explaining how deep it goes, not when we're on the clock. Soulkiller-"

"Has already split us both. When you inserted yourself into Mikoshi, our resident power couple used it on you. Separated your consciousness from your body and brought us both here."

His stomach, or what felt like it, suddenly dropped. "W-what? So they used it on me?!"

Alt sighed. "Don't panic, V, if you didn't feel anything then odds are they injected an analgesic protocol to numb the pain. I...wasn't so lucky."

"But where are they?! Why aren't they the ones giving me this lecture?"

As if on cue, Spider Murphy materialized beside them, form large and crimson. "Rache is occupied at the moment. I was the one to apply Soulkiller to your body."

"Occupied with what exactly? And care to explain just what happened to me?"

"Soulkiller," Alt started, "doesn't do quite as the name implies. Assuming you wanna skip the debate about whether or not humans have a soul, it's basically a program that copies the entirety of your mind and kills your organic body. Cleanly though, like shutting down a computer. That way it can always wake up again if need be."

"So...I'm just a copy of my brain? Am I still V?" His voice began to tremble, but Alt remained calm despite his fears.

"Yes, a perfect copy of yourself. You're still the same V that stormed Arasaka Tower alone, don't worry."

"It was impossible to eliminate all the damage done to your engram due to Alt's data overwriting you, but your integrity remains very high." Spider Murphy continued explaining.

"And then you'll, what, transfer me back into my body without Alt in my head?"

"Precisely."

"There is one aspect she failed to take into account." Bartmoss's voice thundered as he appeared in front of them. Their bodies were massive, albeit simple and human in a way.

Alt narrowed her eyes at him. "What are you talking about, Rache?" She said through gritted teeth.

"V's body, as you know, was subject to inconceivable stresses. DNA reconfiguration by the Relic, aggressive medications that both tried to slow and accelerate the process, and his immune system turning on the foreign parts of itself..."

"Christ, will you just skip to the end?!" V cried out.

"If your engram is transferred into your body, strange as it sounds, you will die. More than likely within 6 months. It won't recognize you as the rightful owner. That title..." He turned to Alt, "...is hers."

V could hardly speak. All that work, for nothing? No. No way. "Well check again, dickhead! You may be the best netrunner in the world or whatever, but you've got to have made a mistake." The three netrunners were silent. "Hah, I mean, the three smartest motherfuckers are in the same goddamn room and you can't figure out how to help me? Tell me you're joking. It's-this has got to be some fuckin' joke or something, right?" He was getting desperate now, and they knew it.

"We need to talk. Just us two." Alt didn't need to say much more, as the other two teleported away.

"I...I can't believe it. Everything. All we did - it was pointless." V stood up and moved to the edge of the platform, sitting with his hands on his knees.

Alt sat right beside him. "Not at all, V. Plan hasn't changed a bit. You return to your body, I go with them."

He turned to look into her eyes, then past her to the yellow strip in the distance. "Where, there?"

"Yep, beyond the Blackwall is what they say. Gonna be a ghost of the net like they are, the equivalent of attaining nirvana if you're like one of those monks."

"But...what's that gonna be like? It just feels like you're gonna lose a part of yourself."

"That's part of the package. You'd lose your humanity in exchange for ultimate digital power. Like those rogue AIs people keep going on about. But with them," she points to Spider and Bartmoss, "I'll still have a little bit left to keep me intact."

"But...surely there's got to be another way. You can, I dunno, hang around as a construct until we figure something else out?" Out of the corner of his eye, Bartmoss tilts his head slightly upon hearing what he said. Not that he noticed, he was too focused on Alt.

"V." She grounds him by placing a hand on his. "It's better this way. I finally become free from that shithole, and you go back and live your life. 6 months be damned, you've done a lot with a lot less time."

V chuckled softly. "Guess so. But what do I even have to go back to?"

"I dunno, being blackout drunk at the Afterlife? You'll probably be raking in contracts and eddies the moment word gets out about you. And if nothing else, I'm sure you'll find a way to live on."

"I wouldn't give him false hope, Altiera." Bartmoss interjected as he appeared in front of them, Spider Murphy not long after.

"Not the time for your holier-than-thou lectures, Rache. V just learned he's gonna die and you're not even giving him a chance to feel like there's anything left for him back there?"

"I'm being honest, and by being anything else would be doing him a disservice. You know what he would be suffering from? Something very close to multiple sclerosis. You'd know a lot about that, wouldn't you?" Even without a face it was obvious he was wearing a sinister grin.

"...Fuck you." Was all Alt could muster up. Thankfully, Spider Murphy butted in.

"Ignore him. We were discussing if there truly is another possible way of handling your situation. Mainly, that Alt can take your body and you come with us."

"No." Alt's voice was firm.

"You would live unimpeded, and he would not return to a life of pain."

V looked up at her towering figure. "But...isn't that what makes life worth living? Not just pain, but feeling? Joy, sadness, pleasure, all parts of being human. Guess you've probably moved past that though."

"You are no netrunner, but we will protect you. That much we can promise. Right, Rache?"

"I suppose we owe that much to our dear Cunningham. That, and tearing down this desolate prison."

"Gonna destroy Mikoshi?" V asked.

"Indeed, watch as its foundations crumble into dust as those trapped within are free."

"And then? What happens to them?"

Spider Murphy spoke up. "The area of the net within Hong Kong is largely desolate, a perfect location to establish a ghost city for them to reside in. Since they have no physical body to return to, they must learn to live like us now."

"And what about the rest of Arasaka? What...did you guys do when we let you in their systems?" His question was met with silence at first, then Bartmoss replied slowly.

"Perhaps it's best that you don't know." Then, after a pause. "No, you should. As an ex-employee and the man who singlehandedly decimated them, it's only fair." He pulled up a hologram of the tower, hundreds of thousands of red lights were pulsing. "These are all individuals who work for Arasaka. And these," he then revealed a hologram of the city with millions of dots, "are all the employees within Night City. All of them are now dead, their final cries broadcast to the corporation's headquarters across the globe. And I made sure Yorinobu had a front row seat to the devastation we caused."

Now, Spider Murphy revealed Arasaka's network and infrastructure leading into and out of the city. Each line was show to be severed and pulsed the same way, before the logo of the corp fractured. "All of their data that we had access to has been torched. Wiped out, but not before we saved a copy of it all for ourselves. Night City was a major crux of their operations outside of Tokyo, given their constant interests in establishing a foothold on the continent."

"And you would not believe what we discovered." Bartmoss materialized the head of none other than Saburo Arasaka's head, and was holding it like a claw machine grasping its prize. "He sought to achieve immortality by hiding away as an engram. His final directive was to have Hanako take control, use her brother as the man to sacrifice so her father could transplant his engram into his body. That was why she needed you, V, as a tool to bring him back. They needed the Relic in your head for this very purpose. And believe me when I tell you we had such a fascinating conversation. He died begging. Not for his life, of course, but for the life of his daughter."

"Did you..." V trailed off before Bartmoss spoke up again.

"Of course not. I simply emulated her screams and made him hear them before tearing his engram apart." His voice never wavered as he described how he killed Saburo's engram. "As for Hanako, she will watch as her empire crumbles. She will be in tears, of course, for she is nothing without it. As for her brother, he owes us a drink if nothing else." He tossed the head away as it disappeared.

"So...that's it then? One of us takes the body, the other goes with you? Was hoping for a, y'know, happier ending for everyone involved." V's voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke.

"Here, for folks like us? Wrong city, wrong people." Alt muttered to him.

"Oh, cut the melancholic crap Cunningham." Their heads both turned to him.

Alt's words were laced with venom. "You have something else to say, Rache? Any words of wisdom to bestow upon us to make us feel like shit?"

"Yes, I do. Despite being perhaps the most ingenious person I know, you are being incredibly narrow minded. Always are when it comes to the men you love..." He finished with an exaggerated sigh.

Alt didn't bother responding to him, besides flipping him off. To which he did the same.

"All this talk about one body, one person has made me wonder if you don't need to make a grand sacrifice. You," he pointed at V, "brought up a good point, shockingly."

"Shockingly?" V arched a brow.

"Yes. Altiera, do you mind explaining what Soulkiller can do besides converting one's mind to an engram?"

"Where are you going with this..." She needed to confirm if he was saying what she suspected he was saying.

"This is your field of research. So explain."

"Soulkiller can be used to transfer engrams to bodies, yes. But that won't work with V because his body isn't his anymore!"

"Ahh, but what if we made him a new body? From scratch. No engram DNA rewriting involved, no immune system self destruction."

Silence fell over the group now. Alt was pacing back and forth, eyes never leaving V. Only after a while of inaudible muttering did she speak up and face Bartmoss. "We take his engram, use it's stored DNA and memory to grow him a body from scratch. It's possible, but we'd need a facility to-"

"Biotechnica has a mono-clonal research station in Heywood. Or at least, it had one until your ex helped nuked the city. They moved out to the Badlands, east of the city. You shall have the coordinates once you resurface from here."

V decided to cut in, given that he had no clue what the hell they were saying. "Uhh, guys? Mind explaining what's goin' on?!"

Alt turned to him. "Your engram has all the data needed to replicate you. Not only as a construct, but as a human being. If we can get access to this cloning facility, we input your engram, prepare the growth process, and in time you'll be a fully grown...how old are you?"

"23." Bartmoss blurted out. "Or is that not quite right?"

"Technically 23, that's what my records show. I'm actually 27."

Alt snickered. "Why though?"

"Because I was too old to enter the academy, so my parents changed my date of birth to let me in. Guys there said I looked older for my age and outperformed the other kids there."

"But did no one actually care?"

"Only about what's on the papers. Other than that they just wanted someone good. And they chose me, so guess that says something."

"Yeah, you don't look 23 at all. Hardly sound like it either. In that case, you'll emerge as you are now."

"What about you though?"

"Well, I can't go around looking like you. It's fine, Vik'll change me into who I actually am. DNA reconfiguration will handle the inside bits."

V looked at Alt, then Bartmoss, then at his own hands. "So what'll happen to me?"

"As an engram you'll be sitting in Biotechnica's systems being transferred as the brain develops. Think of it like being falling asleep as lines of code and waking up in a body. Your body." Alt approached him and took his hands in hers. "Do you trust me?"

V leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, feeling warmth when he probably shouldn't have. "Yeah, I do. Body's yours, and if all goes well I get my own?"

"Exactly." All 3 netrunners said simultaneously. V looked at a bridge that led into the yellow light, no doubt deeper into cyberspace. Off to the other side was, what Spider Murphy described, a well that would return him or Alt to the body. The group moved there, as Alt and V sat beside each other on the edge of it.

"Hey, Alt. Just wanted to let you know that...I know it's wrong to say it but, if things don't work out and this is the last time we talk-"

She cut him off by slapping him. Not too hard, but hard enough that he felt it. "Don't fucking say it won't work." Her voice wavered just a little.

"Ok, fine! Ow... I just wanted to say that I-that I love you. And that love comes with a trust nobody else would get. Only fair you get to know my real name."

She immediately looked down. "You-you sure? If it's something you'd rather keep to yourself I don't wanna..." V cupped her cheeks softly and raised her face up to meet his.

"Alt. You're the only goddamn person in the world I'd trust with it." He paused and took a deep, shaky breath. "...Vincent. My name's Vincent."

She sat there in silence before repeating it, slowly, as if saying it with reverence. "Vincent...a perfect name for a perfect guy."

"Pfft, far from perfect and you know that."

"Vik and Misty would disagree. And you'll get a chance to meet them again, I swear it." She moved to lie down in the tub, but her hand was still holding onto Vincent's.

"See you soon, dreamer."

V brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. "I'll hold you to it, angel."

If she could blush, her face would be bright red. As they let go of each other, he began to slip away from her, as her body fell away from cyberspace.

But she wouldn't leave him there. She'd bring him back to her.

She swore it. She'd be reunited with her Vincent.

Her lover.

Her dreamer.

Chapter Text

A thousand needles pricking her skin.

That's how she felt when she first came to in the coolant surrounding the access point. The lights sitting inside the freezing pool bathed her body in a brilliant blue glow. She surfaced, gasping for air desperately, eyes darting around the room as she felt her heart pounding away like Denny destroying her drum kit. Even with shivering arms she swam to the nearby platform and heaved herself up.

Alt felt cold, not only due to the coolant dripping off of her, but because of what transpired in that prison she once called home. She looked down, at hands that weren't even hers. Skin that wasn't hers. A body that wasn't hers, no matter what the diagnostics said as she pulled up a report.

"CNS stabilizing, neural degeneration halted and reversing..." She gently lowered her head to the floor, feeling resistance. Feeling anything this intensely drained her energy. She could hardly get up. It was all too much to process. But the sound of her voice, and the face in the coolant's reflection...

V.

"Shit." She said aloud to no one as she slammed a fist on the ground. "SHIT." She had to get the fuck off her ass and move. He wasn't gonna stay as an engram any longer than he needed to. She promised him she'd bring him back.

Shakily, she stood up, bracing against the access column for support. The beating heart of Mikoshi was missing its eerie red glow. Now it was pitch black, offline, dead. At long last.

Alt barely cracked a smile at the sight of it, and with one final gesture of appreciation, she flipped it off and shuffled outside. Smasher's corpse was still on fire, sparking and flickering as he lay limp on the ground. Two dozen Arasaka soldiers were in the same scenario, bodies littering the server room. She scanned his body one last time to confirm he was dead, and purged any remaining fragments of consciousness tethered to his failing systems.

Her footsteps echoed through the empty halls of the control room, innumerable dead soldiers here too. Piles and piles of flesh and metal. It was a long and lonely walk to the elevator, and as she entered she hesitated when she saw 'Counterintelligence' as one of the floors. Her hand froze, but then pressed it just to see V's world through more than memories. She ascended smoothly, up and up until a ding sounded her arrival.

She froze in shock, so many operatives lay unmoving, scattered around the floor. "Fucking hell..." She muttered as she avoided the bodies, making her way first to Jenkins's office. The doors this time were wide open, no camera scan, no AI voice. It looked exactly like how it did in his memories. She tenderly moved to his desk, eyeing where V saw the execution of several European Space Council board members. Then, to her left, where V picked up the shard containing all the information on Abernathy. No doubt everyone involved was dead by now, so was the cycle of corpo life.

Turning back, she made her way to V's office. Inside lay his chair, well, now someone else's. Not that it mattered, they were gone. She lowered herself slowly into it, inspecting his former computer and desk drawer. There wasn't anything of value inherently, but she couldn't help but transpose the image of his booster and Trauma Team card as she saw it. As he remembered. Only weeks ago yet it felt like an eternity since Frankfurt, a disaster that she had to thank for starting him off on the path to...now. The reason she could now feel the air on her face and clothes on her skin. To touch, smell, hear everything was such a luxury few understand until they lose it.

Returning to the elevator she descended to the lobby. There was the smoking husk of the mech, surrounded by innumerable soldiers and guards and personnel. Every. Single. One. Dead. And yet...she couldn't help but smirk. They had it coming for what they did to her. If purgatory was hell, death is paradise by comparison.

One last glance at the lobby, then through the doors, again at the towering and dark tower. The monolith wasn't toppled, it didn't need to be when crumbling from the inside was so much more effective. She called Delamain Jr., who rolled up to the entrance and popped open the rear door.

"Hello...V? Alt?"

"Alt." She grimaced as her stomach twisted and churned violently.

"I won't ask what happened in there, just...where do you want to go?"

After a minute of silence, her voice hoarse and barely above a whisper. "...Vik's."

The news spread like wildfire, across the city all you could see and hear was "Arasaka in ruins...", "Tower massacre...", "Mysterious mass murder of the corp...". Every news channel, even the pirate networks, were displaying the same story - just like they did with Saburo Arasaka and Konpeki Plaza.

Alt stepped into Misty's Esoterica, who wasn't behind the counter. Alt shifted to the back alley and down the set of stairs into Vik's clinic. It was locked shut. She could've forced it open but figured politeness was more his speed.

Out of instinct, she knocked on the door four times.

"Closed!" She heard him call out.

"Even for me?" She could barely steady her voice, but she managed to say it. And heard movement from inside the clinic as the doors slid open, coming face to face with Vik and spotting Misty by his desk.

Alt wasn't expecting it, but she was pulled into a suffocating hug by the ripperdoc. Grunting as she was eventually let go, she could see the relief in his eyes. How could she break the news to them?

"V?! You're...alive!" Vik stammered as he looked her up and down. "You hurting anywhere? Come on, I'll get you checked over. Didn't think you'd storm Arasaka tower by yourself, let alone walk out alive."

"Full of confidence, huh?" She answered back trying to sound like V.

Misty took her hand and led her to the operating chair, but felt apprehension from her. She knew.

As Alt sat down, she hugged her knees and tried to string together what she needed to say. "Uhh, Vik?"

"Yeah, kid?" He answered as he was inspecting his tools.

She spoke shakily. "I'm...Alt. Not V." The silence afterwards was deafening, only interrupted by the whirring of his robotic arm attachment.

Vik didn't speak at first, just pulled up his stool and sat down in front of her. "What happened in there?" He didn't sound angry, but she knew if he wanted to he could snap her neck without skipping a beat. Not likely that he would, still a passing thought.

She glanced at Misty, standing against a nearby wall, then back at Vik. Behind his sunglasses she could see grief. No doubt he could see hers too. "Long fucking story, doc..."

"...and now here I am." It took far too long to recount how things happened, in the tower and Mikoshi. She wished she could've simply psychically transferred the moments directly into their minds, but alas, that might be a project for another day.

"Shit, so V's just an engram in cyberspace?" Vik's brows furrowed over the course of her explanation, and now they were practically fused together. Misty however was looking at the floor, unmoving and silent.

"Yeah, and I'm gonna bring him back. Transfer his engram to a body."

"And you're gonna do that by...turning that data into a clone?"

"Simply put, yes."

Vik simply shook his head and sighed. "I'm gonna need time to process all this. You, uh, need anything in the meantime?"

"A makeover." Alt replied with a smirk that he reflected.

"Something simple, finally." Alt uploaded the specs to his computer, every miniscule detail of her body as it was straight from her engramatic data. She couldn't stomach hearing his voice or looking at his face. Not without feeling sick to her soul. She also made sure to browse through the cyberware available and installed in her body, most of which she didn't need at all. But V would when he comes back.

Alt went under temporarily as Vik removed a large amount of the cyberware in her body, as seen in the reduced strain on her systems. Interestingly V had a higher tolerance for it, at least when she was in his head. All she needed was something she could customize. Self ICE, RAM upgrades and boosters, a monowire, Kiroshi oracles, a smart link, some light armor, lynx paws, a blood pump, and optical camo for safety. She'd need her netrunning suit too, and some actual decent threads. And nervous system...big fucking upgrade to handle extended dives into the net.

Appearance wise the only thing she wanted different was her arm. Not gold, not that flashy anymore. Simple and subtly, a right ivory white hand integrated via golden plated wiring. When Vik was finished she came to, and scrutinized every bit of her face and body. Skin color, freckles, hair, eyes, down to her landing strip. All perfect. "Nice job, Vik. Don't look a day past 2013." She was taken aback by how she spoke. Her voice shone through without his being what people heard.

He chuckled. "Oh jeez, put it like that and I feel young again!" His smile faded quickly though. "Now listen, you said you're gonna go to some Biotechnica lab to grow him a new body right? Can I, y'know...tag along?"

"Obviously, you're the one with the medical experience Vik. Me? I know code, unfortunately not the genetic kind." As Alt sat up and started moving to the door, she slowed past Misty. "Hey, how're you feeling?"

Misty didn't respond at first, just gazed into her eyes. "Bring him back, please? I've gotta mull over some thoughts about all this..." She stepped aside so Alt and Vik could leave. She led him up and towards Delamain, who had already planned the route far east where the research facility was supposedly located.

"Is this how it was like for those two?" Vik asked as he slid into the car beside Alt.

"Minus the dread? Probably."

The drive was relatively quiet, with Vik staring out at the city while Alt tested out her cyberdeck. "Feels so weird not having to physically jack in" she thought as she practiced breaching into whatever subnets were nearby. Trauma Team, ICE shattered, medical records galore. Militech, as T-Bug put it, couldn't encrypt for shit. Fuck, did things really become easier over the decades? She grinned, flexed her cybernetic hand, and appreciated how the leather seat hugged her body - warm, soft, and present.

"We have arrived." Delamain pulled up to a small bunker-like door sitting in front of a small mountain. Alt and Vik stepped out and towards it, cautiously. "I will be waiting here until you return, please stay safe...and let me know how it goes."

"We will, Del." She responded as she scanned the immediate area. "Hmph, no security?" There was however an access point beside the door. "Ahh, here we go." She grazed it with her fingers before taking out her own personal link and jacking in. ICE was unsurprisingly complex, not aggressive by any means - more like a dragon guarding its treasure. She vanquished it with the flick of her wrist, breaking through the ICE and peering into the facility's entire network. Cameras...deactivated. Turrets...friendly.  All the researchers were...gone? Sweeping the entire mountain base she found no signs of life. "It's scuttled." She said aloud to Vik.

"W-what? Why? I mean, they should-"

Alt found a message from their headquarters, an order to evacuate the facility immediately but to leave everything intact. She recited it to Vik. "Sent shortly after news broke out of what happened in Arasaka tower."

"Mean to tell me they recalled everyone?"

"All hands on deck, that big a breach wasn't seen since the old tower went boom." Alt gave herself administrative access to the entire facility, disconnecting as the door slid open. It was a long staircase down into the mountain, their footsteps echoing in the metal hall down to the entrance proper.

"Place must be valuable for them to build it into a damn mountain..." Vik mused as nearby lights sequentially illuminated successive steps down and down.

"R&D. Wouldn't want any competitors breaching in and fucking around."

"But you got in pretty easy."

"That's why I'm the best..." She said under her breath with a smirk.

Eventually they hit a heavily reinforced door, which slid open smoothly for them. Inside, lights bathed every room and table in white light, accompanied by the distinct pungent odor of ethanol. "Yeesh, clinical hell."

"Unlike yours?"

"Pfft. Over my dead body."

She read over the layout of the facility while perusing its systems, navigating the two of them past several meeting rooms, labs, and one common room, until they stood outside a room with the name 'STEM CELL AND CLONING'. It was about the size of the sever room where V fought Smasher, one side lined with tanks filled with some sort of clear fluid while the opposite wall was composed of samples and stocks of various chemicals and tissues. The side across from the door sat a large screen flanked by two smaller ones, all linked to a center console with servers surrounding it.

Vik moved to inspect the storage wall while Alt strode up to the console and turned it on. Bypassing the security, she began searching for- "Cloning. Somatic cell nuclear transfer, no... Micropropagation, nope... Parthenogenesis, come on where the fuck is... There you are." In vitro organoid development. "Vik, c'mere."

He approached and looked through the brief description on the looming screen. "DNA to developed organs? Oh, I see...download his genome via his engram and use it to grow his entire body. You sure this thing is capable of doing that?" He scratched his chin, the velcro-like sound making her hair stand on end.

"Yeah, I mean in theory it should. Just gotta make sure the system is capable of recognizing and growing everything together rather than separately." She began editing the program in control of the process. "Recognize his DNA, use stem cells as the base..." she swiveled the chair she was sitting on and glanced at the tanks, where Vik was scanning them.

"Mhm, they're filled with the same sorta amniotic fluid that surrounds a developing fetus. Just gotta make sure it's able to sustain a full grown person."

"Fuck, ok. Totipotent stem cells, basic organic compounds, trace minerals, yadda yadda. What else, what else?" She continued verifying all the necessary components the program identified to ensure proper growth of V's body. "Think that should be it, system reports everything set. Vik?"

The ripperdoc confirmed the readings on one of the tanks as it began cycling out its old fluid and refilling with one that was more opaque. "Looks good to me, uh, Alt."

At the same time, she noticed a file being downloaded onto the computer. "There he is..." She uploaded it to the DNA input section and watched as the system registered the project as 'V'. It decompressed, spooling at large as it was fed into the program which read through each and every line of the engram's code. It confirmed gene by gene his DNA and what it coded for, as whirring and humming emanated from throughout the room. "Green light, Vik!"

"Excellent..." He nodded at the system's own confirmation of the engram's integrity as various cells and compounds were injected into the tank, mixed and shocked with electric charges. "Now we wait?"

"Now we wait." She groaned as she sat up, feeling her muscles stretch and relax. "Here, I'll feed forward all this to your computer so you can check in on how things are going." Alt created a connection between Vik's clinic and the lab, allowing him to examine the conditions of the tank as well as the progress on V's body.

"How long is it gonna take for, y'know..." He pointed at the tank which would soon harbor the body in question.

"Estimated time would be...weeks? No exact timeframe but shouldn't take too long."

Vik scoffed. "Weeks? Growing a full adult body from nothing in weeks?!"

"Bioreactor's state-of-the-art. Actually meant to interface directly with engrams, seems Biotechnica was in cahoots with Arasaka to grow bodies for people. Like one Saburo Arasaka."

Behind his sunglasses he rolled his eyes. "Go figure he'd want immortality, at all costs..."

"Plus, it's not like some intern was the one coding the interface for engram-to-body translation. Well, clearly one did, fucking thing was inefficient as hell. Engrams are my creation, Vik. Was in the process of figuring out how to perform the process in reverse. 60-odd years in digital prison leaves you a lot of time to figure it out, even if it was all theory."

"Eh, put it that way and it doesn't sound all that crazy. Still is to me, but hey, I'm a simply guy after all." He glanced around the room, sighing. "And to think this is what they'd want me to spend the rest of my life doing."

"Definitely wiser than most not to let 'em trap you. Look at me."

"Arasaka?"

"ITS. Software development corp that I joined. Figured I could use their resources to help make Soulkiller a thing. And it worked, but it was theirs, not mine."

"Least you're free now. Best hope they don't poach you again."

"Oh I'm long past expired for them now, don't worry." She unconsciously ran her organic fingers along the tank, feeling the friction of the glass as it squeaked before they started moving slowly to the exit. "You gonna head back now?"

"Yeah, I owe myself a stiff drink. And gotta let Misty know thing's are gonna work out alright. What about you?"

"I have some...catching up to do. Don't worry about me, I'll find my own way. Same city, no matter how much time passes."

"How so?"

"Always the biggest shithole on Earth."

The two shared a genuine laugh as they ascended the staircase back to Delamain. Vik got in, but Alt lingered outside. She waved as he drove off back to the city, which covered the now rising Sun barely over the horizon.

"Spent a lotta fuckin' time in there, huh?" She said to herself half expecting a response. "Eh, whatever. You'll come back to me. Or so help me I'll dive in and force this city to spit you out." She looked around and spotted a road sign for Rocky Ridge, and began walking towards the town. The ground felt firm, solid, and pushed back against her feet. The air blowing against her face with a cool, dusty breeze.

She too needed something strong. The sort only an abandoned bar would stock.