Chapter Text
“They aren’t too far from here!” V shouts at Panam. “Come on, let’s keep moving!” Both of them were racing as fast as they could on the motorcycles, chasing after the oil trail. He was going to make damn sure that the dead Aldacados didn’t get killed for nothing. And if Songbird scrambled their coms, that means there shouldn’t be much resistance to get the bastard. The singular Kang Tao agent they encountered near a storage facility proved his theory right.
“The oil trail is getting thinner, he’s gotta be close by.” Panam says, riding up to V and matching his speed. “Is there any chance you can pull… whatever the hell you did again?
“I told you, that wasn’t me. And that was a one time thing. My netrunner didn’t look too healthy after that.” V gnashed his teeth and hardened his grip on the handlebars. If he injured another person because of his sickness…
“Well, it shouldn’t make much of a difference. We can do this.” They kept riding until the oil trail ended next to a gas station. A few turrets outside, some drones, a few patrols, but it was in the single digits. Panam limps off her bike and crouches at a nearby hill. “I’ll pick off the ones I can see. I’ll shout at you if I see any reinforcements.”
“Got it. Can you focus on the drones? The Mantis Blades do a lot, but…”
“I’ll make sure you won’t even need to look at him.” V nods, activates his camo, and leaps down. He sneaks up behind a Kang Tao guard and plants his Mantis Blade firmly into his throat. This cues Panam to start firing at the drones. V uses his Sandevistan to jump at the second guard and stab him in the chest, then pulls out his pistol and blows up the turret. He hears the silenced noise of a few sniper shots, and looks up to see all the drones falling out of the air.
V opens up the front door and sneaks his way inside. He was ready for the worst, but there were even less people in the front area than on the outside. The only person he found was an employee in a storage room.
“Don’t shoot, I’m unarmed!” The employee shouts as V walks into the room.
“I’m not shooting.” V confirms. “Just need to find someone here. You know if there’s anywhere in here Kang Tao set up shop?”
“From what I saw… pretty sure they went to the garage. Few rooms down on your right from here.”
“Thank you. Sorry about the mess.”
“I’ve had worse.” He shrugs. V wonders what could be worse than this, but decides now is not the time to ask. He clears out each room just in case until he finally reaches the garage, where 4 more guards are stationed. He takes out his knife from his side and chucks it across the room at the first guard's head, sending the rest of them into a bit of a panic. He slides the shotgun off his back and blasts a hole into the second one. One guard sprints across the room, the other takes cover on the small balcony at the top of the garage. V picks up his knife from the floor and throws it at the Kang Tao guard on ground level, barely grazing their arm. He ducks behind a car to avoid the gunfire up top, then leaps across the room and skewers the guard below with the Mantis Blades. He picks up his knife again and runs back below the balcony, where he fires a few more shots into the grates. He hears the firm thud of a body hitting the door, and steps out of cover to view his handiwork.
After reorienting himself, he walks up the small balcony to the area upstairs. No guards in the next room, but the room connected to it has a guard…
And Hellman.
V immediately body checks the guard into the wall and slams his head against the floor. Before Hellman even gets a chance to plead, V punches him in the head and slams him against his chair, knocking him out. V picks up his body and slings him over his shoulders.
“Didn’t even give the rat a chance to talk.” Johnny notes. “He might not even be able to respond if you keep roughhousing like this.”
V doesn’t dignify Johnny with a response, instead opening up his Holo and slinging Takemura a call.
“Takemura. Got Hellman. Alive.” V sees Takemura’s eye go wide before returning to his normal look.
“I see that you did not take my advice of not getting into trouble.” Takemura scolds. “However, I admire the quick turnaround. Did he say anything?”
“He, uh, never got the chance. I’ll bring him to the Sunset Hotel to get some information out of him before I hand him over.”
“I will come to you. Be sure he can still talk by the time I arrive.” Takemura hangs up the Holo and V starts walking downstairs.
“You should’ve asked Takemura for something in return.” Johnny says.
“Like what? A firm handshake and a pat on the back? He’s a vagabond now. And I think we both know how much words are worth with Arasaka.”
“Takemura’s not your typical Arasaka employee though. He’s an obedient mutt, yeah, but he’s honest. Maybe some help with some future endeavors, change his mind about Arasaka, or at least a rockin’ house in the Bahamas when this is all over.” V shrugs, walking downstairs as he looks back at Johnny.
“He saved my life. That’s good enough.”
“Because it was in his best fuckin’ interest. You-” Johnny’s protests are cut off when the garage door gets opened up by Panam. It turns out while V was inside doing his work, a ton of Aldacaldo members decided to show up. Piled up from the gas station pumps to the main road. Panam also looks much better, a bandage on her shoulder and a smile on her face. “Looks like your new choombas are here.”
“Is that him?” Panam asks.
“Sure is.”
“Here, throw him on this.” Panam wheels a nice gold and black motorcycle. “I doubt he’ll make a fuss about riding on the back.” V precariously balances him on the back as Mitch walks over.
“The road was clear.” Mitch says. “Think the only ones out here are us. Still, best we don’t stick around for too long.”
“So, what do you want to do with him?” Panam turns to V.
“Just ask him a few questions.” V says. “Hopefully get the answers that I need.”
“Better give some good ones after all this. And if you don’t?”
“He’s going to point me to where I can find them. I won’t bring you guys into it if it comes to that though.”
“If it goes better than this and I get to see that red laser light show again, you will not see me complaining if you do. By the way, you sti-” Panam’s inquiry is interrupted by someone else walking into the conversation. Given how Panam narrows her eyes, V can make some guesses on who they are.
“Everythings all clear.” Mitch says to Saul. Saul turns over to V.
“Heard that Mitch was alive because of you.” Saul says.
“Thanks to V and Panam. They both saved my ass.”
“I just hoped he was worth it.” Tense silence falls again, followed by Panam breaking it.
“Saul, I tried to radio Scorpion, but he… maybe I can help out somehow?”
“I think you’ve helped enough.” Saul starts walking away before V clears his through.
“Listen, it really wasn’t her fault. I was the one that dra-”
“Careful.” Saul interrupts. “You and I aren’t buddy-buddy yet. Besides, nobodies blaming anyone for anything… yet.”
“Right.” Panam snorts.
“Listen…” V drums his fingers against the motorcycle handles. “I was the one that wanted her to do the job. I was the one that thought everything would go perfectly and didn’t think everything through. You want a scapegoat later, I’m the one.”
“Panam’s a part of this too.” Saul says. “When you’re an Aldacaldo, you are always responsible for yourself and your people. Outside deals be damned. Perhaps Panam should ask herself if she’s still an Aldacaldo.” Saul leaves for good this time, leaving Panam to kick the ground.
“Damn it all…” She mutters.
“Don’t kick yourself in the teeth.” V says. “You did what you could to help them. Shot in the shoulder and you still did all of that. He’s probably just stressed and taking it out on you.”
“Don’t give him so much credit. He knows damn well what he’s doing.”
“It’s truer than you think, Panam.” Mitch says. “As soon as Saul heard what happened, he rushed us all over here to make sure nobody else got hurt. To check on you.”
“He did?”
“Look, you two may not see eye to eye at the moment, but you’re family. And Saul will do anything for his family. Don’t deny it either.” He quickly inputs as Panam is about to say something. “Come on. Come back to us.” Panam doesn’t respond, instead standing there. Thinking. Mitch simply gives a nod in return and starts walking off. “Just know we’ll be here for you if you do.”
“...sorry you had witnessed all that.” Panam says to V. “Things get a bit complicated sometimes. But I’ll manage.” She looks back, seeing all the Aldacaldos start to drive off. “Looks like it’s time to leave.”
“Until next time, then. You got a place you want me to leave this bike, or…”
“Keep it. Scorpion would be happy knowing you have it.”
“Wait, it’s…” Before V can protest anymore, Panam quickly climbs on her own bike and speeds off, leaving just V and Hellman at the gas station.
…and Johnny. Can’t forget about him.
“Let’s make sure this fucker gives us what we want. You thinking a simple ‘How do I remove the chip?’”
“That…” V kicks up the stand and starts driving off. “...and seeing who else may have produced it. Checking if someone else could have helped him, or if another company is involved in this mess.”
“More corpo takedowns… you really are sounding like me.”
“Let’s not get this twisted, I’m not nuking any towers so I can say I did something with my life. Just giving an Arasaka greeting if I have to.” The ride to the Sunset Motel was a stressful one. V has done something like this to the past, but those interrogations were much lower level employees with nothing to lose if they told the truth. This guy could lie out his ass and V has the potential to believe it if he gets desperate enough. After parking Scorpions bike and hauling Hellman up the stairs, V places a chair in the middle of the room to place him on. He puts a chair across from him, then locks the door and closes the blinds. He sits down and extends his Mantis Blades.
“Don’t hurt him too much.” Johnny advises. “He’ll start telling you what you want to hear rather than the truth. Easy at first.”
“How the hell do you know that?”
“Might tell you later if I feel like it. I’m guessing that counterintelligence job let you know that fun fact?”
“Yup...” V takes a deep sigh, reaches down to the ground, then gives Hellman a firm slap. Hellman wakes up with a start, slowly shaking his head and looking around the room. V slightly tilts his Mantis Blade so it shines in Hellman's eyes, causing him to wince.
“Where am I?” He asks. “What is this place?”
“It’s somewhere that Kang Tao doesn’t know about, which is all the info I’m guessing you wanted. Now it’s my turn to ask for something. Have some questions about a biochip you made for Arasaka. And before you ask, nobody from that company sent me here.”
“Who then? Militech? You must have an offer for me. And if they pay more than Kang Tao, then I belie-”
“No offer.” V cuts him off. “You’re just going to help me out of the kindness of your heart and at the threat of getting stabbed in the throat.” V sees Hellemen’s pupils dilate and lets the threat simmer before he continues. “Got a biochip in my head. Has Silverhands engram on it. Gives his input on things, tries to take control occasionally, and causes some sort of nervous attack if I get too stressed. Any of that sound familiar to you?” V sees Johnny crouch next to Hellman, trying to judge if he’s lying. Hellman shock, however, is impossible to fake.
“Silverhand… construct…? That’s impossible!”
“Got some real bad news, it isn’t. He’s right next to you in my eyes.”
“Is he now? Where did you get this chip?”
“Does it really…” V shakes his head. Yeah, it does matter. It’ll help diagnose the problem. “Took it from Yorinobu. Client was supposed to pay for it, but things got… complicated. Engram reformed when I got shot in the head. Listen… you tell me how to get rid of this thing and everything will be over. You’ll be able to leave.” That’s a lie, but Hellman didn’t need to know that. Hellman, however, simply shakes his head.
“It’s not that simple.”
“You made the chip, are you telling me you don’t know how to get it out?”
“If it was a regular chip, it could be done. You, however, slotted a new and experimental version of the biochip.”
“What’s so experimental about it that it can’t be extracted or replaced?”
“The previous versions were only used to communicate with a pre-saved engram. This one is meant to activate an engram in a new body. One who would not fight back as much as yours. It is… purpose made, one could say, for the exact purpose you’re trying to remove it for. It was still in the trial phase when I left Arasaka.”
“Are you telling me all the genius that Arasaka has to offer and nobody realized somebody could slot one of these in when the body is still up and moving? Not a failsafe or anything?”
“It was not meant to activate at all. Which makes your case very interesting indeed.”
“This goes beyond interesting, Hellman. How do I get it out?”
“Well… I’d have to see it first.”
“Fine. Bring out the cord.” V sees Hellman extend the cord from his wrist, and V grabs it from him and inspects it. Nothing that looks off. Rudimentary scans don’t reveal a virus either. V shrugs and slots it into his port. Hellmen mutters to himself for a few seconds before retracting the cord in a gasp.
“Oh fuck.”
“What? What it is?”
“What a pity I won’t be able to examine it fully.”
“That’s not an answer.” V reaches out his arm and puts the flat end of the Mantis Blade on Hellman’s shoulder. “What’s wrong with it?”
“It…” Hellman stutters for a second before regaining his nerves. “Your neural network has completely deteriorated. It has essentially become one with the chip. I doubt even additional nainites would help. It could copy onto them, make things worse. The only thing I could do…”
“That asshole really thinks now's the time to bargain?” Johnny asks.
“...is to give you information on a good clinic in Sweden. They’ll help you through the terminal phases, minimize the pain.”
“Hellman, I know you’ll find this hard to believe, but that is the opposite of what I wanted to hear.” V says, his fist tightening into a ball. “What’s going on up there?”
“You tell me. What’s it like having two personalities in your head? Because it’s not like your hearing voices. You're both yourself and Silverhand simultaneously.”
“That… that’s not true yet.” V stutters out, faltering for a moment before getting ahold of himself. “I see him. Talk to him. He’s been throwing advice my way this entire time.”
“Has he? Or is that just a part of you that you would rather ignore? As I said, the biochip was meant to take over as the personality. Have your decisions changed dramatically since he’s been burnt into your slot?”
“Not any more drastic than a man on borrowed time would act. I’ve resisted him when I can.”
“Are you sure? Because kidnapping an engineer and getting him to solve your problems sounds an awful lot like what Silverhand would do. Are you sure tha-”
“Listen.” V pushes the blade closer to his throat. “You’re not saving yourself by stalling for time. If you truly don’t know anything, and can’t help me, I’ll just save us both the effort and make a clean cut right now, then find someone who can help. We both know corporations like to cut the fat off when it becomes useless.”
“I… I have a feeling you would not accept coming to Kang Tao with me.”
“Correct.”
“Then the only thing I can give you is the blueprints to the biochip. Complete project documentation. Kang Tao offered quite the sum for it.”
“You got it with you?”
“He’s got to. Gonks fuckin’ useless without them.” Johnny says. Hellman nods and reaches into his pocket, handing a chip over to V. Right as he does so, he hears a knock on the door.
“You stay. Right there.” V slowly gets up and points his Mantis Blades at Hellman. He gives a quick look through the peephole to see… “Takemura.” V unlocks the door and lets him in. Hellman's eyes dilate again.
“Takemura?” He repeats. “You said…”
“He’s got a few questions of his own for you. He’s got much more time than me though, so I’d prepare for the long game. Hold on, I’m almost done.” V slots the chip into his neural port and fires it up. It’s… well, quite frankly it’s nothing he understands. But Song, if she’s still conscious after what just happened, she can definitely figure something out. And he could find someone else to help if she can’t. He nods and puts it back in his pocket. “All yours, Takemura. He’s an understanding guy under the right circumstances, you’ll get something out of this.”
“For his sake, I hope you are correct.” Takemura says. “I will remember this, V.” Hellman lets out a dry cough, causing Takemura to raise an eyebrow. “You have not even given this man water, V? That is an improper way to treat a guess. It is inhumane. I assure you Hellman, you will see the difference. I will give you full buckets.”
“I… that will not be necessary…” V hears Hellman start to barter as he walks out of the room. Right as he stumbles to the balcony, however, he gets that familiar, uneasy feeling. He leans over the edge and starts to throw up. Blood comes spirting out of his mouth as he tries to cover it up. His vision starts to blur blue again as he stumbles down the stairs and catches himself on the railing. He limply walks over to the bench as he doubles over in pain.
“Happened again, huh?” Johnny asks, looking just as sick as V feels. “Got hung out to dry by Arasaka?”
“If this is about your many gripes and grudges with that company…” V gasps. “I’m just popping the pill and getting rid of you.”
“Nope, just pointing out you’re still just some shit eating merc from the Afterlife. I hope you don’t think you’ve stuck it to Arasaka, because you’re just a bug they scraped off their boot and threw into the trash.”
“And what about you?” V punches the bench and looks up at Johnny. “How are you any different? They replaced Arasaka tower and built it two times as high. Corporations still rule over this place, Smasher is still around, hell he ended some merc’s dreams at Corpo Plaza last year. Nothing has changed. The only thing you managed to do was bring Militech into Night City. That’s it.”
“Revolutions can’t be done by just one man, V. People have to follow through. And you’re going to be the second catalyst for this shit.”
“Like hell I will. Is that all you wanted to tell me? Because if it is, I’m cutting you off. I’ve got things to do tonight.”
“Listen…” Johnny takes off his glasses and looks V in the eyes. “I’ve been trying to figure out how you’re wired. It’s difficult. I’ve got glimpses of your past, like you have of mine. Hard to wallow through, but I think I figured something out.”
“And what exactly have you pieced together, rocker boy?”
“It looks to me like you’re beating the shit out of yourself. Being apologetic after working for a shit stain on humankind like Arasaka is a good thing. But you’re taking that to a whole new level. You’re helping Panam, Judy, Songbird, random psychos on the street, and if something goes wrong, you blame yourself. I know Misty said take it slower, but… you don’t have that kind of time to help everyone. And you couldn’t have done anything about Scorpion, and telling Judy about Maiko would have made her blow up at you.”
“...could’ve done more though.”
“What? What could you have done? Look into the future and see Scorpions crew get himself killed and somehow plan around that? I don’t even know how you’d solve Maiko being an issue. And Songbird… V, you got anything you want to tell me about you and Songbird?”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. The only person I’ve seen try to help someone that much is…” Johnny gets uncharacteristically quiet, gently grabbing his leg. “… is me and Alt.”
“Oh…” That was not the response that V expected. He takes a deep breathe and calms his nerves. “I don’t think so. Just… feel bad for her is all. Can feel for her having a virus. And with what she pulled after the Kang Tao aircraft crashed… could’ve killed her, but still did it. She helps us out with tha, with other jobs, it’s just some kindness in return is all.”
“I get where you’re coming from. And I don’t know what’s going on in her head. But V… she’s an NUSA agent. You always need to decipher their intentions, and you’re taking it too much at face value.”
“She’s got a cure for me too. Better than what Hellman gave me.”
“You don’t know if she’ll deliver or not though. I’m just pointing out that putting your attention into a living bomb is not a recipe for your survival.”
“But destroying Arasaka isn’t what’s best for my survival either. How would you even go about doing that? In case you haven’t noticed, I’m very low on nuclear fission materials.”
“All in due time.”
“Johnny…” V heaves a sigh. “You just fucking told me we don’t have much time left. I know what Arasaka has done. I don’t like them. But I’d rather try and help smaller people to make that difference rather than go gung ho at Arasaka with no plan, no tools, just a vague idea of what I maybe should look for.”
“V, if you really want to help the most people, you’d be marching into that tower right now with me. And yo-”
“And die immediately? I’m getting punted down from Heaven by Jackie if I run in and get killed in basically the same way he did.”
The mention of Jackie kills the last remaining spite between them. No conversation follows for the next few minutes. V looks out at the passing cars, trying to think his way through what just happened. Then, Johnny speaks up.
“Let's call a truce for now. We’ll get that chip examined by someone smarter than us, and I’ll think through what we should do. And try talking to Song a bit more. I won’t pry. I just don’t know how to pin what she’s doing, and I need to figure it out.”
“Got it.” V stands up, his legs shaking. “I’m gonna… gonna go to sleep for the night. You have any recommendations of shows?”
“None you’d truly appreciate, but… The Matrix is always a good watch. If you haven’t already.”
“I have not.”
“Not enough laugh tracks and handfisted values for you?”
“Ah, fuck you.” V grins for the first time in a few hours and starts to ride off to his apartment. About halfway there, he gets a text on his Holo. He immediately opens it when he sees its from Songbird.
- Hey
- Alive. Have to rest for a while though
- Should be able to connect with you again by tomorrow
V speeds a bit faster than normal and into the parking garage before responding.
Thank God. -
Take as long as you need. I’m taking- it easy for the next few days.
Do I have some stories to tell you. -
V makes it back to his apartment, heating up some food and kicking it back on his couch. He decides to turn on the The Matrix to please Johnny. As the movie starts to play, he gets one last text from Songbird for the night.
- Can’t wait to hear them ;)