Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Lucy. Night City. July, 2077.

David,

It’s raining again….

I’m still in Night City.
It seems like it’s always raining.

I’m staring at all the neon lights outside my window. I just lit another cigarette and I’m on my third drink. I miss you so much and life’s just not the same since you went away and left me here all alone.

Everything’s wet, and it’s actually quite beautiful, but it doesn’t matter anymore because you’re gone, and you’re not coming back, are you?

I’m in my new apartment. It’s nice. I used some of the money you left me, and signed a 12-month lease. It’s on the 92nd floor. Watson. A thousand feet in the air. Up here, I can see for miles, and the city’s soaking wet. The truth is, I’m scared and I have no idea what to do or where to go next….

I went to the moon, and you were there with me. I left the group, and took off on my own. I had to. It was something I needed to do; for myself. I needed to say goodbye to us. It was a lot harder than I thought, and to be completely honest, I don’t know if I’m ready to say goodbye yet….

I was weightless, in a huge spacesuit. It felt like I was bouncing up and down. Heh. A big rubber ball. Dancing with you, and looking back over my shoulder at earth. It seemed so far away. So harmless. So pure and clean. So different when you’re staring at something 238,000 miles away. I don’t know. It seems to lose its power. It’s just another hunk of rock and water. A speck in an infinite galaxy….

And then I see us again. This time, we’re falling out of the sky. Getting blown out of Arasaka Tower by Adam Smasher.

Falling….

Oh David. Falling. You were already gone by that point, weren’t you? I held your face in the palm of my hands!

Even a kiss couldn’t bring you back to me. Hmmm, well I did get a few seconds, but that’s all I got. One last glimpse of the real you. Just long enough for me to miss you that much more.

Our lips met, and I closed my eyes, and I saw time stretch out before us, forever, or was it only a few seconds more.

Please….
Please, can I have a little more time?

It’s lonely here in NC. I’m trying to move on, but it’s so hard.

So hard….

Everyone’s dead. You. Rebecca. Dorio. Pilar. Kiwi. Maine. Almost our whole crew. Only me and Falco remain. I still try to talk to him once in a while. Just to touch base, I guess. Oh, I know I sound like a broken record, but I feel so alone. Tell me you’re okay. Wherever you are, I hope you are happy.

Lucy stood up and stretched. She walked over to the radio and turned it on. A slow song with a steady, hypnotic beat played. She spun around and danced in the darkened room as shafts of different colored light from all the nearby neon signs illuminated the spaces between and Night City called to her from its rooftops and dead-end alleys. From Pacifica to Japantown, and all the other nameless streets and avenues of that fantastic, frightening world….

She was slowly getting drunk, and in the semi-darkness, Lucy started crying softly.

Missing David Martinez completely….

“It was over before it even had a chance to begin, wasn’t it?” she whispered to herself.

She checked the time. It was 1:15 am. She actually thought of visiting his memorial at The Columbarium.

Now?
Yes, now.

She could hop on the NCART, and be there in 30 minutes. She lit another cigarette and ran a hand through her silvery-white hair, twirling the distinctive rainbow lock that hung over the left side of her face.

What am I going to do with the rest of my life? Stay in NC? Stay a petty thief? Go out in a blaze of glory, burning up like a shooting star?

She opened the window, and in the distance, far below, Lucy could barely make out the sounds of NCPD sirens. It was raining steadily and of course, she couldn’t see the moon.

She thought of her mother and father, somewhere back in Eastern Europe. Could she ever really go back? Wouldn’t they just force her to return to Arasaka? Be a slave to The Blackwall for the rest of her life?

She’d only just turned 20. There were still so many things she wanted to see and do!

Lucy sighed, and touched the glass windowpane. Drops of rain ran along its surface, and she traced their trajectories, lost in a maze of her own memories. Memories of the boy she’d fallen so in love with….

How she missed lying next to him in bed on a random Sunday morning, watching TV. It didn’t matter what was on. It could have been one long commercial for all she cared. They were together, and that’s all that ever mattered.

As time went on, and David became more machine than human being, Lucy knew she was losing him. She’d lay her head on his chest, and shiver. It was one chrome implant after another and that was the most bitter pill of all to swallow. Everyone knew what was happening, that is, everyone but him. He’d changed so much, and in such a short amount of time! It was like his humanity, his kindness, spirit, and soul were being replaced by something cold and completely devoid of emotion.

“It wasn’t enough,” she lamented, and closed her eyes. “It’s so ironic. I wanted more of you, just as you were losing what little of yourself remained.”

She’d discovered that Arasaka was looking for him. Hunting him, and so she killed as many of their netrunners as possible, trying desperately to keep him safe. But in the end, what good did it do when she could never save him from the one thing that proved to be his downfall?

Himself….

She walked over to the long mirror, and stood in front of it, studying herself in the shadowy darkness….

Lucy ran her hands up and down the length of her sublime body. She stepped out of her white sweatpants, and lifted the hooded sweatshirt up and over her head. She eyed her naked form cautiously, like she was afraid to see these images of herself without David standing next to her, holding and kissing her. She traced the lines of different cyberware that ran along the surface of her stomach and legs. Moments later, She felt goosebumps, and cried out softly.

“Oh, w-why? Why am I so f-fucked up?”

For a long time, Lucy stared at her reflection in the mirror. Every so often, she would close her eyes, hoping that when next she opened them, David Martinez would appear behind her. In fact, what if he’d been there all along, and this nightmare was simply that. A bad dream. And she’d wake up, and everything would be preem. Everything would be nova. Then she could whisper, “Thank god. It was just a dream after all. Just one long, terrible, terrible dream, but it’s over now. You were right here all along.”

Sadly though, his death was all too real and it was happening in her mind, over and over and over again….

She sat down on the floor, bent her knees, and put her head down. Loneliness wove its way around her, like a persistent sickness. A flu or some kind of virus, for which there was no cure.

“M-Maybe I should try to go back home. T-Talk to my father. My mother. Try and explain everything. The three of us could run away. I have money. We could go to Antarctica, or-or someplace like that.” But Lucy shook this notion from her head. “No. No, I-I can never go back. They’ll force me to return to Arasaka. I-I’ll spend the rest of my life behind The Blackwall.” She shuddered, and laid down on her side. “I’m all alone,” she said to her reflection….

Absent-mindedly, she reached for her crumpled sweatpants and grabbed her holophone from the front pocket, hoping for some news. Any news. But it was like opening up an empty refrigerator every thirty seconds, expecting to find something new….

Nothing. No new messages, or missed calls, only Falco’s old, electronic missives. Again, she read his words….

“Hey there, Lucy. Thought I’d let you know there’s a new hotshot merc in town, goes by the name of V. Yep, you read that right, just V. Coincidentally, she found an old XBD someone had scrolled, and it mentioned something about our dear David. Course, when I learned she was snooping around for intel on some of our crew, I did a little digging on my own. Found out she’s got a long history with Arasaka, and it ain’t too pretty. She was high-level corpo for a while, and eventually got canned under mysterious circumstances.

But here’s the kicker. It was her and some others that done the heist on Konpeki. Weird, right? Anyway, through a mutual acquaintance, I gave her David’s jacket. Seems the two of ‘em got more in common than I first thought, ‘specially when it comes to ‘Saka. Now I know you’re plenty capable of taking care of yourself, but I wanted to tell you just in case she comes looking for you, though I highly doubt it. It’s her 15 minutes in the spotlight and she’s got better things to do than go worrying about our old washed up bunch of gonks. Anyway, see ya around. F….”

Lucy was pissed about the jacket! Something about the way Falco so flippantly gave it away, and to a complete stranger no less! It was like letting someone have a piece of David. No. It just didn’t feel right. And the more she thought about it, the more Lucy wanted the thing back!

Who was this V? This new, hotshot merc? Huh? What did she know about Arasaka? For all Lucy knew, she could be a spy! An undercover operative for that evil, horrible corpo machine.

What was Falco thinking? Or was he not thinking at all? Was he simply trying to erase the past, and everyone associated with it?

At 1:30 am, she sent him back a response….

“Falco. Forward me V’s detes. I really wish you wouldn’t have given away David’s jacket! I don’t know why, but it bothers me. I wanna talk to this woman. How do you know she’s not working for them? Just because our crew’s no longer together doesn’t mean they’ve stopped looking for me, or us. Anyway, send me all that you have on this mercenary and I’ll see if I can find out more. L.”

Minutes later, he sent his reply.

“Okay, darlin’. And apologies for not checking in with you first, ya know, ‘bout the jacket. I figured you would have taken it sooner if ya wanted it. Just be careful Lucy. Best not to go stickin’ your nose in where it don’t belong. Told V the same thing. Let me know if you need anythin’ else. F….”

It was 1:40 in the morning. Lucy thought about whether or not to ping the mercenary.

“Why not?” she said. “She’s probably awake anyway. Hmph. Bigshot, my ass,” she grumbled, uploading a quickack to her holophone, rendering it untraceable. She sat there, still naked, and punched in V’s numbers….

V. Night City. July, 2077

It’s 1:00 am, and I’m down here in Arroyo. It’s drizzling. Actually, it’s kinda nice. There’s a million different feelings running around in my head! Fear. Excitement. Worry. Optimism. Pessimism. Joy. And yeah, I know I have this fuckin’ thing in my head that’s killing me, and that I’m possessed by the engram of Johnny Silverhand, the infamous rockerboy turned terrorist, but I’m so fucking alive! I love the feeling of warm wind brushing against my body! Especially ‘cause I’m all sweaty. It’s the middle of July, 75 degrees and humid. I’m walking down the street, just taking it all in. I’ve got on a pair of black jean shorts (cut real high, ‘cause I love ‘em that way!), low-top sneakers, and a white, sleeveless, punk t-shirt (my favorite!) It smells a little different here than it does in the middle of NC proper (especially when it’s raining). I mean, don’t get me wrong, I can still taste the soot, fumes, and smog whenever I take a deep breath, but I can also sense just the tiniest bit of fresh, cool evening air.

I think my senses are so sharp. So acute, because I know I’m running out of time! Six months! That’s all I have left! My body’s all chromed out. Vik keeps warning me to take it easy, and make sure I take my meds. He’s worried about cyberpsychosis, but I think he’s overreacting. I like the feeling of being full of chrome. Living life as close to the edge as I can, right?

I’m so wired, and full of energy! Smoking a cigarette, and watching all the junkies and gangers out of the corner of my eye. Not that I’m really worried. I’m carrying enough firepower to zero any fucking gonk dumb enough to try and fuck with me….

I do a quick scan of my funds, and I nearly laugh out loud. Million of euros! Nova! I should’ve taken Jack’s bike instead of the NCART. Poor Jackie. I still really miss him, ya know? Actually, sometimes I like walking. I don’t know. It suits my nature. My desire to immerse myself in all that Night City has to offer. The preem, the bad and the ugly….

I wanna experience it all! If what Vik says is true, then I’ll be dead soon anyway, so why not live it up. Like those old song lyrics. How did they go again? Oh yeah, yeah. ‘It’s better to burn out, than to fade away.’

Couldn’t fuckin’ agree more!

Johnny (or should I say, Robert. Haha!) and me, we’re really starting to click. He’s still a fucking pain in the ass, but I think we’re finally getting used to each other. Sometimes I swear, it’s like we’re this old married couple. We fight, get on each other’s nerves, curse and swear, but then, at the end of the night, he’s right there with me when I fall asleep. Sitting on the couch, looking over at me, and his is the last face I see before I close my eyes….

If I’m being completely honest, sometimes I wish he could hold me. Is that weird? I wonder what it would feel like. To cuddle up in his arms. Rub my nose against his chest. In another life, he’d probably break my fuckin’ heart anyway. Awww fuck, I bet he’s listening right now and he’s gonna try and embarrass me tomorrow, but so what? I can’t help it. I fantasize about us from time to time. I mean I’m only 23 years old, and well, shit if I’m gonna die, fuck it, right? I mean, how much time do I really have left? Why not go out with a bang! (No pun intended, hahaha!)

Speaking of, I met someone! A techie. Her name’s Judy Alvarez, and she’s fucking drop-dead gorgeous! Smart, funny, and yeah, just all-around cool. We’ve only been on one real, “date,” but we did make love, and it was unbelievable! Best sex (so far) of my life! We met at this abandoned lake-house out near Laguna Bend. We went scuba diving, and she somehow synched our minds? I don’t really understand it, but it was like I could feel her thoughts, and she could feel mine. It was pretty wild. Afterwards, we had sex all night, and it was nova. So intimate and beautiful. (I know I know, Johnny. I-I know I sound like a fucking gonk, but I don’t care!) Anyway, in the morning I woke up all sore, but in a preem way. Judy asked me what I thought, you know about dating, and I told her I wanted to be with her, but that things are so complicated right now that I’m not quite ready for a commitment. My life’s such a mess. I do really, really like her though, and one day, I could definitely see us as a couple, but at this moment, with all the chaos and drama swirling around, I just don’t know if I’m ready for a steady relationship.

Here’s the thing. I’m trying to stay upbeat and positive because I know that once I start going down certain rabbit holes, I’m never gonna find my way out! I’m scared to death (ugh, again! No pun intended). Sometimes, when I’m in the shower, I start coughing, and I look down at my hand, and it’s covered in blood.

I’ve gotta try and figure out a way to get this biochip out of my head. But it’s so much easier said than done. Johnny’s slowly taking over. I can feel it happening. I’m trying so hard to be optimistic, but every day that passes, means I’m that much closer to the end of the line....

….V was startled out of her euphoric trance by the sound of her holophone pinging. She fished it out of her front pocket and looked perplexed. An encrypted number, this late? A fixer? Hmmm, seems like someone or something wants to play hide and seek.

“Hello?”

“Hello? I’m looking for V.”

Right away, the mercenary was struck by the sound of the stranger’s voice. Firm, yet sweet-sounding, elegant but oddly youthful, with an understated edginess.

“Hi. I’m V. Who’s this?”

“That’s not important right now.”

“Oh, no? Okay, then what do you want?”

“Are you familiar with the name, Falco? He forwarded me your detes.”

Falco. Falco? V thought to herself. Where do I know that name from? Why can’t I remember? Ohhh. Wait a second. He was the one who gave Reyes the jacket to give to me. The jacket that once belonged to-to the edgerunner. Ummm…. M-Martinez. That’s right. David Martinez.

“Yes. We spoke last week, via text. I’d found an XBD down in Arro—”

The other woman cut her off. “Did he give you a jacket?”

“Uhhh-huhh. If you would’ve waited for me to finish, I would’ve told you that he did,” V sighed, already annoyed with the vibe of this convo.

“S-So you’re the hotshot merc everyone’s talking about?” Lucy said it with a not so subtle hint of bitterness and jealousy. She was still sitting naked on the floor of her apartment. She lit a cigarette and looked once more into the mirror. Then she turned back and studied the other woman’s tiny image. Her first thought was how attractive V was. Her hair was cut short in a bob, sort of side-swept. She looked confident, sexy, but also guarded, like she was trying to figure out exactly what was going on.

“I’m a solo, yes. Ehhh, I’m not sure what you mean though. Who’s been talkin’ about me?” V asked, her curiosity piquing by the second….

“People that run in our circles, I guess.”

Our circles? Is this woman a mercenary herself? V thought. “W-Who are you? Do we know each other?”

“M-My name’s Lucy. I used to be a part of…. I-I used to, I mean, we—” She realized how traumatized she still was by the whole sordid situation. David’s death, Arasaka, and the end of Maine’s crew. It was all over. She really had no one left. She winced as all these pictures came into her head.

Happier times. The crew celebrating after completing a gig, or just hanging out together. They were her family, and yeah, it was definitely dysfunctional at times, but they were the only family she had. Lucy thought of the notes she left at The Columbarium. She missed them all terribly….

“Helooo?” V said. “Are you there? Lucy, right? Everything okay?”

The young netrunner cleared her throat. Could this woman on the other end of the line be trusted? Could anyone? Trust was in short supply in places like Night City. She learned that lesson the hard way, from Kiwi.

“I’d like David’s coat back. I know Falco gave it to you, but it-it wasn’t his to give! Goddammit!” Lucy was on the verge of tears. In the midst of her outburst, though, she felt something. It was her intuition, and it was telling her V was different. She wasn’t your standard, backstabbing, cutthroat NC mercenary. Lucy couldn’t figure out what it was, after all they barely knew one another, but she remembered something Falco said about V and David having more in common than they thought. What was it? What did they have in common? Arasaka? Was V being hunted just like David? Was she living on borrowed time, like David? Lucy was keenly interested in learning more…. She shook herself free, and blurted out, “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-to yell. We don’t know one another and I, things, well…. Could we, ummm, could we meet, V? He was…. D-David, t-the name you heard on the BD y-you viewed. He was, I-I mean he is very important to me, and I would really, really appreciate it if you could bring his-his jacket. Please.”

Valerie was silent. Even after a few minutes, she could tell this Lucy person was obviously in turmoil. Something was troubling her. It was plain as day. What was it? She sounded sad, yet full of rage. Angry at the world, or maybe herself?

“How do I know I can trust you? After all, you were the one who hid your detes from me,” V asked. She couldn’t totally let her guard down. Not with Arasaka breathing down her neck.

“I-I guess you’ll just have to believe me when I say I-I mean no harm.” Lucy looked at herself again in the mirror. It felt kind of odd talking to this strange woman while she sat naked on the floor of her own apartment. What was going on with her? Was she simply so lonely, she could talk to a stranger all night? “I know you’re probably busy. G-Gigs and all, but-but can you meet me at Afterlife? Say…. Tomorrow, around midnight? I know it’s late.”

V took shelter underneath the tattered awning of an old, abandoned storefront. She lit a cigarette. The rain had picked up, and she ran a hand through her wet hair. “I’d really feel more comfortable if you could uninstall the quickhack on your holo. Can I at least see who I’m talking to?”

Lucy stood up, and jogged to the bathroom. She took a thick, plush robe from behind the door, threw it on, and tied it at the waist. Then she did as the merc asked, and a moment later, her icon appeared and her face was finally visible.

Quietly, Valerie gasped. This girl was breathtakingly beautiful. Her silvery-white hair was cut short, except for a single, rainbow-colored lock, which hung down the left side of her face. It was hard to tell, but it looked like her eyes were purplish, but-but did they also shimmer and change color? There was a sadness about her, and V could tell by the girl’s expression, she’d put up walls to protect herself.

The two young women eyed each other cautiously. No one spoke, but as the seconds ticked by, they both seemed to relax, even if it was only a tiny bit.

….And then V smiled. It was almost imperceptible, but Lucy noticed, and so she smiled back. It wasn’t over the top or demonstrative. It was very subtle, and yet that made it so much more authentic.

“O-Okay, Lucy. I’ll meet you at Afterlife. Tomorrow. Midnight.”

“Bye. V….”

But as she went to hang up, the mercenary called out softly, “Lucy?”

“Uh-huh?”

“I-I like your hair. Especially this,” Valerie said, and pointed to Lucy’s multi-colored strand of hair….

The netrunner smirked. “Thanks," she said. "I like yours too….”

Chapter Text

The Following Night

Judy. Lizzie’s Bar. 11:00 pm.

Ugh! So fuckin’ hot in this basement. Tunin’ smut virtus all night, and all I wanna do is ping V and have sex. I want to rub my body against hers for hours. I wanna fuck until we're so sore we can’t even stand up straight. Shit, I feel like locking myself in the closet down here and masturbating. I can’t stop thinking about last week, and the lake-house.

(Can’t stop thinking about her!)

I hadn’t felt that good in, fuck, like forever! I wish she would’ve been more into the idea of us bein’ a couple. I understand though. She’s got a lot going on. Her life’s so full of chaos, and I actually respect her for being honest and upfront with me. At least she left the door open for something in the future. The last thing I need right now is a bad relationship, especially after what happened to Evelyn. Don’t get me wrong, if V pinged me right now, and said she wanted to be exclusive, I’d scream and jump for joy. Oh, hell yeah I would! I’ve never met anyone as sexy! Fucking preem body. Perfect tits, and an ass to die for. You fuckin’ kidding me? She’s so fucking gorgeous, and some of her outfits are just like, wow! I love her sense of style. I just feel so bad that she’s livin’ on borrowed time, ya know? She told me all about the shard, and Johnny Silverhand. I sensed him the other night when I synced up our minds. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I think I’m falling for her. And fast….

Judy sat back in her chair, lit a cigarette and took a couple deep drags. She put it out and reached in one of the drawers, where she found a small fan. She set it down on the desk, closed her eyes and turned it on. It blew cool air all over her reddened, sweaty face. It was little relief though, because she was already so hot and bothered, especially between her legs….

“I wanna ping you so bad, V,” she whispered aloud in the stuffy, humid basement. “Would you answer? Would you touch me like you did last week? Could you make me feel as good? I’d beg you if that’s what it took.” She smiled and shook her head. “Judy Alvarez, you fucking gonk. Just message her. Ask her if she wants to meet you here. Do it.” She checked the time. It was 11:30….

“Hey. Guess who?” :)

As soon as she sent it, Judy felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. What if she doesn’t answer? What if she says no? What if, oh shit…. What if she says she’s not interested anymore?

V’s Apartment. Watson.

It was after 11, and Valerie’s meeting with Lucy was in 45 minutes. She’d just gotten out of the shower and was rifling through her wardrobe, tossing clothes indiscriminately on the floor, the couch, and the bed. Basically, she was throwing things all over the apartment.

“Ugh. I don’t have anything to wear!” She said, exasperated, tossing a black bra over her shoulder. “I can’t find one thing! I hate my clothes,” she said in a spoiled, bitchy voice.

Both Johnny and the cat were staring at her curiously. Like they were trying to figure out if she literally meant she had nothing to wear?

“You have a thousand fucking shirts, blouses, dresses, and just as many pairs of pants. Hmmm. And you say you have nothing to wear,” Johnny muttered. “What is it with you? Huh? You don’t even know this girl? Why are you acting like a fucking gonk?”

“Shut up! I am not! Don’t annoy me, Johnny! Not tonight! I got a lot on my mind, okay?”

“No you don’t. You have one thing on your mind, and I know exactly what it is. You haven’t gotten laid since you were with that chick last week.”

Valerie turned around and threw a pair of shorts as hard as she could at the rockerboy’s engram.

“I SAID SHUT UP! GOD! FUCK OFF!”

Johnny gave her the finger and lit another imaginary cigarette. “On edge already, are we? Cyberpsychosis. Classic Symptoms,” he scoffed. “I knew it.”

“I CAN’T FIND THE FUCKING JACKET!” She meant the one Falco had given to Reyes to give to her. The one that belonged to David Martinez, the former edgerunner. “DID I FUCKIN’ LEAVE IT AT ANOTHER APARTMENT? WHERE THE FUCK IS IT?” She stopped. “Shit,” she said. “Shit, I remember now. It’s in Westbrook. Fuck. It's at my apartment in Japantown. Shit!”

There’d never be enough time to go and get it, and make it back to Afterlife. Not now. It was almost 11:30.

Eventually, and after a ton of fussing and fighting, she settled on a pair of rust-colored leather pants, belt, boots, and a vintage Samurai sleeveless tee (to which Johnny sarcastically called her a poser). Valerie was pacing back and forth from the window to the sink, like she was on her way to a meeting with some ultra important fixer or client, trying to remember if she forgot anything. She walked over to Nibbles, picked her up and used her thumb to rub underneath the cat’s neck. Soon, she was purring loudly and happily….

“Alright. I’m gonna get going,” she announced, putting the cat down in the hamper, and giving the middle finger to Johnny Silverhand. “How do I look?” She asked the rockerboy.

“Like someone trying too hard,” he scoffed.

“I should have known better. My fault for asking.” She rolled her eyes and turned to leave.

Johnny stood up and nodded. “You look really good, V. Be careful, okay? You don’t know this girl. Remember that.”

“I know. I gotta delta.” She checked the time. 11:45. “Shit. I gotta hurry. And thanks…. Johnny,” she winked. Luckily, Afterlife wasn’t too far away from her place. She was taking the motorcycle tonight.

As she rode the elevator down, her phone pinged twice. Two messages.

The first was from Lucy. “Hi. It’s Lucy. I’m here. It’s packed. I got us a private booth in the back. I hope you didn’t forget the jacket. See you soon.”

“Fuck,” V whispered, looking at the second message.

“Hey. Guess who?” :)

It was Judy Alvarez....

V stepped outside, took a deep breath and stepped into Night City. After being cooped up inside all day, it was like diving off a steep cliff into a pool of ice cold water. It felt wonderfully exhilarating and exciting, but also a little fucking scary too….

V replied to the techie. “Ummm, let me think. Hmmm. Is it…. Judy? Hi!”

“Hey! So I know it’s late, but I was wondering if you wanted to meet me at Lizzie’s for a drink. I’m just finishing up with work (tuning smut all night! Ooof!) and I could use a cold beer (or 10!). Please, please say yes!”

As she made her way to the parking garage, and the Yaiba, Valerie sighed. She would've loved to have met Judy tonight! Despite her earlier outrage at Johnny for suggesting she was simply horny, and needing to get laid, he was exactly right. Of course he was. After all, he was in her head 24/7. He knew her innermost thoughts and feelings. Her deepest, darkest desires….

“Awww, Judy,” she said aloud, and then typed, “Shit. I’m so sorry. I can’t tonight. I’m meeting a client about a gig. Can I get a raincheck? Pretty please?”

From the basement of the club, Judy pounded the desk. “I knew it," she said, softly. "I fucking knew it. She’s not into me. I fucking knew it. N-No. No stop. It was last minute. V had plans. She’s a famous merc for fuck’s sake! What did you think? She’d just be hangin’ out by herself and watching TV? Really? On a Saturday night? Answer her. Tell her yes, of course!”

Judy couldn’t believe how upset she was! She almost burst into tears! It was embarrassing! Why was she overreacting like this? She bit her bottom lip, and looked over in the direction of the storage closet.

“Awww, boo hoo! Okay. No problem. Let’s try again in a couple days. Yeah?” She started feverishly tapping her foot, waiting for the mercenary to answer….

“Nova! Ping me! Hopefully see you soon! Bye, Judy!”

“Night, V….”

Afterlife.

She stood outside the double doors of the bar and checked the time.

12:02 am.

Even from where she stood, V could hear the thumping, pounding bass of the techno beat playing over the speakers. Anybody who’s anybody came to Afterlife. It was one of the most famous clubs in all of NC. All the trendiest, preemest parties took place within its walls, and it was the favorite watering hole for the city’s most influential, infamous mercs, solos, fixers, and netrunners.

As soon as she walked inside, a warm humid gust of air and the scent of sweating bodies hit her in the face. It was like V’s senses were quickly and decisively overloaded. People came out of the woodwork to greet and say hi to her. People whose names she couldn’t remember for the life of her.

She smiled, shook hands, gave hugs, and even posed for one or two selfies. Everyone was drinking, dancing, singing, and shouting.

V went into one of the bathroom stalls and texted Lucy. “Hey. I’m here. Sorry I’m late. Place is packed. Where are you?”

“From the entrance, go left, past the bar, and it’s the last booth all the way in the back. If I’d known it was gonna be like this, I would have suggested someplace else. Sorry.”

“No problem. Be there in a sec.”

She stopped to look at herself in the mirror.

“You look really fuckin’ good, Valerie,” she whispered to herself.

She did some last-minute touch ups, and made her way through the throng of people. Past the bar, it grew quieter. Not much, but at least it was a bit less noisy. She found the private booth, slid the door open and saw Lucy sitting down by herself, drinking a beer. When she saw the merc, she stood up, smiled, and stuck out her hand.

Valerie felt a flutter in her chest. Her first thought was, ‘Oh my god! S-She’s so much more beautiful in person!’

Lucy had a perfect figure. Absolutely stunning. She was tall and slender. About 5’7”. Fair-skinned, with pure white hair cut short, in a similar kind of bob. The left side was longer, rainbow-colored, and she had the most alluring, purplish-blue eyes. Small lips, and a tiny nose. Lines of cyberware ran along the contours of her neck, and the exposed parts of her stomach….

V assumed she was a netrunner by the type of outfit she was wearing. A preem, high-collared white nylon jacket, a black netrunning bodysuit over a pair of skinny white shorts, belt, leggings that reached her thighs, and a pair of knee-high boots. She looked incredible, and the mercenary found herself unable to avert her eyes.

But there was also a profound sense of melancholy surrounding this enigmatic young woman that was apparent from the get-go. Lucy seemed to carry a heavy burden. She looked tired, serious, and weighed down by some invisible hurt. Even her smile held a tinge of pain. When she ran a hand through her hair, V noticed a deep-dive port installed in the back of her head. Top of the line equipment like that cost tens of thousands of euros. Maybe more. Where did she get that amazing gear?

When their hands clasped, they both smirked uncomfortably. They had sweaty palms. After all, it was the middle of summer, and it was hot as hell inside the smoldering club.

For her part, Lucy thought V incredibly attractive. Although the mercenary was dressed somewhat casually, her choice of clothing perfectly accented her lithe figure. But when Lucy saw signs of implants and chrome, she paused. For some reason, seeing V’s cyberware made her think of David….

A server came by to take their order. They both said, “Beer. Ice cold….”

Lucy sat down first and scooted over. Then she motioned V to join her. There were no chairs, just a wraparound booth in the shape of a half-circle. They sat as far apart as they could without it being too obvious….

“So, you must have chooms in high places, to get us a spot like this? On a Saturday night, no less?” V tried to sound unassuming and easygoing, but her words came out as competitive, and the other girl just shrugged her bare shoulders, and lit a cigarette.

After a short, awkward silence, Lucy asked, “Just, V? Is that short for something else?” She studied the merc’s face. Meanwhile, the waitress came back and set their drinks down on the table.

“Just, V. That’s it.” She raised her bottle to signal a toast. “Cheers,” she said.

Lucy lifted hers, and murmured, “Cheers.”

They toasted, and the sound of their clinking bottles rang out in the immediate spaces before them.

Valerie was studying the young netrunner intently, trying to figure out if she was older or younger. Lucy looked to be somewhere between 18-22 years old, but appearances could be altered dramatically, especially in places like Night City, where looks and superficiality were such a large part of society. Finally, she went out on a limb and asked, “So, how do you know Falco? Were you two in the same crew?”

Lucy shot her a dirty look, like she’d said something inappropriate. “Pfft,” she scoffed. “O-Our crew.” She stiffened up, took another sip of her beer, and whispered, “Me and him? W-We’re the only ones left, b-but we’ve g-gone dark.”

Valerie watched the girl’s movements. She was shaky, like she no longer trusted herself or her feelings. She tried to break the ice and muttered, “H-Hey, listen. For what it’s worth, I’m-I’m sorry. I know it’s none of my business, but I ju—.”

“That’s right,” Lucy interrupted, and in a low, menacing voice, continued, “it isn’t any of your business. Y-You think you’re so special? Why? S-Sitting on top of the world? Your fifteen minutes in the sun? Heh, well, let me tell you something, V. It can all be over like that.” Loudly, she snapped her fingers. “Like that.” She turned away, and shook her head. Embarrassed by her outburst and full of bitterness at the rest of the world. The ghosts were out tonight and she couldn’t outrun them. They’d caught up with her again.

….All of them, almost the entire crew, gone, like a dream that oddly gets harder, but also more painful to remember as the days go by.

(Oh, David….)

“Ummm,” Valerie wasn’t sure how to react. It was crystal clear this young netrunner had a ton of issues. And as much as she thought herself kind and sympathetic, she had her own imminent death to deal with. The relic was killing her. She had better things to do than sit around in a crowded nightclub, and take a verbal tongue-lashing from someone she barely knew at all…. “Well, fuck this,” she whispered, and went to stand up, “I’m outta here,” but then she felt a hand gently grab her forearm.

“Please,” Lucy said in a cracked voice. “I-I’m sorry. Please, sit back down.” She looked up at V, and her eyes were glazed over. “Can I tell you a story? From one merc to another?”

V sat back down, and Lucy proceeded to tell her all about the crew. Their meteoric rise and fall within Night City’s underworld. She was careful not to divulge anything that could compromise her secrecy; anything that could be used against her later on. She did briefly mention Faraday, the ruthless fixer who sold them all out, but she steered clear of any other specific, sensitive details. She didn’t mention her childhood, or growing up as a netrunner prodigy in the hands of Arasaka. It was too soon for all of that. Much too soon.

….After Kiwi betrayed her, Lucy swore never to let her guard down again. Instead, she spoke eloquently about her friends. That ragtag bunch of edgerunners were the only family she’d ever really known. It was a cathartic moment. And as she talked, Lucy realized V was such a good listener. Patiently, she sat there, and didn’t interrupt once. She let her talk and that was all Lucy really needed; someone to hear her pain. Someone that wouldn’t judge her. V understood the merc life. She understood the machinations of Night City. How they were all just cogs in one big shallow, greedy, materialistic machine. None of their choices were ever simply black or white. Right or wrong. They lived in a world of ambiguities; of uncertainties and constant moral dilemmas. Who better to hear Lucy’s tale than a fellow traveler of this dystopian world?

When she came to the part of David’s rapid descent into cyberpsychosis, she faltered. Lucy grew more animated and upset. She lit one cigarette after another.

“H-He sank, d-deeper and deeper. I lost him. I-I tried to warn him. T-Tried to….” Lucy gasped, as she felt the warmth of V’s hand on top of hers.

“It’s okay,” the merc whispered. “Take your time. I’m listening.”

“I hate this c-city. Hate it with a passion.” the netrunner said, and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. “It’s a-a prison. A-All my friends are gone. Night City destroyed them.” She shook her head back and forth and faced the merc. “W-We barely know each other. I-I’m sorry for laying all this shit on you, V.”

“Don't apologize." She sighed. “Sometimes, I get so overwhelmed myself. This city. It’s like, everything’s moving so fast, and I can’t keep up. Like I’m in one of those time lapse BD’s where it’s all sped up, but I’m just standing still.

From the end of the booth, Johnny suddenly appeared. He rolled his eyes exaggeratedly. “C’mon. Let’s delta the fuck outta here. You really wanna take on all this gonk’s drama too? Look at you. Already with the self-pity. Let’s go home,” he said, annoyed and impatient.

“Shhhhhhh,” V whispered. “N-Not now, ‘kay?”

“Huh?” Lucy said, opening her eyes. “Did you say something?”

“Oh, no. Just-Just thinking out loud. Sorry.”

“Can I ask you something, V?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Falco told me you used to work for Arasaka.”

Valerie tensed and glared at the young netrunner. “So? What’s the question?”

“What happened?” Lucy’s breathing grew heavier. Her nerves were fraying. Was V really who she claimed to be, or was she an agent sent to capture her?

“It’s a long story. And frankly, we don’t know each other well enough for me to go into all the sordid details. Let’s just say, I got dismissed from my position. Ignominiously, I might add.”

“What was your position?” The young netrunner persisted.

“Heh, ahhh fuck it. Why not?” Valerie shrugged her shoulders, and downed her beer. She took a huge gulp of the second. “I worked with Counter Intel. The good old, C.I.D. Fuckin’ joke,” she sneered.

This revelation sent Lucy reeling. She stood up and said, “People, t-they don’t just leave those kinds of positions, unless it’s in a body bag. Who are you?”

Valerie looked up at her curiously. “Huh? I told you. I’m a solo in Night City. I’m sure Falco told you that too. He said he dug around in my past. What, you don’t believe me? You think I’m lying? Lucy? Sit down, please.”

She did, although they were now at opposite ends of the booth. “Please. Please, tell me what happened? You were in their CounterIntelligence Division?”

“Employee ID, 770416. That’s me. I was actually second in command."

This time, Lucy audibly gasped. Was she being played? “W-WHAT? WHAT THE FUCK?” A thought crossed her mind. Should she try to disable V’s cyberware? A couple of quickhacks uploaded to the queue?

“What is it with you?” V asked. “I’m not affiliated with them anymore. At all. And yeah, t-they tried to h-have me zeroed. Do I have to say it out loud? You get the idea, Lucy.” Valerie then went on to explain her downfall as a corpo employee. She talked about her supervisor, Arthur Jenkins, and that bitch Abernathy. When she finished, she looked to see Lucy eyeing her strangely….

“What?”

“I just, I-I never thought I’d be at Afterlife, talking to a former employee of Arasaka turned famous mercenary. It’s just very weird.”

“Hmph, tell me about it.”

They both kind of smiled, and for the first time since they sat down, they felt somewhat at ease being in each other’s company. The ice wasn’t quite broken yet, but it was definitely cracking. Lucy made sure not to press V about what went down at Konpeki Plaza. Things were finally starting to calm down a bit.

“Can I ask you another question, V?”

“Ugh, can’t we just enjoy our drinks? What?”

“Did you forget something?” Lucy asked, out of the corner of her eye. She sat up, and took a sip of her beer.

“I-I didn’t forget, but I don’t have the jacket with me. I thought I’d left it at my Megabuilding apartment, but it wasn’t there, which means it’s in Japantown. I have a place I use to crash at sometimes, like when I’ve got gigs in Westbrook. I’m sorry, Luce.”

Neither of them noticed how natural it was that V referred to the netrunner by her nickname. It was so fluid that it didn’t affect the convo at all….

“Really, V? You know, I was hoping I could get it from you tonight.” Lucy downed her beer. She was on number six, while V was on her fourth. It was after 2 am. It was getting late….

“Hey, I have an idea. My bike’s parked out front. How did you get here?”

“I took the metro.”

“Do you wanna ride to Westbrook with me, and we can pick it up tonight?”

Lucy shifted uncomfortably on the cushions. For some reason, V’s offer made her feel self-conscious and frazzled. The thought of being inside one of the merc’s apartments made her nervous. She wasn’t quite sure why as they’d just spent over two hours together, talking, arguing, being friendly and being bitchy to one another in equal measure. In fact, if she was being completely honest with herself, she was having a really good time!

So then maybe it was best to end things on a high note? Maybe it was time to delta, and say her goodbyes. Then she thought of spending another night alone, staring out of her living room windows, feeling depressed and scared to go to sleep, lying in a bed that's way too big for one person. Did she really need the jacket right now? Nah. It was something else, wasn’t it? Could it be, she just missed having someone to talk to? Missed having that kind of companionship in her life?

“O-Okay. Let’s do it,” she surprised herself by answering.

The mercenary smiled. “Preem. Let’s have one more beer, and then delta. Sound good?”

Lucy definitely had a nice buzz on. She felt good. It was still so hot in the city and lately, she’d spent so much time by herself that the idea of hanging out with V on the back of a motorcycle actually sounded like a lot of fun….

“Yep. Sounds nova. Thank you, V...."

Chapter Text

Lucy & V

….I’m speeding through Night City on the back of V’s bike. Neither of us are wearing helmets, but the wind feels so good on our faces! I’ve got my arms around her waist, my eyes are closed, and my chin’s resting against her back. Is that, I mean, is that weird? We just met! I hope she doesn’t think so, but something tells me V doesn’t mind. I’m warming up to her, and vice-versa (I hope).

This feels so liberating! I wish her place was farther away! I wish we could ride like this for hours!

I open my eyes and for a few seconds it’s like a vivid neon jungle. I squeeze my eyes shut and listen to the different sounds of the city. Sounds of the animal kingdom. The decline of 21st century society. The humming engine of the V’s Yaiba, as it flies down the highway. The car horns blaring, the NCPD sirens, screams, gunshots, all of it. My senses overload, and I’m giddy. I haven’t felt this good in, in…. I-I can’t even remember when!

I feel nova! For the first time in weeks, it actually feels good to be alive…. We’re on our way to V’s apartment in Japantown to pick up David’s jacket.

“YOU OKAY BACK THERE!” The merc shouted over the roar of the engine. “WE’RE ALMOST HOME!”

“UH-HUH! I’M GOOD!”

“PREEM! HANG ON FOR THE FINAL STRETCH AND DON’T LET GO!”

“OKAYYYY!”

V accelerated, and the two of them were suddenly moving so fast! It was like they were pushing the limits of the machine as it sliced through the humid night air, like a prototype of some secret, aerodynamic rocket. Lucy opened her eyes again, and saw the city speeding past them, one gigantic blur streaked with vibrant trails of light. Something took a hold of her in that moment, and she cried out, jubilantly. Later on, when she tried to figure out why, she couldn’t come up with an explanation. It was just one of those moments.

The uninhibited freedom and spontaneity of life….

“YEAHHHHH!!” Lucy screamed as loud as she could, and then shouted, “WHOOOOOO!!” She heard the mercenary laugh, and switch gears, cutting through the streets at breakneck speed.

(I needed this, Lucy said to herself. I don’t know why, but I just did. I’ve been feeling so shitty lately. So down in the dumps, and nothing was working out. Ever since I said goodbye to you on the moon, I felt like, what’s the point, ya know? If I can’t wrap my arms around you in bed, then I, well let’s just say, I needed this tonight.)

Finally, V slowed down, turned a corner, and pulled into the small lot behind her building. She turned the bike off, but they both stayed seated for a few more seconds, breathing heavily and panting for air. Almost right away, the humidity settled back in. Lucy touched her forehead. It was damp with sweat. V pushed the kickstand down, threw one leg over the seat and stepped off. She shook her head, letting the endorphins settle in nicely. She turned back and looked warmly at the netrunner....

“You okay? I know I was going fast. Just seemed like that kind of night.”

“Oh, yeah. I-I’m good. It was a preem ride. No worries. It was a lot of fun.” Lucy got off, and they made their way inside the building.

Japantown Apartment.

“Make yourself comfortable,” V said, pointing to the small couch along the near wall. “Wanna beer, or a Nicola? You hungry?” She walked over and lit a stick of cinnamon vanilla incense. In a few minutes, the room smelled pleasant and sweet.

“I’ll have a beer,” Lucy said. “Can we smoke in here?”

V whipped around and smirked. “Wha—? Hehe, you gonk. Of course.” She shook her head in mock annoyance and went to the fridge. She returned with two bottles of ice cold beer and handed one to the young netrunner. “Oh yeah. I’ll go and grab the jacket out of the closet. Hang on a sec. I know it’s hot. I don’t stay here that much, so I usually leave the a.c. off. Want me to turn it back on?”

Lucy shifted on the couch. Her bodysuit was hugging her tight. She felt itchy, and sticky. But she shook her head. “Nah, I’m okay. It’s not too bad in here.”

“Okay.” V flipped her shoes off in the middle of the floor, and walked away.

Lucy leaned back on the couch, stretched and yawned loudly. She sighed, exhausted, and said aloud, “Ugh, I’m tired.” For the first time, she looked around and took in her surroundings.

The merc's place was small, but it was set up nicely. There was a fridge, computer, TV, and several kinds of potted plants that sat on various shelves along the walls. She saw a guitar leaning against the couch, and two ashtrays full of old cigarette butts. From where she sat, Lucy couldn’t tell where the bedroom or the bathroom was. She could hear V in the distance, rifling through her wardrobe.

A minute later, she returned, holding David’s yellow and white edgerunner jacket. As soon as Lucy saw it, she gasped loudly....

“I-I, I’m sorry! Shit! I just, it’s just, I-I haven’t seen it in weeks!” She put her head down, and said, "I-I just can't believe he's gone...."

V hung the jacket on the back of one of the stools, and sat down. She put a hand on Lucy’s shoulder, and whispered, “I’m sorry. D-Do you wanna talk about it? I don’t want to pry.”

“H-He was so stubborn! So young! I didn’t need to be saved!” She cried. “He had his whole life ahead of him, and we were so happy at the beginning. It just wasn’t enough time!” She looked at V, and her face was red. Tears ran down from her bloodshot eyes, and her cheeks were damp with moisture. “I’m sorry. We don’t even know each other! Here. You know what? Just give me the jacket, and let me delta the fuck out of here!”

But V rubbed her shoulder and murmured words of encouragement. “Tell me what happened, Lucy. You said a lot at the club, about your friends, a-about the crew. But you didn’t talk about him as much. About David. Were you in love with him?”

“Y-Yes,” Lucy whimpered. “I loved him. He went crazy. Cyberpsychosis. It broke my fucking heart! A-Arasaka, t-they….”

At the mention of the corpo, the mercenary stiffened. “They what? W-What did Arasaka do?”

“T-They were hunting him. They wanted the Sandevistan. They wanted D-David to be their test subject! It would have been torture! Torture! Everyone wanted the fucking Sandevistan! I-I killed so m-many of them. I was only trying to protect him! I-I killed them all!”

V listened as Lucy spoke in disjointed, fragmentary half-sentences and phrases. She rambled on about the things she did in order to protect the edgerunner. At times, it was hard to follow, but she sat there patiently, reaching down, and holding Lucy’s hand.

“You were only trying to protect the person you loved. D-Don’t let the guilt eat away at you.” V whispered, and squeezed the young netrunner’s hand tight. “Listen. I-I know how ruthless, h-how evil they are. Believe me. You did what you thought was right at the time. Life isn’t about black and white. Not here. Not in Night City. S-Sometimes we have to make really, really tough decisions. It’s so easy to look back and second guess ourselves. I-I know because I do it too. It’s hard being a mercenary. It’s hard….”

And then, Lucy shocked them both. She stared at V, and lunged, hugging her as tightly as she could….

“It’s been s-so hard w-without him,” she said into V's shoulder. “Without any of them. I’m barely hanging on. B-Barely keeping it together. Every day it’s a struggle; just to get out of bed. S-Sometimes I sit in my apartment, a-and I cry. I cry for hours, thinking about how it’s all so temporary. He’d just turned 18. 18!! And now he’s gone! And he’ll never know how much he meant to me. How much I loved him!” And then, without thinking, she laid her head down gently in V’s lap….

Lucy knew this wasn’t like her. Not at all. She would have never been this open and emotional around someone she’d only just met. It was completely out of character for her. But there was something about this mercenary that made her feel like it was okay to be vulnerable. To open up and share her feelings. Somehow she just knew that V had the capacity to be empathetic and non-judgmental….

Falco was right. V and David had more things in common than anyone might’ve thought. Most important being their subjugation at the hands of Arasaka….

“H-Hey. Listen,” V said in a soothing, calming voice. “I have an idea. Why don’t you crash here tonight? You can sleep on the couch. I’ll go grab you a change of clothes. Tomorrow, we can talk about it more. What do you say?”

She felt the netrunner’s head nodding against her thigh. “O-Okay. I’m sorry f-for acting like a gonk.”

“Don’t apologize, Luce. Here. Ooof, let me just scoot out for a sec. I’ll put this pillow under your head. Here. Okay?”

“Mhmm.” Lucy turned on her side. She was thankful for the opportunity to crash here. Her outfit was really bothering her, and she wanted to get out of these clothes immediately.

V returned, holding a dull-yellow, sleeveless t-shirt, and white sweatpants. “This okay?”

Lucy opened her eyes, smiled, and said, “Uh-huh. Perfect. W-Where’s the bathroom?”

The merc pointed to her right. “It’s around this corner, behind the beaded curtain. Can’t miss it,” she winked. Take your time. There’s real water in the fridge.”

V turned to walk away but Lucy reached out and grabbed her by the arm. “V. T-Thank you. Not just for David’s jacket, b-but for everything else tonight. For listening to me, and not storming out when I lost my temper at the club. Just being patient, I guess, a-and letting me crash here.”

“You’re welcome. We mercs have to take care of ourselves, right?”

“Hah, I guess we do.”

Lucy Kushinada stood up, and made her way to the bathroom. She stood in front of the mirror and studied herself intently. She traced the lines of cyberware running parallel to her chin, and along the surface of her stomach. She ruffled her hair, and slowly started to take off her clothes.

She threw the jacket on the floor. And then she removed her belt, netrunner bodysuit, shorts, leggings, and finally, her boots.

She tilted her head upwards, and looked at her naked body. Lucy ran her fingers up and down her legs, and arms. It was warm in V’s apartment. Her skin felt damp, and she could smell the perspiration coming from underneath her arms. She pressed the palms of her hands against her breasts, and bit her bottom lip. Her eyes moved lower, until they landed between her legs. It felt good to let her body breathe....

“I’m just, I-I think I’m just, lonely,” she whispered, quickly putting on the clothes V had given her. She picked her outfit up off the floor, and scrunched it into a ball. There was a hamper next to the sink, and Lucy looked to see a bunch of V’s dirty clothes piled up there. She noticed a pair of the mercenary’s underwear, a blue thong, and she blushed, fiercely. It was weird being in such an intimate space as V’s bathroom. Lucy looked at the shower. It was leaking, and the sound of dripping water penetrated the immediate stillness. “Can I. Uhhh, should I just throw my stuf—!”

“In the hamper!” V yelled from the other end of the apartment. “Don’t worry about that now!”

“Okay….”

Lucy went to the couch, and saw that V had left her a thin sheet, and a long green blanket. Both were folded up nicely, and there was another stick of incense burning a few feet away. This one smelled of sandalwood, and it was perfect….

V came around the corner and stood watching. She’d changed into a pair of shorts, and an old sweatshirt. “You okay, Luce?”

“Mhmm. Thanks again.”

“No problem. I’m gonna go lie down. Help yourself to whatever you want.”

“Okay. And V?”

“Yeah?”

“G’night.”

“Night-night.”

By the time Lucy drifted off to sleep, it was almost 5 am. She dreamt of being on a rooftop somewhere in Arroyo. From a distance, she could see Megabuilding 4, David’s building. The one he'd shared with his mother, Gloria. Strange creatures kept going inside. An endless amount. They weren’t exactly human, though they walked on two feet. It was vaguely unsettling, but thankfully only lasted a few minutes….

Meanwhile, V stayed up a little later. She got stuck looking at her holophone and reading about the explosion at Arasaka Tower from last year. It seemed like there were lots of details missing from the articles, and as a result, she was only able to get bits and pieces of the whole story. She wondered what, if any, Lucy’s role had been. When her eyes grew heavy, she finally decided to try and fall asleep.

Valerie thought of Judy Alvarez, and of their night together at the Laguna Bend. She still felt bad about having to say no to her earlier in the evening. Maybe she could make it up to the techie tonight?

As she closed her eyes, and rolled over, an image of Lucy popped into her head. The young netrunner was an enigma. And though she opened up a lot tonight, V still felt like she was keeping things close to the vest. She was no closer to figuring out the exact nature of David Martinez’s demise, or Lucy’s life before she came to Night City. But then Valerie reminded herself that it’d only been one night, and that trust takes a long, long time to build, especially in NC.

As she grew more and more sleepy, V subconsciously grabbed a spare pillow and pushed it between her legs. She was at that point where her body was so tired, but also strangely aroused. Her circuits were misfiring and her libido was all out of whack. She was almost asleep, but a dull, aching urge took hold of her, and she slowly started rubbing against the pillow. She moved up and down, and let out quiet moans as the front of her pussy brushed the cotton fabric of the inside of her shorts. Her mind filled with images of Judy and Lucy. The three of them, together, making love in V’s Corpo Plaza apartment. Her eyes were closed, and she kept licking her lips, trying to imagine Lucy’s nude body and the smell of their lovemaking filling the air.

She heard herself whimper, and slowed down for a second, fearing Lucy might have heard her, but the netrunner was fast asleep on the couch, snoring lightly….

Again, V picked up speed, holding the pillow with one hand, and firmly grinding against it. She was fantasizing about lying in bed on her back. Lucy had her legs open, and she was turned around, riding Valerie's face and it felt fucking phenomenal. Judy's legs were spread too, and their pussies were bouncing off each other. The techie and the netrunner were making out passionately as they fucked Valerie into a strange, nova, euphoric oblivion.

It was a wonderful, beautiful image, and V went fast and faster, holding the pillow as hard as she could against her erogenous zones.

When it came time for her to climax, she had to bite down hard on her thumb to keep from crying out. It was an incredibly powerful rush, and V ended up covering her mouth with the blanket, while she moaned and worked her way through an tender yet passionately intense orgasm….

It seemed to last a long, long time, but when it was over, she pouted softly in the darkness and immediately wanted to give herself another. She felt so good now. So warm. So comfortably tired, and full of emotion that without realizing it, she drifted calmly off the sleep, and didn’t wake until the following afternoon….

And deep, deep down in her most secret places, V desperately wished Lucy would have joined her in bed....

Chapter Text

Sunday Afternoon. Japantown.

….Valerie awoke first. She yawned, groaned and stretched loudly.

“Mmmm, Ahhh…. ‘M s-so fucking tired.” In the bright afternoon, she blinked and called out, “Lucy? Luce?”

“Uhhh, yeah? Mmph, mmmm.”

“You okay?”

“Mhmm, tired.”

“Shit, sorry. Did I wake you up?”

“Ughh, kind of, V. Ugh.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Valerie’s holophone pinged with a message.

“Hey! It’s Judy. How are you?”

Again, V groaned loudly, and fumbled around with her phone. She kept dropping it on her chest, because she was still 75% asleep. “Judy. Hi. Good. Tired.”

“Tired? Lol, it’s one in the afternoon. Hehe, You okay?”

“Oh yeah. Yes. Just got in a little late last night.”

“Oh….”

From her apartment in Northside, Judy closed her eyes and sighed sadly. ‘V’s seeing someone,’ she thought. ‘It’s clear as day. She’s still asleep? This late in the afternoon? Where was she? In some billionaire corpo’s bedroom downtown? How can she still be asleep? Was she having sex all last night?’

V studied the one word response. ‘She must think I’m with someone. Well, I am. With someone. Just not the way she thinks.’ “Judy? What’s going on?”

“Are you busy, right now?”

“Ummm, no. Just fell asleep kinda late. Was at Afterlife until like 2:30.”

“2:30? Hmmm, sounds like fun. Meeting with a fixer that late?” Judy was hit with blinding jealousy.

“Yeah. I ended up staying and chatting for a while after the meeting ended. Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I’m okay.”

“Judy?”

“What, V?”

“What’s. Going. On?”

“Nothing, nothing. I’ll talk to you later on, okay? Bye.” Judy threw her holo against the wall, and went to the window. It was already hot and humid in the city. She stood there, looking out at the passing cars. Right away, she felt herself trying to hold back tears, but she couldn’t, and before long, they were running down her cheeks….

“I thought we had something special, V! Huh? I mean. Barely a week later, and you’re fucking someone else? Sheesh. I mean, really?”

She jumped. Her phone was pinging.

“H-Hello?”

“Judy. It’s me. What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know! I mean. A-Are you with someone? You’re in bed, right? I mean I know it’s none of my business but like, I-I really dig you, and I thought we shared something special the other night. Didn’t you? You look like you just woke up! Jesus! V?”

Valerie looked at the techie’s image. She was really upset. “N-No. I-I mean, yes. I mean, yes I’m-I’m still in bed, but-but no, no I’m not with someone. Not like that. No, I-I just. Shit, it’s a-a long story, but no I didn’t sleep with anyone last night.”

“No?”

V licked her lips. “Judy. No. But, but we’re not a couple, ya know? Not exclusive. I like you. I really, really like you, but I told you, right now, I got a lot of shit going on. A-And that’s why I-I didn’t think it was fair to commit to a steady relationship. I wasn’t, ‘with,’ anyone last night. I was with a friend, and she-she slept over. On the couch. All night. Okay?”

The techie’s eyes went wide. “WHO?”

“Judy. Come on. I’m telling you. I wasn’t intimate with anyone. You’re just gonna have to trust me. Can I ping you later? What’s wrong?”

“I-I thought it was so good! That night at Laguna Bend? D-Didn’t you? W-When, ya know, when we made love? Don’t you wanna see me anymore?”

….Lucy was sitting on the couch. She was trying so hard not to listen, but she heard every single word out of Judy Alvarez’s mouth. She felt so guilty, and wondered if she should go wait in the bathroom.

‘V’s got an output?’ she thought. ‘Wow, I-I, am I surprised? Should I be? I mean, she is gorgeous and I guess, like, sorta famous. A woman though? Huh? Where's Laguna Bend?

“Judy,” Valerie said in a low, even voice. She was certain Lucy had been woken up by now. “I do wanna see you. Hey. I think you’re overreacting. Nothing happened, okay? I promise. Can I ping you later on? Please? We can talk then. Nothing happened. I’m not lying. I promise.”

“Yeah, yeah. Okay. V, I-I’m sorry. I’m a little emotional right now. My bad. Ping me later.”

“Apology accepted. Bye, Judy.”

“Bye-bye.”

Valerie slowly turned over, and whispered, “Shit.” She closed her eyes, but then a minute later, she felt the weight of someone sitting down on the bed next to her. “Wha—?” she gasped. Lucy was staring at her with an odd expression. “I’m sorry. Did I wake you up?” V asked again, flustered, and out of sorts.

“Kind of. Should I go?”

“N-No. I mean, yeah. If-If you wanna.”

“Who was that?” Lucy asked, curiously. “Was that your output?”

“No. I-I fuck, I don’t know. No. That was Judy. Alvarez. She’s a techie. A really, really smart techie that I met during one of my gigs. She’s like a BD whiz. W-We went out last week. It was nice. We’ve been through a lot of shit lately. She’s just emotional right now. She lost someone close to her not too long ago.”

“Ohhh, okay.”

Out of the corner of Valerie’s eye, she saw Johnny Silverhand standing by the window, grinning. “Huh. What now, my partner in crime? A love triangle? And so soon?” He threw his arms in the air. “Hmmm. Maybe I’ll stick around, and see how it all plays out. Whatever in the world will the preemest merc in NC do?”

Valerie glared at him, and turned back to the young netrunner. “Do you wanna get some breakfast? Coffee or something? Wanna go to the diner?”

Lucy smiled, and Valerie thought she looked quite adorable! She was still wearing the sweatpants and t-shirt, and her hair was completely messed up. Somehow though, that made her look even sexier. Her eyelids were still heavy with sleep, and she’d broken out in a mild case of acne. A few, red marks appeared on the left side of her face.

“Okay. V?”

“Uh-huh?”

“C-Can I take a shower here?” she asked, but then regretted it instantly. It was too soon to be asking things like that. Lucy flushed, and quickly said, “Nah, you know what? I-I gotta delta. I’ll just take one ba—” but then she paused, as she felt the merc’s hand atop hers.

“Will you stop it?” V admonished, and winked. “Yes, you can take a shower here. We’re about the same size. Give or take. Look through my clothes, and pick out anything you want. Unless you wanna put your outfit back on from last night.”

“Ummm, nah, t-that’s okay. I threw it in the hamper. I’ll just borrow something of yours. I-If that’s okay?”

“Course it’s okay!”

Lucy stood, and pointed to V’s wardrobe. “Here?”

“Mhmm. I’ll go make coffee.”

“Okay.”

Valerie felt so good under all the covers, that she didn’t want to get up. It was already hot in the apartment, and there were all these emotions spinning around her head. She watched Lucy searching through her clothes, and pausing every now and then when something caught her eye. She studied the young netrunner, and again wished she’d turn around and dive into bed. They could roll around and get all sweaty. Afterwards, they’d take a long shower, and hold one another as the water ran down their bodies….

“It’s gonna be hot again today, right?” she asked, startling the merc from her reverie.

“Ummm, y-yeah. In the upper 90’s I thought I heard on 54 News.”

“V? What’s wrong?” Lucy asked.

“Oh n-nothing. Nothing. Just trying to wake up, hehe. Okay. I’ll make coffee.” She rolled over and off the bed. Her cyberware was humming, and she felt herself filling up with energy.

As she passed Lucy on her way to the kitchen, she caught a whiff of the netrunner’s pheromones. That delightful morning smell of heat, and skin. Valerie realized she was so turned on.

‘Will you stop it,’ she scolded herself. ‘Stop it. Just act normal. Why are you always so preoccupied with sex? Like, come on now. Just be cool. You just met her. You don’t even know if she’s into girls. If it’s gonna happen, let it happen organically, okay?’ She nodded, and stood at the counter measuring out the coffee grounds.

She looked to her left, and realized she could see beyond the beaded curtain and into the bathroom. Then she felt Lucy’s hand on her shoulder, and quickly turned around.

“Are you alright?” The netrunner asked. “You seem, like, really jumpy. I just wanted to know if these are okay to take.” In her hands she held a pair of high-cut denim shorts, and a sky blue tank up.

“I’m fine. A-And yes. Yes, of course, take whatever you want.”

They stood there for a moment, looking at one another awkwardly. Finally, Valerie realized Lucy was waiting for her to go in the other room so she could hop in the shower.

“Ummm….” she said, looking up at the ceiling, like, ‘Do I have to ask you to leave out loud?’

“O-O-Oh right, right,” V laughed, now completely embarrassed. “S-Sorry, I was just, just making coffee. Here! It’s ready!” She smiled widely, and handed Lucy a cup. “You can bring it in there, o-or not, or wait, or whatever. Fuck, sorry, okay bye! J-Just fucking ignore me. I’m bein’ a complete gonk.”
Lucy reached and for the first time, she was the one to hold V’s hand, not the other way around.

“I’m n-nervous too. We just met. But it’s all preem. Okay? Thank you for the coffee. Maybe I’ll drink it when I get out. Now. I’m going in the shower, so will you please delta the fuck out of here?” She smiled, and V immediately felt flushed. They both laughed.

“Yep. Take as long as you need. Soap. Shampoo. Right there. Okay. I’ll stop talking. Bye!” Valerie turned and practically skipped away.

Lucy took a sip of her coffee and smiled. Things have been so bad lately, ever since David went away that she’d forgotten what it felt like to laugh. To have a good time. To have someone she could call a friend.

And even though it’s only been a day, V was fast becoming that person. And yes, there was still a long way to go before Lucy would even think of letting her guard down and talking about Arasaka Tower, or her childhood. Being the only survivor of a group of young netrunners; gunned down in cold blood for trying to escape the mind prison known as The Blackwall and Arasaka.

“I still miss you, David,” she whispered, looking at herself in the mirror. “Maybe I just need to open myself up and be vulnerable around her. There’s something about V that’s different. I can’t put my finger on what it is yet, but it’s definitely something. I feel good when I talk to her. She’s not shallow or superficial. I know she’s a merc, but she’s deep. Emotional. S-Sensitive. I’m scared. Sometimes I-I feel so naive. S-So young. If she hurts me, I-I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to trust anyone again.” She touched her index finger to the glass. “S-Should I let her in? Or is it too soon? Tell me, Lucy,” she said to herself. “Tell me what’s in your heart. My intuition’s been telling me to let her in. Ever since we hugged. I don’t want to be afraid anymore. I don’t wanna be alone anymore…. I need to know what happened at Konpeki Plaza….”

Lucy took her clothes off and tossed them in the hamper. They settled on top of her netrunning outfit. She went to the shower, turned the water on, and a minute later, went underneath the water….

“Oooohhhh, that’s so good,” she murmured, as the hot water hit her body perfectly. She grabbed the shampoo and squeezed a huge glob of it onto her hand. Lucy felt so good. So relaxed and refreshed as she massaged her sudsy scalp. Soon, it smelled all citrusy and aromatic and she smiled, grabbing the soap and washing herself down….

From the other side of the apartment, V sniffed deeply, and sighed. “Mhmm. I only buy the best stuff. Top of the line.” She said and smiled, taking in the luscious bouquet that’d begun weaving its way throughout the room. A pang of longing gripped her, and she wanted so badly to hear Lucy’s voice, inviting her in….

Judy's Apartment. Charter St.

Sunday afternoon, and I’m staring out the fuckin’ window! By myself. This would’ve been a perfect day for the two of us to hang out!

Judy put the palm of her hand against her chest and took a deep breath. Her anxiety was peaking. She checked the temperature. 88 degrees outside. She couldn’t get V out of her head. Her body and lips. Legs, hair, and ass. She bit her knuckles, and whispered,

“C-Call me, V. Ping me. Ping me. C’mon I’m right here. Six months. Remember? Six months. Is that all the time we have left? Is it the relic? The corrupted shard? What the fuck are you doing on a Sunday afternoon that’s so important you can’t ping me? Huh? Come and get me on your motorcycle. Take me to lunch. Take me to bed. C’mon, V….

Let me in. Show me the real you. The you from the lake-house. C'mon. Tell me. What's your real name, baby? ‘Cause I know it’s not just, V….”

Chapter Text

Lucy & V

….They spent the entire day together. They were both pretty well-off, so to speak. V had plenty of euros from her gigs, and Lucy still had most of the 1.25 million in reward money.

They took the motorcycle downtown, and went shopping at all the nicest stores and boutiques. Ate at the most expensive restaurants, and drank the most expensive wine. Both of them had the best time together, and in a matter of hours, Lucy was finally starting to loosen up. She discovered that V had a nova sense of humor. She was super smart, and full of self-confidence. It wasn’t arrogance. She recognized the difference between the two. V had been through a lot in her young life, and as they sat at an outdoor cafe in Charter Hill, drinking champagne, Lucy thought it was time to ask the mercenary a difficult question.

They were both a little drunk….

“Hey, c-can I ask you a question,” Lucy ventured.

For some reason, V couldn’t keep a straight face. Maybe it was the alcohol, or just the absurdity of life. Whatever the reason, she had to force herself to look serious. After a few seconds though, she burst out in laughter, and started cracking up….

“Mmm, m-mhmm, hahaha heh hehe, s-sorry. HAHAHA! S-Sorry! Mmph….”

“What’s so funny?”

“Uhhh…. HAHAHA! Y-You-You’re like so s-serious whenever you’re about to ask me if you could ask me something! HAHAHA! Shit! Hehh-hah, hehheh, s-sure Luce….”

“W-What happened at Konpeki Plaza?” Suddenly, it was like you could hear a pin drop. Even in the midst of the teeming, bustling city, it grew quiet. Lucy instantly regretted the timing and quickly apologized. “I-I’m sorry, V. M-My fault. Bad timing. You, w-we don’t have to talk about it. I’m sorry.”

The merc coughed, lit a cigarette, and gulped down the rest of her wine (almost the whole glass).

“Didn’t Falco tell you everything you need to know?” She looked up towards the sky.

“H-He just told me that-that it went south.”

“That’s one way of putting it, yeah. Yeah it went south alright. I-I lost a r-really close choom of mine. His name was Jackie. Jackie Welles. We got hooked up with a low-level, gonk fixer. Everyone, myself included, was in way over their heads. It was a colossal fuck up.”

Lucy reached across the table, and rubbed V’s hand. “I’m sorry you lost your friend.”

“Thanks. W-We were supposed to klep a biochip. Some prototype, or-or piece of experimental tech? Who the fuck knew exactly what it was.”

V looked to see Johnny standing behind Lucy, with his arms on her chair.

“Are you gonna tell this stranger everything? Here? Now? C’mon. You trust her that much? Already? Jesus. I thought you were smart.”

She just shook her head slowly, and sighed.

“V? What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. I guess you could say, memories of that night are kinda embedded in my brain. We were going up against the biggest people in the company. I wanted revenge on those fuckers anyway. Bastards,” V spat. “T-They were evil. I mean, they are e-evil.”

“Did you get the chip?”

At this pont, Valerie stared at the young netrunner; looked directly into her purple-blue eyes. “Can I trust you, Lucy? I feel like this should be a quid pro quo kind of convo. I tell you something. You tell me something. Agreed?”

V’s proposition had compromised the fragility of the moment, and Lucy looked away. She said, “J-Just tell me. Please? Did you get the biochip?”

“Yes…. In a manner of speaking.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

At this point, V put her other hand on top of Lucy’s.

“Not now. Please? I’m not ready yet. It’s very painful to talk about. I know you can empathize with that. I promise. When the time comes, I’ll tell you everything.”

Lucy’s eyes narrowed. “V. It was all over the news. Saburo Arasaka was-was murdered, right? Did you kill him?”

“No. We didn’t.”

“Who did?”

“Lucy….”

“V….”

“I’m a little drunk, and I’m not r-ready to go there. Just trust me when I say, we did not kill him. Now please. Can we just try to have a good time? I was having fun before you wrecked my mood.” V said, half-kidding, but also half-serious too.

“Alright. You’re right.”

“You seem like really preoccupied with Arasaka. Why?”

Now V had turned the tables, and Lucy shrugged her shoulders.

“They played a part in David’s death. A-A big part.”

Astutely and quite perceptively, V whispered, “But that’s not the only reason, is it?”

“Like you, I’m a little drunk myself, and I’m not ready to go there yet. Fair enough?”

Both women sat there, staring at one another. Finally, V said, “Fair enough.”

After a few minutes, the atmosphere went back to being loose and carefree. They spent the rest of the afternoon drinking, eating, and shopping. Around 6:00 pm, they were both running out of steam.

“I’m so tired. I gotta lie down,” V said, as they were sitting at an outdoor bar. “I’m pretty drunk.”

“Me too. I think I’m gonna head home. I can take the metro. There’s a station two blocks away.

V’s heart sank a little. They had such a good day, and she was really hoping to keep it going, in some way, shape or form. “Oh. Okay. Preem.”

“Why? What are you gonna do now?” Lucy asked.

“Nothing. Go back to the apartment and crash, I guess. I need a nap. D-Do you wanna…? Nah, nevermind. Nothing.”

“What? Just say it.”

V suddenly felt the full weight of all that red wine. “I just, ummm, j-just was gonna ask i-if you wanted to grab dinner later. But it’s already six, so I gue—”

“Sure,” Lucy said, and smiled. “Let’s go grab dinner later tonight. I could use a nap too. Can I crash on the co—”

“Yessss. Let’s delta. I can barely keep my eyes open.”

(Later that night)

….Neither of them wanted to say goodbye.

Dinner had gone off without a hitch, and they were really starting to feel comfortable in each other’s company….

Around 11:00 pm, they stumbled back to V’s apartment. They talked far into the night. About anything and everything (except specific details about themselves): Gigs, fixers, missions, The Blackwall (too scary), rogue a.i.’s (Lucy quickly changed the subject), netrunning, The pros and cons of being a solo, etc. etc.

And then Lucy asked V about her dating life and preferences.

“Do you date guys and girls? Are you bisexual? Just curious.”

“Yeah. I love everyone," she said with a smile. “I’m attracted to men and women. For me, I don’t know, I just find certain people incredibly sensual. I've always been like, a really sexual person. Maybe I'm just like everyone else. I don't know. What about you?”

Lucy was pleasantly surprised by V's answer, but she wasn’t prepared to have the question thrown back at her, and she fumbled and struggled mightily with the answer.

“O-Oh, w-who me?”

V rolled her eyes. “No. The girl down there on the street, standing on the corner, listening in our our convo. Yes, you. Hmph.”

“I, well, I just. Ummm, I guess I….”

“Jesus Lucy, just say who you prefer dating. I’m not asking you to hack into Militech’s mainframe!”

“Alright, okay. I-I’ve never really dated too much. David. He was my, well, m-my first serious boyfriend.” She grew sullen, and went to the window, where she stood looking out at the city.

Valerie walked over and stood behind her. She could smell Lucy’s fair skin. Could tell she was nervous and starting to shut down again. Starting to put up walls. Walls to shut herself off from emotions like love and trust….

“Were you ever with a girl before?” V whispered, her mouth an inch away from the netrunner’s sweet-smelling neck.

Lucy was trying as hard as she possibly could not to tremble, but her body wouldn’t listen. Slowly, she found V’s hand with her own. They stood there in silence, holding hands tightly….

“N-No,” she answered, finally. “I-I-I’m really nervous right now. I’ve n-never….” And then, like a blur, she spun around, threw her arms around V’s neck, and kissed her hard on the mouth….

It was a beautiful moment between them. Lucy was full of nervous energy, and her mouth opened slightly and her tongue spun around V’s, and they both moaned loudly. Lucy put her hands against V’s reddened cheeks, and they looked into one another’s eyes. Then they dove back in, kissing tenderly, pushing their tongues deep into their mouths, and tasting one another’s breath mixed with traces of alcohol.

But something happened, and she got spooked. Abruptly, Lucy pulled away just as they were about to go further and harder.

“W-What’s wrong?” V asked, breathless, the taste of the young netrunner still everywhere on her face. “Is it me?”

“I-I gotta go. I’m sorry, V. I-I gotta go. I don’t know. I-I got scared. I had a nova time today, butnowimlikesupernervousandishoulddeltaimsorry.” She couldn’t slow down and started running around the tiny apartment gathering her things.

“Lucy. H-Hey, hey wait a minute! Talk to me. Talk to me. What’s wrong?”

Lucy spun around. Her eyes seemed to change colors and they flashed with anger. She gazed at the mercenary, and screamed, “I’M SCARED! ALRIGHT! I’M SCARED! THERE! YOU HAPPY!”

“O-Okay, okay, w-we don’t have to do anything else. I’m sorry. I-I thought you w-wanted to.”

“I DO! THAT’S THE PROBLEM! DON’T YOU GET IT?” Lucy was frenetic and her nerves were shot. She walked up to V, and grabbed both her arms. ‘YOU’RE FULLY CHROMED! AREN’T YOU? AREN’T YOU!”

“Wha—? W-Why a-are you asking m-me that?”

“YOUR BODY’S FULL OF IMPLANTS! I CAN TELL! V! YOU’RE PLAYING WITH FIRE! I THOUGHT YOU WERE SMARTER THAN THAT! W-WHAT HAPPENS W-WHEN….” Lucy started crying. “I GOTTA GO! JUST LET ME GO!”

But instead, V held her close. “Shhh, shhh, it’s okay. It’s alright.”

Violently, Lucy kissed the mercenary on the mouth over and over, but then squirmed free….

“YOU JUST DON’T GET IT, DO YOU? YOU’RE GONNA DIE! FUCK!”

Valerie was numb. She stood there, panting, shaking her head back and forth. “It doesn’t matter,” she murmured.

“W-WHAT? H-HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT!” Lucy spun around, ran to the front door. She was almost hysterical.

“Don’t go, b-baby, Please?” V said, shocked by her own words. She turned red and smiled awkwardly. “Please don’t leave.”

But Lucy was gripped by a fit of anger. Anger at V irresponsibility. Her carelessness at filling her body up with metal. In a barely audible voice, she said, “I-I think I, I think I lov—.” Before she could finish though, she threw open the door, and disappeared into the night….

Valerie’s heart was beating faster than it ever had before. She was shaking and thought of following the netrunner….

But instead, she fell to the floor, and cried for a long, long time….

Chapter Text

....A few days later

“V? Hey! Long time no see! You okay?”

“Heyyy, Jude. Ahhh, just been busy. Fixers. Gigs, ya know. Basically, all that unimportant shit. You?”

“Just been at the bar, going through virtus. Same shit, different day. Is it okay that I pinged you?”

“Course it’s okay. And I’m sorry I’ve been off the radar these past few days. Been in a funk. A little down in the dumps.” V couldn’t tell the techie it was because Lucy had disappeared from her life just as quickly as she’d shown up in it. The two of them hadn’t spoken in over five days. At first, V tried repeatedly to get in touch with the netrunner, but she wouldn’t take her calls, or respond to her messages.

“V. Ummm, it’s okay. Wanna talk about it?”

“Nah. Not really. Just one of those things.”

Judy swallowed hard. “I-I wanted to ask. A-Are you busy tonight? Wanna meet at Laguna Bend? I’ll pick up the pizza, if you wanna bring the beer. If you’re not up for it, it’s cool.”

“Sure,” V said and smiled. “What time?”

“Preem! How about 8:00?”

“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”

“Bye, Jude.”

“Bye, V.”

Valerie was at her apartment in The Glen. She loved it here. The way it was set up. Spacious and full of light, but cozy and comfortable too. She poured herself a drink, and looked to see Johnny standing by the window eyeing her curiously.

“What?” She asked, staring at the rockerboy’s engram. “I can tell you’re thinking of something cocky to say, so say it.”

“We’re running out of time, V.”

She tensed. He was right. She was acting like she had all the time in the world, and it was delusional.

“I’m scared, Johnny,” she whispered. “Don’t make fun of me. Could you hold me right now? I’m so scared I’m gonna die.”

They stared at one another for a long time. Slowly, he walked over, and opened his arms.

“C’mere you," he said.

She rushed into him, and it was like a million sudden jolts of static electricity coursing through her body. Pins and needles. Tiny shocks, pulses, and vibrations. Crackling with energy. Sensations and flutters.

“What are we gonna do?” V murmured. “S-Six months? It’s not enough time. I wanna keep fightin’, but it’s hard. Jesus, it's so hard. I’m sorry. Probably think I’m a fucking gonk.”

“Shut up. I do not,” he growled, then added, “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little freaked out by this whole thing myself.”

Valerie gasped loudly. “Wha-?”

They stood there, holding one another for a long, long time. She closed her eyes and nuzzled against his chest.

“I miss Lucy,” Valerie said. “And n-not because I wanna sleep with her. I mean I do. I wanna make love to her in the worst way possible. But I miss those two days we hung out. I felt like we were chooms, ya know? And Judy? She’s nova too. Johnny, I’m so fucked up, aren’t I?”

“You and every other person on this planet. You’re no different, V. 23 years old? Living in Night City. The weight of the world on your shoulders. Hormones all over the place. Cyberware, me, the relic, your meds. I think you’re doing just fine, all things considered.”

She rubbed her nose against his vibrations. Feeling his aura made her sigh longingly. Sometimes, she wished for more of him.

“Thanks, Johnny.”

“No problem.”

….Then, as if on cue, she heard her holophone ping.

Johnny Silverhand disappeared. She pulled it out of her pocket, and studied the message. It was from the young netrunner….

“Hey.”

“Hey,” V typed back.

“I’m sorry about the other night. A-And for not taking your calls. I was just i-in a dark place.”

“It’s okay, Luce. Feelin’ better?”

“Yes…. And no. M-Miss hanging out. Even if it was only for a weekend.”

“Me too.”

“Are you busy tonight?” Lucy stared at V’s image intently.

“Y-Yes. ‘M sorry. I have plans.”

“J-Judy?” Lucy asked.

“Uh-huh….”

Her first thought was to hang up, and never speak to the mercenary again. She had to take a deep breath, and steady herself.

“Okay. You know what? Forget it, V. I’ll just talk to you later. I-I gotta go. Fuck th—”

“Hey. Hey, c’mon. You gotta stop running away to these negative head-spaces. Luce. Hold on a second.”

“What?”

“I’m busy tonight, but I’m free tomorrow. Wanna hang out at my place? We can watch movies and eat pizza all night. What do you say?" V winked.

A tiny, tiny smile formed on Lucy’s small, perfect lips. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’d love that.”

“Nova. Come on over at like 7:00. Remember how to get there?”

“Yeah.”

“Bye, Luce.”

“Bye, V.”

….Hanging up and I feel guilty already. But why? We’re friends. That’s it. That’s all. So we kissed the other night, so what? We kissed, and it was so good, I thought I-I was gonna have an orgasm right then and there. She’s beautiful, a-and I want her. I can’t help it.

Which is why I’m so torn up over Judy. I want her too. I want ‘em both, in my bed, at the same time. My wish.

She went into the bathroom, and splashed cold water on her face. Rubbed her face, and pulled the skin underneath her eyes down, to make herself look strange.

(I turn the shower on, and step out of my clothes. See the steam rising. It’s so warm. Step in, and feel the water running all over me. Let out a moan. Whimper, and I start touching myself. I don’t care if Johnny can see me. I don’t care. In fact, I want him to watch me. I move my hands everywhere, thinking of Judy and Lucy, in here with me. One of them’s on their knees and I’m feverishly kissing the other. I don’t ever want it to end, and god knows how long I stay under the steaming hot water. This is the real me, and I’m ashamed. I’m so ashamed of myself. It’s like I can’t control my impulses. I hear voices in my head. They urge me to keep going. Don’t stop, Valerie. Keep going. It smells like soap, shampoo, and me…. I’m shaving under my arms, and in between my legs. I wanna cry, but I hold it in. I want Johnny too. I want him to make love to me, and I know he can hear me right now.)

I DON’T CARE!!

I’m whimpering softly. I want all of you. Always want what I can never have. Voices in my head telling me that I’m going to die. I’m 23 and I’m going to die in six months….

Finally, I turn the water off and start toweling myself down. Blow dry my hair. Straighten it. I love it. Put on the sexiest outfit I can find. Deodorant. Perfume (just a touch). I’m all over the place, aren’t I?

All these gigs, unfinished. I keep procrastinating. What am I gonna do with the rest of my life? What life? You mean the six months of it? I wish I had a family I could go to for help. For support. Shit, for anything. But I don’t. In that respect, I’m all alone….

Laguna Bend

Valerie knocked twice, softly. Moments later, Judy appeared, and they embraced lovingly.

“Oh, V. I missed you. I-I don’t know, for some reason, I thought you weren’t interested anymore.”

V clicked her tongue. “What? You gonk. ‘Course I’m interested.”

They stopped and then kissed so softly. It felt good. Really good.

“I missed you, mi calabacita….”

V smiled, and asked, “What’s that mean? C-Calabacita?”

Judy kissed her again. “Means, pumpkin.”

“Pet names? Already? Mhmm, love it.”

Judy blushed, and they held one another, and the sun was setting over the dam, and they stood at the threshold. It was a beautiful moment, and they whispered secret things into each other’s ears. And no one will ever know the things they said.

The techie led V by the hand, just like she did ten days before. Led her straight to the tiny bed, sat her down. She was wearing a pair of shorts, and a white t-shirt.

“Do you want this?” Judy asked.

Valerie closed her eyes, laid back on the mattress and bent her knees. She said, “P-Please. Make love to me like you did the other night. I wanna come with you.” She yanked her shorts off, and when Judy glimpsed her half-naked body, she let out a purr of delight.

“You have a beautiful body, V. You're a beautiful woman. Look at you. L-Look at your p—”

“Stoppp,” V whispered. “Don’t embarrass me.”

….They spent the rest of the night in bed, making the most intimate, sensitive intense kind of love. The kind you never forget for the rest of your life. Holding each other. Pressing their bodies together. Kissing, rubbing, brushing, and grinding. They were so sore. Neither one of them left the bed, except to get water. It went on, hour after hour.

Judy made the mercenary climax so many times. They sweat together. Emotions were so high. They cried together, laughed and were they already starting to fall in love?

Why did it all seem so urgent? So desperate?

Because they both knew the situation. The relic, and how it was killing V. It was at the forefront of their minds, and even though they tried to forget it, Judy couldn’t stop sniffling.

“T-There’s gotta be something you can do, V. Anything. Something. What’s gonna happen?”

“I don’t know, Jude. I don’t know, baby. I’m really scared.”

“Oh! C’mere, you. C’mere!”

II.

At the same exact time Valerie and Judy Alvarez were exploring the furthest, deepest regions of pleasure, Lucy was alone at her apartment, standing out on the balcony, drinking and smoking. It was a hot night, but she was so high up, she didn’t smell the stink of the city. Up here it was almost pure. Almost serene.

Almost….

(What’s wrong with me? Am I clinically depressed?) She thought to herself.

She took out her phone and messaged Falco. “Hey, it’s me. What happened at Konpeki? What’s the full story? I only know bits and pieces. I wanna know everything. Everything, Falco. L….”

He always got right back to her.

“Hey Lucy. Sorry, dear. Gave you everything I got. I know the place is shut down until further notice. The old man’s zeroed, and there’s a whole bunch of unanswered questions. Is this about, V? By the way, did she give you David’s jacket? F….”

“Yeah. I have it here at the apartment. It’s hanging up in the living room. And yes. This is about V. I wanna know what happened to her that night. She told me she lost one of her chooms. But when I pressed for more, she wouldn’t tell me.”

“Let me see if I can do some more digging around. I’ll be in touch. Oh, and glad you got the jacket back….”

“Thanks, Falco. Bye.”

Something took hold of her emotions. She knew V had a date with Judy earlier, but she sent her a message anyway. It was after 1:00 am and she assumed the merc was back at her apartment by now, sound asleep….

“Hey. How did your date go? Hmmm?” And then it was like, fear and anxiety over V’s answer gripped her, and she quickly shut her holophone off. “What in the hell is wrong with you, Lucy Kushinada?” She asked herself aloud. “You are acting like the biggest gonk. Stop it, and leave her alone….”

When she turned it on two and a half hours later, she was stunned to see that V hadn’t answered back.

“Wait a minute. Wait. Just A. Minute. Am I jealous?”

Laguna Bend

(….I wake up sometime late at night (or really early in the morning). I stumble to the bathroom. I have to pee so bad. On the way there, I grab my phone and see Lucy’s sent me a message. My heart starts beating faster, as I read her words….)

“Hey. How did your date go? Hmmm?” (She sent it three hours ago…. Should I answer her? Are we just friends? Are we more? Less?)

Valerie's head shot up. Was Judy stirring? She felt like she was being so dishonest by texting Lucy. But she did it anyway….

“Hey. It’s me. You’re probably asleep. My date? It’s good. It’s really good. See you tonight.”

Seconds later, V jumped. Lucy had quickly answered back….

“Are you still with her? Now? I thought you would’ve been home. V, it’s after 4:00 am.”

She studied the netrunner’s response. (Wait. Is she jealous?)

“Uhhh, no? We spent the night together. Why? Is that a problem?”

“What? No. No of course not, it’s just what about the other night? Huh? Us?”

V was floored. She shook her head and jumped. Judy was calling her.

“V?” She yelled from the other room. “Y-You okay?”

“Yeah! Yeah, just wanted a drink. Be right there.”

“Okay. Hurry back. I wanna make love to you again.”

“Coming. Well. N-Not yet. You know what I mean. Hah. Be right there.”

Quickly, she messaged Lucy.

“I’m confused, Lucy. You stormed out and wouldn’t take my calls for days. We’re chooms, right? Listen. I gotta go. Let’s talk tonight.”

“Yeah okay.”

….Diving back on the mattress. Holding you and feeling your damp, sticky body clinging to mine. It’s heavenly, Judy. But I’m a mess, baby. Lucy’s got me so fucked up. The relic. Johnny. Us. I don’t know how much longer I can juggle everything before I fall flat on my face….

Chapter Text

Laguna Bend (The following morning) End of July.

They stood at the doorway, getting ready to say goodbye. V was running her hand through Judy’s hair. She didn’t want the merc to leave. Not at all.

“Y-You sure you have to delta? It’s still early. Want me to make breakfast?”

“Awww, Jude. I would, but I got business in the city today. Gotta see a couple fixers. I’ve been putting it off for a while now. I have to delta. I’m sorry.”

And then Judy asked the question V was most afraid of....

“Do you wanna see each other tonight?”

Valerie sighed. “I-I have work tonight, Jude,” she lied, and it fucking killed her to be dishonest, especially this early in their budding relationship. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh. Oh, okay. Can I have one more kiss before you go?”

“Absolutely.”

Afterwards, they waved goodbye, and V hopped on her bike, heading back to the heart of the city. Since she woke up, her holophone’s been pinging off the hook. Fixers, jobs, deadlines missed, ripperdocs, etc. etc. It was an overcast, gloomy, humid day. Any minute now, it looked like the sky was going to open up and cover Night City with sheets of rain.

Valerie felt the wind in her hair, and on the front of her face. It was coming up on four weeks since the heist on Konpeki Plaza. Her life was moving faster and faster. She thought of Lucy, and how she couldn’t wait to see her tonight. Would the young netrunner feel the same way?

She took a northwest route back to her apartment in Westbrook, driving through parts of Rancho Coronado, Arroyo, and Vista Del Rey. From there it was a straight shot north, until she hit Japantown.

The entire ride home, she thought of Judy and Lucy. Valerie loved how the techie made her feel so good when they were together. It was like she always knew exactly what to say and do. Lately, V’s feelings and emotions were so mixed-up and volatile. Being around Judy Alvarez helped her in ways no one else could.

That is, until she met Lucy….

The netrunner was much more withdrawn. Enigmatic. Sullen and serious. But she could also be wickedly funny, attentive and deeply caring. Lucy was mysterious, and V was certain there were things she was hiding. That much was evident with how evasive she was when certain topics came up. Lucy was an extremely private person. She was very skilled at talking for long periods of time, without actually saying too many words. When it came to her past, Valerie knew almost nothing, and she had to keep reminding herself they’d only met a week before….

When she pulled into the lot behind her apartment, it’d begun drizzling. “Shit, my bike’s gonna get all funky now,” V grumbled. She walked the Yaiba a few feet to where an overhanging section of roof provided a tiny bit of shelter. It was the end of July, and NC was bathed in constant, damp humidity. Valerie wrinkled her nose, and made a face. It was the middle of summer, and it smelled of garbage, dirty water, mildew, and other unseemly things.

“Phew! Fuck,” she mumbled, stepping off bike and making her way inside.

She spent the next few hours apologizing, pleading, and bargaining with all the fixers who she left high and dry. Unfinished gigs, missed appointments, phone calls and messages ignored. Basically, she said the same kinds of things over and over….

“I’m sorry. I’ve been dragging my ass lately. But I’m gonna take care of it tomorrow.” Or things like, “All I have to do is meet with the client, and then it’s all taken care of. I’ll be in touch. I promise.”

The whole entire time, Johnny stood in the background, watching Valerie. Studying her movements and behaviors. He would never admit this, but he was worried about her. She was burning the candle at both ends. Her body was loaded with chrome, and she was tempting fate, and playing with fire.

When she hung up with her last holocall, she put her head down and sighed loudly….

“Awww, fuck. All I wanna do is sleep. I’m so tired.” She turned to look at him. “What?” She asked, almost afraid to hear his answer.

“Maybe you should start trying to find a way to remove the biochip.”

Her mouth fell open, and her eyes almost popped out of her head. “What?” She gasped. “B-But you? W-What about you?”

“What about me? I don’t even know if I’m fucking dead or alive. I’m in some kinda fucked up limbo. A purgatory. That’s for sure. Separated from my body. Dead for fifty fucking years. Now I’m taking over your consciousness. Fuck all this, V.”

“No! There’s gotta be a way to save us both.”

“I don’t wanna exist in some weird, digitized state for all eternity. I can feel myself overwriting your personality, y-your soul? I don’t know. What are you saying? Wanna fucking go beyond The Blackwall or something?” He scoffed.

She stood up and ran to him. V threw her arms around the rockerboy, and whispered, “You saved my life, didn’t you? After Dex put a bullet in my fuckin’ head. You kept me alive.”

“I have no idea how. Guess I just sort of kicked in. Always did have a way with women,” he grinned.

V rolled her eyes. “There’s gotta be somebody on the face of this earth somewhere that can remove the fucking chip!”

“Good luck with that one.” And in a rare gesture of affection, Johnny actually held Valerie closer. “I could always go with Alt, couldn’t I? She could take me beyond that fucking Blackwall..”

They were both silent, lost in thought about Alt Cunningham, one of history’s best netrunners and the one who created the program that was now lodged in Valerie’s head….

“I’ll figure something out, Johnny. I won’t let us die.”

He laughed, and said, “Wait! Wait! I forgot my lines. What do I say now? Oh, V! I believe in you! In us! We’ll live forever!”

“Asshole,” she scoffed, and pushed him away. “Fuck you,” she muttered, not sure whether she meant it, but by then he was gone anyway. Disappeared somewhere she couldn’t follow. Not yet, anyway….

Then she jumped three feet in the air. Someone was pounding on the door….

What the fuck? Arasaka? How did they find me? She ran to the tiny storage closet that she converted into a weapons room. It was where she kept her firepower. She went and got a gun, and then walked back to the door.

“Who is it?” She asked, holding the piece up, and putting her finger on its sensitive trigger.

“Open up! It’s Lucy!”

V’s head whipped around to the clock on the computer. She zoomed in with her Kiroshi’s. It was only 5:30. She was really early! She breathed a sigh of relief and put the gun down on the coffee table. Slowly, she opened the door. As soon as she did, Lucy rushed into her arms and hugged her full-force.

“I-I had a terrible dream. T-They were looking for you. H-Hunting you. Like David. I couldn’t stop them. I went behind the wall, but I got lost! I lost you behind The Blackwall. I tried to look, but every time I thought I was close, they took you somewhere else! V. What’s going on? Tell me, goddammit! I can’t lose you like I lost him! TELL ME! WHAT ARE YOU HIDING? WHAT HAPPENED AT KONPEKI PLAZA?”

They stood there, locked in a fierce embrace. The netrunner’s shoulders were heaving. She was really upset, and she held V tightly, almost like she knew that if she let go, she might lose a really, really important person in her life forever….

Valerie held her in her arms, and she could feel Lucy squeezing her.

“Come inside,” she whispered. “I’ll tell you everything, okay?”

Lucy pulled back, but then she lunged again and stared wide-eyed at the mercenary. “V? Jesus! What? You’re scaring me! What haven’t you told me?”

“Let’s sit down, okay? C’mon.” She held Lucy’s hand, and led her to the couch. They both sat, and immediately, Lucy’s legs started bouncing up and down. She was dressed in her sleek, streamlined netrunning outfit, minus the jacket and V marvelled at the girl’s elegant beauty; at how perfect her bodysuit fit over her lithe frame. She was uniquely gorgeous.

They sat for a full minute before anyone spoke.

“Why are you doing this, V? Why are you making me wait?”

“It’s Valerie. Call me, Valerie, okay? That’s my real name, and I’m not making you wait. I’m trying to figure out the best way to tell you what I’m about to tell you. She took a deep breath, “Fuck it. I might as well get straight to it. That night? At Konpeki? It was an unmitigated fucking disaster. We were able to klep the shard. B-But in the process, we saw something we were never meant to see. Saburo Arasaka was murdered.” Here, V paused. “....By his son, Yorinobu.”

“WHAT?” Lucy cried out. “H-How? W-Why?”

“He strangled him. Why? Who knows? Jealousy. Rebellion. Bitterness. Dissatisfied with the way the company was being run? Maybe he no longer envisioned the same goals as the old man? Regardless, he killed him with his bare hands. Jackie and I witnessed it. We hid behind a screen, and saw the whole thing unfold right before our eyes. We tried to escape. Jackie had the shard. The Relic. W-We did escape, but we had to fight our way through a shitload of guards and soldiers. He was hit several times. He was never gonna make it. Outside, in the limo, h-he passed away. But before he did, he handed the biochip over to me, and I inserted it…. Right here.” For the first time, Valerie moved the hair away from her neck, and showed Lucy.

“Oh my god, V! Take it out!”

“I can’t, Lucy.”

“WHY??”

“Because the fixer who sent us on this suicide mission? He was a piece of shit. He got spooked. Thought ‘Saka would be coming after him. He was an amateur. Pfft…. A big fish in a small pond. Anyway, I guess he wanted to get rid of anyone who could trace the gig back to him. H-He shot me in the head, at point blank range. This chip kept me alive. It’s still keeping me alive, but it’s damaged. I can’t take it out. It would kill me instantly. B-But that’s not all.”

“N-No. This c-can’t be happening. This isn’t possible. Oh god, V-Valerie?”

“The chip contains the engram of Johnny Silverhand. H-He’s become a part of my consciousness. He’s slowly overwriting my b-brain functions. Soon, I’ll be. Jesus. Christ. Soon, I’ll be nothing but an empty husk for his mind.”

Lucy actually screamed. “NOOO!! Oh my god!! W-Who the fuck is Johnny Silverhand? Valerie. I can’t believe what you’re telling me right now. I feel like I’m gonna be sick! SICK!!” She clung to the merc, and wouldn’t let her talk anymore. “No more! NO!!”

Valerie was touched by Lucy’s reaction. "Awww, okay. C'mere." She buried her head in the girl’s neck.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. It’s r-really hard for me to talk about.”

For a while, they sat on the couch, holding each other lovingly. Lucy was a wreck. V had a million different emotions swirling around in her head. She thought of Judy Alvarez, but also about smelling Lucy’s anxiety and nervousness. At this moment, they were seeping out through her pores, and a part of Valerie wanted this girl in the worst way possible. It was an ache that could only be satiated by feeling the netrunner’s sublime body rubbing against her own.

“Quid pro quo, Luce….”

“E-Excuse me?” She asked, incredulously.

“What happened at Arasaka Tower that night.”

Lucy clicked her tongue loudly in frustration. “Y-You expect me t-to just forget about what you told me? S-Switch topics, like w-we’re switching channels on the television?"

“What happened to David Martinez?” V was staring intently at her now. And maybe, Lucyna Kushinada thought, just maybe it was time to trust the mercenary….

She covered her face. “C-Cyberpsychosis. A-Adam Smasher. We were tricked. Kiwi. A member of our own crew, betrayed us. Also, a fixer, o-our fixer, Faraday. Kidnapped me. David, h-he came to rescue me. Militech. Everyone wanted the Sandevistan that was fused to his back. ‘Saka wanted to make him their puppet. To use him as a test subject. To see him in action. He was gone by that point. No match for what they had up their sleeve. We were blown out of the tower by Smasher’s rockets. Falling to earth. I k-kissed him. I wanted to tell him so badly. Oh god!” She made a motion with her hands like she needed something to blow her nose with.

V grabbed some napkins, and handed them over. “Tell him what?”

Lucy stared at the merc, and whispered, "that I loved him….”

Chapter Text

Japantown. Last Week of July, 2077.

The stress and mental strain of the conversation quickly tired them out. They switched to automatic pilot, and from that point on, things happened organically.

V laid down on the inside of the couch, turned, and waved Lucy in. She smiled, but it was full of fear. Soon though, they were spooning and all else seemed a little less frightening, at least for the time being….

A mercenary with six months to live, clinging to a netrunner who was suddenly faced with the very real possibility that this woman holding her so perfectly, could die at any moment. In a matter of mere days, Valerie had become very dear to Lucy’s heart. Maybe the closeness of their relationship was necessitated by loneliness or fear, but it didn’t matter. Because for the first time since David Martinez’s death, Lucy was around someone who could make the pain go away…. for a little while anyway.

They drifted off to sleep.
And it was heavenly….

Outside, the hot afternoon slowly bled into a simmering evening and Night City came alive. The neon-lights and the heat of late July permeated the apartment. As they slept on that narrow couch, their bodies became damp with perspiration….

The scent of sage incense, sweat, and heat clung to the room. It wrapped itself around them. For almost two hours, they breathed one another in and so, subconsciously, became saturated and intoxicated with arousal.

A sense of desperation heightened their feelings and when they finally awoke, they stopped trying to control their impulses. They let themselves move without fear in one another’s soft currents….

It was beautiful and tender. Neither of them would ever forget the first time….

An otherworldly energy gripped them and V started gently kissing Lucy’s neck. She whispered things like, “I-I’m so scared,” or, “I don’t know what’s gonna happen.” In between her words, she sucked on Lucy’s shoulder, and heard the girl moaning; felt her hands moving through her hair.

“V,” she said with new tears already building in her eyes. “T-This is my first time. W-With a woman. I’m so nervous. Can we go s-slow?”

“Of course we can.”

Lucy turned over and their lips collided effortlessly and magnificently.

Crying out as one....

They gave into each other. and their intensity grew with every breath. They were half on the couch, half on the floor, as Lucy’s tongue slowly worked its way up and down Valerie’s streamlined body. She tasted the salt of another woman’s sweat and was dizzy from that pungent aphrodisiac. Her movements were tentative and cautious because for the very first time in her life, she was exploring another female form, and her body trembled with unmatched curiosity and lust. Sensations of an intoxicating wetness began to emanate from between her legs. She touched the mercenary everywhere with her mouth. Biting her nipples, running her fingers back and forth against V’s erogenous zones....

“Mmm, oh my god, L-Lucy, baby, don’t stop” V gasped, her raspy voice breaking. She could tell Lucy was inexperienced because of the way she would stop and focus on certain areas, particularly fascinated by Valerie’s breasts, front and behind. Nuzzling, smelling, and licking everywhere below her waist….

Lucy stayed with her until V finally came, gasping and pouring every ounce of herself into the spaces between them....

They made love in that tiny apartment like it was their last night on earth together and when it came time for Lucy to climax, she lost control of her movements and exploded in a flurry of cries and moans. V was all softness, never harsh or hurried. She held the young girl, and knew exactly how to make her bloom. Soon, Lucy’s body was giving off its own new, strange, delicious pheromones, and the scent of her anxious emotions drove the mercenary deeper and deeper….

Valerie's mouth and fingers worked together, guided by a need to make Lucy feel safe, and the young netrunner was quickly overwhelmed. She felt the blood rushing to her head, and screamed Valerie’s name, over and over, as they made love for an hour straight. They were sweating, exhausted, but still they pushed themselves to keep going.

They stood at the edge and leaped over it....

At one point, V sat on the floor, with her back against the base of the couch. Lucy was on top of her, knees bent, legs open, straddling her. She was moving up and down, panting, breathless, and they were locked in the strongest of embraces.

Staring into each other’s eyes, and moving with a lovely rhythm they’d only just learned hours before….

“You okay?” V whispered, panting through her mouth, and holding Lucy’s reddened face in her hands. “You okay, Luce?” She was sweating and kept closing her eyes, resting her head on Valerie’s chest but still riding her body; slower, but with so much more feeling.

“U-Uh-hhuh. Oh, V. I, t-this, f-feels, I-I feel so good against you. Oh, god. I don’t want anything to happen to you, d-don’t know what I’d do….”

….Deep, deep into the night, they tasted one another. By now, they’d moved to the bed. Valerie was on her back. Lucy, curled up on her side, nuzzled up against the mercenary, kissing her softly all over the upper half of her body.

II.

And then, V could hear sniffling.

Lucy was breathing fast. “I could find a way. I-I could go back. I could find the answers," she whispered.

V was caressing the side of her face. She stopped and held her breath.

“What? W-What are you saying? Lucy? What are you talking about? Go back? Where?”

“Valerie. Maybe it’s time I told you everything. M-My childhood. My parents. Where I grew up, and my life as a slave to Arasaka….”

“Wha—?” But before she had time to process the netrunner's revelation, V felt the touch of Lucy's damp lips on her mouth.

She started kissing V’s sticky body, lifting her arm, and running her nose along the surface of her skin. Knowing they may not get another chance; breathing Valerie in as deeply as she could.

“Mmph, shit, Luce. What are you, mmph, ugh, what are you talking about. Oh god, I-I love the way your tongue feels against my skin. I wanna make love again."

“Mhmm, my s-story. It can wait. I need you too. I need to feel your hands everywhere. Touch me again, in all those secret places." And then Lucy shocked herself by whispering,“I do trust you. I’ll tell you everything….”

V nodded, stood up and led the netrunner by the hand to the bathroom. She turned the shower on, and the steam rose like mist from some strange jungle. They stepped under the water, and stayed until their fingertips were withered like raisins. They held one another tight. Rubbing up and down, and it was so sensitive. So immediate, and if only this moment might last forever! It felt so preem, that it was hard not to be overcome by the fragility of existence. The ephemeral joy of touch.

Would it all be gone too soon?

Lucy refused to let V go. Her mouth was open, and she kissed the other woman’s breasts, over and over, as the water ran off their bodies, listening to the beautiful sound of Valerie’s cries of pleasure.

“After David died, I was so lonely,” Lucy whispered, and she threw V against the tiled wall, and opened her own legs. She found the mercenary’s sweet spot, grinding against her with urgency. The ache returned, so fast, so deep and with it, the fear that this might be the last time....

The orgasm hit, and as she came, she looked the merc directly in the face, and in a quiet, vulnerable voice, said, “Don’t leave me. Not now. God, it feels too good. You.. How do you, mmmph, please, don't stop.."

But she’d burned herself out, and slowly slumped to the floor. She was spent and couldn’t find her breath. Lucy had flown too close to the sun….

Valerie, all cyberware, lifted her easily. “L-Lucy? Lucy? You okay? Awww, baby. W-We went too hard, didn’t we? Wake up, Luce….”

She opened her eyes and panted, “I'm so embarrassed. So exhausted. Out of breath. Bring me to bed, ‘kay?”

“Awww, c’mere.” V cradled the young netrunner, and even though they were both soaking wet, carried her to the bed, and laid her down gently.

She was a lot more tired than she’d been letting on, because as soon as her body hit the mattress, she passed out.

For several minutes, V stood there, watching her sleep. She thought Lucy was breathtaking, yet vulnerable at the same time. Then she jumped, as the sound of her phone pulled her back to reality….

Terrified, V practically crawled to the holo. When she saw the message, her worst fears were realized….

“Hey calabacita! (remember? pumpkin!) How’s work? Just thought I’d say hi! Hey, if your travels happen to bring you near Lizzie’s at all, stop by and have a beer! It’s so hot out, ya know? I’m here all night (yuck!), and I’d love to see you! No pressure (well, maybe just a little *wink) Bye!

She closed her eyes, and pressed the phone against her heart…. Inside, her thoughts were a mess.

Oh Judy. Baby....
I know it was only 24 hours ago….
I’m so sorry.
What’s wrong with me?
Am I a bad person?
I swear I never meant to hurt anyone.

“I fucked up. I really, really fucked up, and I’m so afraid of losing you,” but then she turned towards Lucy and said, “a-and you too….”

She thought of how to answer the techie. She was lying to her already, and it hadn't even been a month….

Tentatively, she typed her response.

“Heyyy, Jude. Sorry! I wasn't over that way tonight. I had business down in Pacifica and I got stuck there for a while. I'm just heading home now. Sorry."

“Awww, no worries. Be careful! See you soon, I hope! Bye!”

“Definitely. Bye, Judy.” She closed the holophone, and sighed, “Fuck me.”

III.

Johnny appeared on the couch, smoking a cigarette and staring at her. V was naked, and her first thought was to find something to cover up with, but then she shook her head and muttered, “What? What do you want?”

“I’m worried about you.”

His honesty threw her for a loop. She bit her bottom lip, and said, “Why?”

“You're playing with fire, V. Juggling two lovers? That never ends well. Sooner or later, you’ll drop every fucking ball."

She stood there, dripping wet, looking at him, and for the first time since he merged with her consciousness, he saw a scared, frightened, 23 year old girl just trying to do the best she could, with what she had. Trying to live another day in a city that couldn’t give a shit less. But she was speeding down a dark freeway with no headlights. It was only a matter of time before she would crash and burn.

“What do you want me to do? I never committed to Judy. I said it wasn’t a good time right now, and I never made any promises to Lucy either. Only that we’d be chooms.”

Weirdly, she wasn't self-conscious. The air was thick and humid. She couldn’t tell if she was sweating or still wet from the shower….

“V-Valerie?” Lucy called weakly. “Come back to bed. I’m so fucked up.”

V glanced sideways at Johnny. He shook his head as if to say, ‘See? I told you. It’s happening already.’

“If you think it’s gonna get easier, then you’re an even bigger gonk than I thought. You gotta nip this one in the bud. If you don’t, it’s all gonna catch up with you, sooner or later. And then he studied her body. Even hidden behind his sunglasses, she could sense his eyes everywhere, and V turned bright red, but it didn’t bother her. As a matter of fact, it turned her on….

“W-Why are you looking at me like that?” she whispered. “Do you want me too?" Her voice was low, almost defiant....

Johnny Silverhand didn't answer. He just disappeared, and Valerie touched her cheeks. They were on fire, and if she wasn’t sweating before, she was now….

“V?” Lucy said again.

She walked back and sat on the edge of the bed, next to Lucy. She thought the netrunner looked angelic. Lines of cyberware ran the length of her body. She inched forward and rested her head in V’s lap.

“I n-need to sleep,” she said. “And then we need to talk. I have to tell you everything. About my past, and what I used to do. What I was forced to do, for years. When I was a child.

“What? Luce? Y-You mean, Arasaka?”

“Yes. They used me. Used all of us. Made us jack in and go beyond The Blackwall. I’m the only one of my class who survived….”

She waved a hand as if to say, ‘no more. I’m tired.’ Lucy closed her eyes. “I can go back, V" she whispered. "I can save you...."

Chapter Text

I. (Japantown)

….At the mention of the infamous Blackwall, V’s eyes opened wide. It was known as the old net. A place where daemons and rogue a.i. roamed freely. It was deadly to netrunners. But it was also full of vast stores of hidden knowledge. That’s why megacorps like Militech, Kang Tao, Arasaka, and others were constantly trying to plumb its depths. The fact that Lucy was even here, lying in bed, alive and unharmed was a true testament to her deep-diving abilities.

“Oh my god,” Valerie gasped. “H-How old were you?”

“It started when I was seven.” Lucy rolled over on her back, and was stared up at the ceiling fan. “I was born in Europe. We were very wealthy. Lived in a gated community. For a time, I was actually happy, but then one day I discovered my father was a soldier. A soldier for Arasaka. He did terrible things. I couldn't accept it. I tried to run away, but I was so young. They caught me, and he all but forced me into this life. My mother was a netrunner. I loved them both very much, at least in the beginning. I was so naive. I was just a little girl. Didn’t know anything about the world around me. How corrupt. H-How evil. He sent me off to an Arasaka academy for gifted students. There were a dozen of us. The best of the best. We were led by so many false promises. Like I said, so naive...."

Lucy sat up on her elbows, gave a tired, sad smile and kept talking. Everything came out. Raw. Unfiltered. It was one of the very few times in her life when she trusted someone enough to confide in them the truth. She spared no expense, and told V everything. How she and the other students rebelled. How they fried the instructors cerebral cortices, killing them all....

Breathlessly, she spoke of her fellow classmates being gunned down as they tried to flee the secret underground compound. One by one, they were murdered in cold blood until only Lucy remained. She fled, and wandered the European countryside for months. Aimless, lost. Scared and devastated. She was twelve years old.

“I knew my mother would never stop looking for me. That’s why I couldn’t stay. I was a stowaway on a commercial liner. We crossed the ocean and ended up docking on the east coast of the NUSA. Eventually, I made my way west, to Night City. I was a fuckin’ thief. I-I am a fuckin’ thief. A hacker. A runner. I hate this place.” She stared at V, ready to share her innermost dream. “I-I’ve always wanted to live on the moon. Just gone. Away from the greed. The chaos. Everything.”

Valerie sat cross legged on the bed, Lucy's head in her lap, running her hands through her distinctive wet, silvery hair as she continued to speak in soft, hushed tones. The more she shared, the lighter she seemed to be. She was purging all the bad memories of the past from her system….

“Oh, Lucy. God. I’m so sorry.”

“I can save you, V. I know the answers are out there. Somewhere. I just have to fin—”

Valerie put a finger to the netrunner’s lips. “No. A-Absolutely not. I can’t let you dive back into The Blackwall. No way….”

She flashed an angry glare in the mercenary's direction. “Don’t argue with me! It’s not a debate! Don’t tell me what to do, V!”

“Lucy, it’s too dan—”

“NO! I CAN SAVE YOU! I KNOW I CAN!” Suddenly, clumsily, she scrambled out of bed, and started pacing around the apartment. “I g-gotta go! I GOTTA GO!”

Valerie stood up, and looked stunned. “N-Now? Baby, it’s after midnight. D-Don’t leave. C’mon. Let’s talk about it tomorrow...."

Lucy was a mess. “Can I borrow some clothes?”

“Why are you leaving? What’s going on?” Valerie was shaking her head back and forth.

“I need space! Okay?”

The mercenary ran up to her, grabbed her, and tried to shake some sense into her. “Lucy! Stop running away! Talk to me! It doesn’t have to be this way….”

“I-I’m not losing you too." She kissed V softly on the lips. They stuck there, just long enough. Her emotional state was so volatile. “I, we. We can find out how to remove the shard. I can save you! Clothes! Please!”

Valerie was touched by Lucy's passion but flustered with her stubbornness. “Fine! Over there. You know where to look. Take what you want. C-Can’t fucking believe you, Luce," V said disgustedly. “You're leaving now? What the fuck. Why?” But it was no use, she’d made up her mind….

Fifteen minutes later, they stood at the door, locked in a loving embrace.

“Stay,” V whispered. “Please.”

The girl looked away, “I need space. I’ll ping you. I-I felt so good. Tonight. This. Being in your arms. I'll never forget it. You’re such a gentle lover. I think I-I’m….”

“What? Tell me…. Why go? Let’s go back and lie down."

“I can’t. I need to prep. T-To prepare. T-Thank you for making me feel so safe and comfortable. Bye.”

Lucy inhaled sharply, kissed V hard on the lips, turned around, and disappeared down the stairs….

The mercenary closed the door and stood there. The apartment was silent. Then, to the bathroom and tears. It all ended much too fast.

II. (Charter St.)

….Judy was sitting in her kitchen, having a beer and a cigarette. It was after 2:00 am, and she couldn’t stop thinking about a certain woman.

She hated V’s choice of profession. Prowling the streets of NC at all hours of the night. It was so dangerous and foolish! Why! She thought, frustrated and scared. Why does she risk her life so unnecessarily?

She remembered when V first told her about the Relic, and the fact that she was living on borrowed time.

“Six months, Jude,” V had said, her normal raspy, sexy voice tinged with tired acceptance.

Judy closed her eyes, and thought back to when they made love for the first time. It filled her with so much happiness. So much joy, but there was a pervasive bittersweetness because V had balked when she suggested they be an exclusive couple.

She articulated her reasons with honesty and thoughtfulness, and Judy admired her so much for her integrity, which was why the next few hours of her life hurt beyond belief.

It started around 3:00 am when, seemingly out of the blue, V sent her a message….

“Hey, Jude. I know it’s really late. I wasn’t sure when you got off at Lizzie’s, and hoped you might still be awake.”

“Hey! I’m up! What a nice surprise! What’s going on calabacita!” :)

“I need to see you. It’s important. Can I come by?”

Immediately, Judy felt a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. She assumed it had something to do with V’s health, and the corrupted shard in her head.

“Uh-oh. V, you’re scaring me. Of course you can come over. Should I be worried here?” She started shaking her head and cursing under her breath.

“No. No need to worry. Just wanna talk in person.”

“Hurry. I’m waiting….”

Judy stood at the window and lit one cigarette after another. About a half hour later, she saw V’s bike coming up the road. She tensed, and felt anxious and edgy.

The merc came in through the back entrance. Judy ran to the door excitedly, but when she opened it, she knew. She just knew something was very wrong.

They didn’t embrace. V wouldn’t look at her for more than a second. She kept turning away. And when Judy got close, she smelled something strange. Too much perfume, or some other artificial scent, almost like V was trying to cover something up. Erase a part of herself Judy had come to adore. Valerie’s unique, natural pheromones….

She took a deep breath, and finally showed the tiniest bit of affection, Taking Judy’s hand in hers, and swallowing hard.

“How are you, Jude?”

“Ummm, fucked up. What is this? What’s up? Why did you need to come over here at three in the morning? It’s gotta be something big. I’m just trying to figure out if that’s a good or bad thing. Something tells me I’m not gonna like what I hear, hmmm?”

The techie stood there, hands at her hips, waiting for V to talk….

“Can we sit on the couch?”

“Jesus V! Just tell me what’s going on!”

“C-Call me. Call me, Valerie, okay? That’s my full name. Please.”

Judy sighed loudly. “Ugh! Valerie! What’s going on?”

“I fucked up, Judy,” V said, breathing fast. “I had to tell you in person. I don’t want to lose you.”

“OH MY GOD! V! WHAT DID YOU DO?”

“I s-slept with the girl I-I told you about the other day. L-Lucy? I wasn’t in Pacifica tonight. I was in Japanto—,” but before she could finish, Judy slapped her across the face. It was painful, and it stunned the merc. She sank to the floor and started crying softly….

“I t-thought you were different,” Judy said, her voice breaking. She felt like she’d been hit by a truck. “You were so honest. Sensitive.” Her voice broke. “Or at least I thought you were. What was that night at the Lake-house? Huh? Was that even you?” Judy broke down. She was angry, but more than that, she was hurt. “B-Because the V I was with that night? I-I was falling in love with her. What am I? J-Just a one night stand? Someone to keep you warm until, until w-what’s her name comes along?” Judy picked up a beer bottle and threw it against the wall. It shattered into a thousand pieces. “I THOUGHT YOU WERE DIFFERENT!”

V stayed on the ground, and wept. “I’m sorry. I don’t wanna lose you. L-Lose what we shared that night. Please. I’m really, really confused right now. That’s why I didn’t wanna commit. My life. It’s so chaotic. T-The shard. I-I’m dying. I’m scared. I fucked up, okay? But it doesn’t change the way I feel about you.”

Judy bent down, so they were face to face. “Maybe not,” she whispered. “But it changes the way I feel about you….”

Valerie cried out, “Please don’t say that. Please, Judy. D-Don’t say goodbye.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Johnny Silverhand had materialized. He was standing by the window, looking out at the city. V couldn’t tell for sure, but it looked like he was shaking his head back and forth in disgust…. “I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore,” she whispered, thinking of Lucy, before snapping back to the pain on Judy’s face….

It was then she felt a searing pain in right temple.

“Ahhh! Shit! M-My head!” She tried to stand, but crumpled to the floor. The last thing she remembered before blacking out was Judy’s arm around her. Trembling. Still holding her. Even now….

III.

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was the techie, kneeling over her, and patting her forehead with a cool cloth. She was lying in Judy’s bed. In the distance, she could hear the N54 news anchor's robotic, droning voice.

“H-Hey. You awake?” Judy whispered. “It’s okay. It’s okay. You p-passed out. You’re lying in my bed. You’ve been out for about fifteen minutes. I’m right here.” She kept pressing the towel to Valerie’s hot, damp skin. It felt cool. “Are you okay, Valerie?”

“Ugghh, I-I don’t, I can’t….” She was still out of it, and having trouble putting together a sentence.

“It’s okay. Don’t talk. Rest. Here. Want a sip of water?” She flashed the tiniest of smiles. “I promise it’s real. Here. I’m gonna lift your head up, okay.”

V took two swallows, and murmured, “T-Thanks, Jude.”

“Close your eyes. Rest, calabacita…. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

It turned out V was exhausted. She’d pushed her body to the limit with Lucy, and the stress of fighting with Judy caused her brain to overload and short-circuit. She slept for hours. Judy brought in a chair and set it up next to the bed. She grabbed a bunch of blankets, took off V’s shoes, and covered her up. She wrapped herself up in one and drifted in and out of sleep….

As the sun rose in the east, Judy awoke to the sound of a pinging phone. It wasn’t hers. It was V’s. She could hear the sound coming from the merc’s front pocket. Furtively, she reached in and pulled it out.

It was a message from Lucy….

'I’m sorry for leaving so suddenly. I felt overwhelmed by a bunch of things. But I wanted to say, making love to you was something I’ll cherish forever. Thank you, V. Now. There’s a lot we need to talk about. You know with the Relic and me jacking in. I’m gonna need to build my stamina back up before I can even think about jacking in. Might look at some simulations. Test drives, so to speak. Plus, I’m missing some of my gear. Anyway, ping me. Bye.'

Judy carefully put the phone back in V’s front pocket, and shook her head. Her emotions churned. She was angry with Valerie for sleeping with someone else so early on but it was tangled with a fierce, strange desire to protect her. To comfort and care for her. Six months was not a long time at all and did she really want to spend it all hating the woman lying in her bed? This incredible woman who made her feel better than she’s felt before in her life?

She could walk away. She knew that. But instead, Judy Alvarez murmured, “I can’t hate you, even if I tried. See I-I’m falling in love with you, Valerie….”

She leaned over the tiny bed, closed her eyes and laid her head gently on V’s stomach. She smiled. Valerie was so warm. Heat from her body came through the thin shirt she was wearing.

“Wha—?” Judy said, surprised to feel a hand running through her hair. Suddenly, what little anger remained, swiftly faded to memory….

Chapter Text

I.

Interlude

….The moment she walked through her front door, Lucy began making plans to convert one of the two bathrooms in her apartment into a sort of immersive, makeshift den. A workspace where she could get her mind and body back in shape. Back in sync. She would have to be at her very best if she were to find the answers Valerie needed to stop the corrupted shard from killing her.

She’d left V’s so suddenly, and now a part of her regretted it. Fragments of the mercenary flitted through her mind. Smiles, touches, the weight of her hand atop Lucy’s….

(Pictures coalesce. Valerie’s smile. Fleeting, yet beautiful. The touch of her hand across my cheeks. How can someone touch me like that? I was so scared. So afraid to open myself up and let anyone in. But I did, and it felt like the best decision of my life. The way you held me in your lap. How I closed my eyes, and nuzzled against your chest. You brought me back to life, V. Do you know that? I looked straight into your eyes, and it felt so good. Don’t you see why I can’t let anything happen to you? I already lost someone so close to my heart, and it very nearly killed me. I’ve grown so close to you in such a short amount of time. Is that normal? Was I that lonely? In the end, does it matter? Is it foolish to think we could make one another happy forever? All good things come to an end, eventually, don’t they?)

The bathroom door creaked open and Lucy stood anxious at the threshold. Her eyes scanned the cramped, tiny space, like it was just another piece of the puzzle. A single, yellow light buzzed overhead. She sighed, and began to take a mental inventory of all the things she would need.

She wanted strips of lighting. It made for a better ambiance. More immersive. Soft, dull-whites, heavy purples, deep blues. She’d packed most of her old supplies in a cardboard box months ago. It was sitting in the bedroom closet.

She studied the tub. Would it be deep enough? Could she soundproof the walls to prevent intrusion? No windows helped. She thought of all the countless hours spent serving Arasaka’s needs. Seeing things her mind probably should have never seen. All for the pursuit of dark knowledge. Running from nightmares you couldn’t wake up from. A.I. who wanted nothing more than her mind, body and soul.

She hadn’t felt this focused in years. Since Arasaka. That frightened her….

But Lucy knew the knowledge was there, somewhere. And if that meant going up against the unnamed terrors of The Blackwall, then so be it. She’d been there before, and yes, it scared her to death, but it also exhilarated her. To feel that kind of power surging through her neural pathways. It was indescribable! The ultimate rush! Dancing so close to the edge, the lines become blurred, but it’s what she was born to do….

If the answers were hidden somewhere in Arasaka’s old databanks, there’d almost certainly be a thousand traps, enemy netrunners and other obstacles prepared to fry her circuits, and send her to oblivion. But Lucy was one of the best runners in the world.

And if anyone could save V, it was her….

She’d have to start from the ground up. Focus on the foundations, and that meant procuring the best gear, even if she had to make it herself. Craft it from pieces of aging tech she’d acquired through the years.

She checked for outlets. Good, good. There was one on the wall, and one underneath the sink. That would be enough. She just needed enough power to go shallow. When it came time to actually dive deep, she would need a state of the art setup. And in all reality, a second set of hands, someone with knowledge of the tech could make all the difference. Any little advantage could mean the difference between success and failure.

But here in Night City? That person was going to be difficult to find, unless Lucy were willing to disclose her plans. To trust someone else with her ultimate goals and that was something she was extremely reluctant to do.

And as Lucy continued mentally prepping, an idea popped in her head….

Europe.

(I-I could go back. I could talk to my father. He could help. He had contacts in Arasaka. They would have access to the best equipment on the planet.)

But it was so risky, and she had to carefully weigh the pros and cons. Find something here in NC? Or travel across the globe, back to the lion’s den. Lucy wasn’t even sure she could trust her parents. They could promise her whatever she needed, but it could just as easily be a trap. Was it a chance worth taking? If V’s life depended on it, then it was. She knelt down beside the tub, and checked its base for stability. She turned the water on, and made it warm, just to get a feel for buoyancy, temperature, and depth. Lucy slid out of V’s clothes, and folded them neatly, placing them on the sink. Silent, she waited for the water to fill the basin, and lit a cigarette. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed an old faded photograph of her class resting on one of the niches along the wall. The edges were curled and wrinkled. Some of the faces were blurry. Ghost-like. Impartial. Some were smiling, but was it forced? All of them, gone now. All except for her. Quickly, like it held some malicious, negative energy, she flipped it over, and gingerly put it back.

The Blackwall….

She listened for the whispers, but the only sound was of lukewarm running water, gradually filling the tub.

A shiver passed through her. Would she even know if the daemons were listening back?

II.

Charter St. Northside

….The first thing V saw when she opened her tired eyes was Judy asleep in the chair next to the bed. A thin sheet, halfway on the floor, covering her left leg.

“Mmmm, J-Jude?”

The techie stirred, and blinked several times. “Hi, V. How do you feel?” She smiled.

“Ughh, like I have a wicked hangover. T-The last thing I remember was you slapping me across the face.” She touched her cheek, and took a deep breath.

Judy looked away. “I’m sorry. I was upset. I-I am upset. But I shouldn’t have done that.”

Slowly, Valerie reached out and held the other woman’s hand. She squeezed it, and rubbed her fingers. “I deserved it. I hurt you, and I’m sorry.”

“Do you love her? Who is she?” Judy squeezed V’s hand back. “I just d-don’t wanna get my heart broken. If you’re in love with someone else, please, just tell me. I’m already at the edge, V. And the more I’m around you. Near you. The harder it’s going to be to leave. S-So tell me now. Do you love her?” She was still sleepy, and her deliberate movements betrayed the sheer anxiety building inside.

V thought about the question. Did she love Lucy? Could she love someone she’d only just met? Of course she could. Wasn’t that what happened between her and Judy?

“No, Jude. She’s a choom. We let our feelings get the best of us. I was in a really, really vulnerable state.” But as soon as she said it, she shook her head. “N-No. No, that’s not true. I wanted it. I did. I knew what I was doing. We both did.”

Judy nodded. “Who is she? How long have you known her?”

“Not very long. Lucy. S-She’s a netrunner. She was part of a crew, but they’re no longer in operation. I’ll try and start from the beginning.” Valerie sat up and told Judy about finding the XBD, and learning of David Martinez. She spoke of the messages between her and Falco, and explained the gist of their conversation. She mentioned Reyes, the fixer, giving her David’s edgerunner jacket. “They were in a relationship. Lucy and David. When she found out about the coat, she reached out to me. She wanted it back. We met and talked. I think she saw similarities between me and him. Our involvement with Arasaka, a-and….” V paused, unsure of how to continue….

“What?” Judy asked. “And what?”

“I’m dying, Jude. I’m full of chrome, but not only that. It’s The Relic. The biochip. David suffered from cyberpsychosis. He filled his body with implants, and in the end, it killed him. Lucy opened up to me. O-One thing led to…. Well, you know. She wants to help me.” This whole time, V never stopped rubbing Judy’s hand. “She thinks the answers to my problems are, well, she thinks they might be somewhere in the Old Net. The Blackwall. Maybe in an old, secret Arasaka database, or server. Something. I don’t know yet.”

“I thought you said there’s nothing you can do to remove it.” Judy was staring at her, waiting on pins and needles for her answer. “A-Are you telling me now, there might be a way to save you?”

“Honestly? I don’t know. Lucy seems to think so. She’s a world-class netrunner. G-Grew up in one of those secret Arasaka academies. Started when she was seven. She’s been beyond The Blackwall.”

“Why is she willing to risk her life for you?” Judy asked. Eyes narrowed. Confused. “Didn’t the two of you just meet?”

“Uh-huh. And I don’t know. Other than to say, I think I remind her of David. We bonded, Jude. We did. It all happened really fast, but I don’t know her motives. I can guess, but nothing’s certain.”

Judy got up from the chair, and went to the bed. “Scoot over,” she whispered.

They both turned on their sides. V held the techie gently. “I don’t know what’s happening, Judy, but I know I can’t lose you.” Her voice grew softer than a whisper as she asked, “D-Did I?”

For a long time, Judy didn’t speak and Valerie feared the worst. Finally, she answered, “No, V. You didn’t lose me. It’s just. I don’t know if I can share you with someone else. A-Are we a couple? Are we exclusive?”

The merc licked her lips nervously. She knew what Judy was doing. She was making her say it out loud. Again. “Oh, Jude. I just, I’m so screwed up. I-I want to. It’s just, everything’s so fucked up. And I don’t wanna make promises I can’t keep. I’m dying. I’m dy—”

“Stop it. Stop saying that. Stop it. I know. I know.” And then Judy blurted out, “I think I’m falling in love with you, Valerie. I can’t help it. I’m so mad at you for being dishonest, but I can’t hate you. I know time’s running out, and it’s making me look at things differently. You’re on a clock. I can’t imagine….”

(Maybe it’s stupid, but if she’s fighting for her life, I wanna be there for her. I wanna help.)

“I was just thinking, I’m pretty handy with tools a-and machines. I could help.”

She rolled over and they stared into one another’s eyes. “I don’t know,” V whispered. “I just don’t know anything anymore. But I know I wanna kiss you. Jude. I’m scared to death of losing you. Losing her, but most of all…. I’m terrified of losing myself. I don’t wanna die….”

Judy leaned in and very softly touched her lips to V’s. They kissed for a long time. It didn’t progress. It didn’t need to. It was so full of passion that the tension seemed to melt away. Judy smoothed out Valerie’s hair, and they smiled, and touched noses.

“Okay. I’ll be here. In whatever capacity you need me to be. I just don’t wanna feel like I’m being used. And I don’t know if I can share you with her. But I guess we’ll have to cross that bridge when we get there.” She kissed V again. “I want you to get better, and I don’t care how. If it’s her? Well then, I guess that’s something I’ll just have to accept.”

“Thank you, Jude. I mean it. And going forward, I promise to be upfront. Whatever the future holds, I know one thing. I need you right here by my side….”

Chapter Text

Lucy’s Apartment. August, 2077.

….Three days later, and she hadn’t left once. Lucy stood in the darkened hallway and stretched loudly. Sleep was coming in one and two hour intervals, if at all, and her incessant yawning seemed to remind her she was an ordinary human being after all. The place smelled of candles, incense, and ozone. No longer was the bathroom a bathroom. It’d become a launching pad for her forays into cyberspace, and slowly but surely, she was rediscovering her rhythm. Dancing between the raindrops, and it was exhilarating!

Thick cables, humming with power, trailed like overgrown vines over the floor. Strips of different colored lighting gave the space an iridescent quality. Still wearing yesterday’s clothes, Lucy lit a cigarette and took a sip from a cold cup of coffee. She paused, gauging where she was in the cycle. She was wired, hungry, but focused. As she tweaked her neural link, and rechecked the cyberdeck for overall stability, Lucy realized she was walking the tightrope. The razor’s edge. She had to remind herself not to push. To let the process happen naturally. Ease herself back into things.

Thinking back to that first day, it’d been rough going. Even jacking in and staying on the periphery had thrown her for a loop. Twice, she’d started to overheat, and had to end the dive prematurely. Her calculations had been off, and her internal temperature spiked to dangerously high levels.

Then she remembered one of the things they taught her at Arasaka. Just breathe. Relax. Synchronize the mind and body to operate as one, single unit. Lucy unhooked herself, walked to the living room, and put on some of her favorite music. Low, ethereal instrumentals and slow trance-like beats. She was wearing a pair of shorts and a tank-top, and sat cross legged on the floor.

As she meditated, letting the music seep into her soul, it all started coming back to her. Like riding a bike, her fingers and hands twitching with anticipation. She knew what to do. How to optimize her gear for the best, cleanest results. How to glide through the electric firmament and trust in her innate abilities. And after that night, it did get easier. The simulations were lasting longer and longer. Everything felt cleaner. Firewalls and lag lessened, while ghost echoes seem to slowly fade away or even disappear altogether….

And then with her most recent dive, she finally glimpsed something behind the walls of code. Shadows, or possibly memories. Something to latch onto. A tether in the endless infinity. Excitement and fear gripped her in equal measure. The daemons were out there. Somewhere. Circling, and she could feel it. The deeper she went, the closer she came to the hidden, guarded knowledge of The Blackwall….

Still, it was much too early to think about that place. Lucy knew this was only the beginning, and she had to be extra careful. She clicked her tongue in frustration. Her mouth tasted of cold metal and colder synth-coffee. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten a regular meal, or checked her holophone.

(Oh, V…. I didn’t forget you.)

Lucy fumbled around in the darkness, until she felt the outline of her phone. Slowly, she opened it and sighed. Valerie had sent her several messages, each one more urgent than the last….

Her final text was already hours old. She wrote….

‘Hey! You’re freaking me out! Will you call or text me? Please? Just to let me know you’re okay? I mean Jesus Christ, Lucy! After what we shared? I’m worried about you!’

But Lucy needed to be focused. She needed to concentrate on the mission. Her mind couldn’t pivot back and forth from the mercenary to the test runs, and back again. Reluctantly, she pinged the other woman back.

V answered on the first ring. “Hey! What’s up? Lucy? What the fuck? Three days? You ghost me for three days? Why? Are you okay?” She studied the tiny image of the netrunner. Lucy looked tired. Her hair was a mess, and she kept licking her lips.

“Hi. I-I’m sorry. I’ve been practicing. Jacking in. Simulations. Trying to get back in shape. Physically and mentally. I’m okay, but I have to be focused. I-I can’t get complacent. How are you, Valerie?”

“Worried! About you! I need to talk to you. Can I see you?”

Immediately, Lucy shook her head. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea right now. I mean I’m right in the middle of all this work, a-and one miscalculation could, well it could send me back to square one.”

V scoffed. “I don’t understand what’s going on here. Can you explain it to me? I mean, you say you wanna help, but yet you don’t even wanna see me?”

Lucy closed her eyes. “No,” she whispered. “Of course I wanna see you. I miss you. I think about you. The way you touched me, and the love we made.” She shook herself out of the dream. “But it’s a distraction.” She hesitated. “I can’t just split my brain in two, V. Not right now.” As soon as she said it, Lucy regretted her choice of words.

V opened her mouth, shocked and upset. “A-A distraction? Ouch! Fuck it then! Goodb—”

“Wait, wait. Don’t hang up. Please. I’m sorry, V. It’s just, I’m close. Close to finding my way back. Everyday, I get a little closer. I don’t wanna lose the progress I’ve made these last few days. This, us. It’s just a lot right now.”

“Can I see what you’re doing? Can you show me at least?” V felt flushed. Breathing heavily. Seeing the netrunner’s image brought back all these feelings. Her raw beauty was captivating. The distinctive rainbow colored lock of hair hung over the side of her face. Even as disheveled as she was, Lucy was still very beautiful. “C-Can I see you?”

She looked down at her feet. After several seconds, she said, “Okay. But, V. I don’t want you to try and talk me out of this, okay? I’m not arguing with you. And I can’t take too much time away, or else I’ll have to start over from the beginning. What time is it? My head’s all foggy. I haven’t been outside since I left your apartment.

“It’s 11:30 at night. I can be there in twenty minutes.”

“Alright, okay. C’mon. I miss you. Hurry….”

II.

….A knock. Soft. And then another, softer.

“It’s open….” A voice called out.

V turned the handle slowly, and it was like stepping into some strange, phantasmagoric haunted house. It was dark, except for strips of warm blue and violet lights running vertical from floor to ceiling. Candles and incense burned everywhere; neatly placed on bookshelves, nooks and windowsills. Soft soothing, ambient music issued forth from the best speakers money could buy, and the temperature was oddly perfect….

Valerie stood there, hypnotized and fascinated by the scene before her. It was eerie and beautiful all at once. She didn’t even notice Lucy come up from the side, and gasped when she felt the netrunner’s arms wrap tightly around her waist.

“I missed you,” Lucy whispered, kissing her tenderly on the neck. Her lips were damp, and the feel of them against her skin made V instantly break out in goosebumps. She turned and held the girl’s face in her hands. Lucy seemed impossible to resist and they kissed each other deeply on the mouth. Seconds later, they were buzzing from the natural high of touch….

Reluctantly, they pulled apart and stared at each other for a moment, unsure of what to do next. And then instinct took over, and they inhaled deeply, breathing one another in….

“Missed you too,” V murmured, and felt a pang of guilt at how quickly she seemed to forget her convo with Judy just two days before….

“Come here. Let me show something,” Lucy said, and led V by the hand to the converted bathroom. “This is my workspace. What do you think?”

The mercenary stood there, trying to process the weird images before her. Cables, red blinking lights, a small server with lines of code running up and down its surface. and a bathtub full of a bluish substance, not unlike gel. It smelled strongly of metal and electricity, combined with skin. V noticed an odd looking cyberdeck resting on the kitchen sink, along with several unmarked bottles of pills.

“T-This is crazy. I-Incredible. Did you do this all yourself?”

“Mhmm. I had the supplies already. It was just a matter of remembering where everything was packed. V. Look at me.”

The mercenary turned to face the netrunner.

“I started jacking in. Nothing too deep. Not yet, but every time, a little further than the last. Not too much longer now….” Lucy let the ominous thought trail away.

V held her. “I’m so worried about you. D-Do you really think you’ll find what you’re looking for?”

“Uh-huh. I do. I’ve been deep inside Arasaka’s mainframes before. I know there’s a way to save you. I can feel it in my mind….” Lucy held V’s hand, and led her out, and into the kitchen. “I’m starving,” she said, and grinned wistfully, as though she hadn’t eaten in weeks….

V looked concerned. “Let me make you something. Is there anything here?”

Lucy shook her head. “Later.” With the back of her hand, she grazed Valerie’s cheek. “I want to feel you,” she said. “It’s lonely here. All these machines and code. None of it feels like this.” She took her index finger and traced the outline of Valerie’s lips.

V closed her eyes. A part of her wanted to protest. To explain her burgeoning feelings for Judy Alvarez, and her confusion with the situation in general. But it was a lone voice in the wilderness, and it was quickly drowned out by her unparalleled desire to make gentle love to Lucy. She lifted her easily and set her down on the kitchen counter. She propped her feet up on the edges, peeled Lucy’s shorts off, and slowly opened her legs. She glimpsed the lines of cyberware running all along the surface of her body. Then V knelt down, and breathed the girl in deeply.

Her scent was utterly captivating. Sweat, heat, mixed with bruised rose petals, lavender, and vanilla.. Such a strange, yet sublime sweetness.

V opened her mouth in ecstasy, and felt Lucy’s hand on the back of her head, leading her deeper. She gripped her by the waist and buried herself between the girl’s legs. In the darkness, Valerie could hear the netrunner whimpering softly as she moved her own tongue in circles. This time, it felt different. More intense. Urgent, overdue. Lucy was incredibly aroused, and sensitive. After a minute or two, she tensed and orgasmed powerfully, her body moving in sync with the mercenary’s touch….

“Oh V. Mmph, god. You feel so good. Please don’t stop. Make me come again….”

Soft colors deepened in the neon glow of midnight. Outside, Night City moved and breathed like something alive. A gigantic serpentine machine, powered by love, hate, greed, and sex….

V made love to Lucy languidly and she cried out her name over and over amidst the pulsing violets and dense blues scattered throughout the spaces.

When her body was too sensitive to keep going, she pulled V up, and they kissed with such tenderness that they both moaned in satisfaction….

Afterwards, V cradled the netrunner, and said, “I can tell you’re exhausted. Take a break, and let me take care of you tonight. Where’s the bedroom? It’s so dark.”

Already, Lucy’s eyes were closed and she looked completely at peace. “D-Down the hall, on the right.”

The door was open. Carefully, V threw the blankets out of the way and laid the girl down on the mattress. She covered her and said, “Rest, baby. Sleep.”

“W-Wake me up in an hour. Two, tops. Don’t forget, Valerie.”

“Okay. I won’t.”

“G’night,” Lucy said, and was soon fast asleep.

The merc kissed her forehead, held her close, and whispered, “night.”

Afterwards, V walked to the living room, and saw Johnny Silverhand standing near a string of lights. It gave him a ghostly look. Insubstantial, like an apparition from beyond the grave.

“Not now,” Valerie whispered.

“Do you really think she’s gonna find the answers out there?” He waved his arm around the room, skeptically.

“I don’t know. But I have to have faith, don’t I?” She walked over to him, and nuzzled against his chest. She could feel electricity and sense his vibrations. Valerie tingled from head to toe, like static under her skin. “Would you miss me, Johnny?” She murmured, closing her eyes and cuddling up under his chin. Something about being close to him made her feel good. A little less afraid.

“Yeah. I think I would, but don’t you dare tell anyone.”

V ran her hands up and down the front of his body. “Do you think abo—?”

“I do. Now, quiet. Gonk. No more questions.”

V smiled and sighed, contentedly. When she finally opened her eyes, he was gone, and a dull ache moved throughout her body. Sharing a mind, and knowing Johnny Silverhand was privy to her darkest, most taboo secrets thrilled her in ways she couldn’t have possibly imagined.

And then it hit her. If Lucy did indeed find a way to extract the shard, the rockerboy would be gone forever.

“Am I really ready to say goodbye to you?” V whispered in the growing darkness….

Chapter Text

Lizzie's

….Saturday night, and Judy was working late again. She took out her phone and messaged a certain mercenary.

“Hey! Meet me at Lizzie’s? Please? One drink! I promise!”

It was the beginning of August, and Night City was in the midst of a mini-heatwave. The past three days had seen temperatures in the triple-digits. Even after the sun had gone down, it still hovered in the low 80s. It was humid, sticky, and you couldn’t be outside for more than five minutes before you started to sweat. It seemed the city was on edge, waiting for relief that just wouldn’t come.

V was out and about. Cruising downtown, Corpo Plaza, meeting with high-end fixers, and trying to finish up some last-minute gigs. She hadn’t seen or heard from Lucy since the night before last. She was frustrated and confused. Her emotions were all over the place, and time was slipping away.

She heard her holophone ping and opened it to see a message from Judy Alvarez staring back at her. A welcome diversion from the volatility of her life....

I’m not too far away, she thought, reading the text. Plus, I really miss her. I could be there in twenty minutes.

She pulled into a parking spot, and answered back..

“Hey! And yes! Be there in a few minutes! Can’t wait!”

“Awesome! Byeeee!”

Valerie smiled, threw the Herrera into high gear, and tore off down the avenue, tires screeching and burning rubber on the heated pavement.

Lizzie’s was throbbing with energy. Techno music was blaring out of the speakers, and everyone was moving to the beat of the pounding bass. As soon as V walked in, she was hit by an overpowering smell of human bodies, alcohol, and tobacco. In the distance, she spied Judy sitting at the end of the bar.

She snuck up behind her and held her tightly at the waist. She yelled, pleasantly surprised, and turned around quickly.

The two women embraced, before Judy grabbed her by the hand, and mouthed, “Follow me. C’mon.”

“W-Where are we going?” V asked, laughing already.

“It’s a surprise.”

She led Valerie to a nearby stairwell, away from the crowds and noise, and started kissing her everywhere….

“Mmph, mhmm. Oh Jude,” V gasped, picking up on the preem vibe the other woman was giving off.

“F-Fuckin’ missed you, calabacita,” she murmured, breathlessly. She yanked at V’s ripped jean shorts, kissing her neck, her hands moving over her chest. Forcefully, she pulled her shorts off, knelt down, and started licking and tasting the merc everywhere….

V’s head shot upwards, as she held the techie by the hair, and let herself be swept away in the preem spontaneity of the moment.

“Ohhh, Jude, n-neughh, god, mmph, j-just like that….”

A new song had come on, and it had a pulsing, hypnotic beat that reverberated throughout the club. Synthesizers punctuated the percussion, and it seemed like Judy Alvarez was moving her hands, tongue, and fingers in perfect time with its lush, vibrant rhythms.

Valerie was euphoric. Caught between so many surreal fantasies and her life as a mercenary amidst the chaos of Night City. Speeding through the days, juggling relationships, pushing herself to the limit. Growing closer and closer to the engram of a long-dead rock star, while falling in love with a sexy, brilliant techie, and a brooding, beautiful netrunner.

Everything was happening all at once. She felt like a passenger on an amusement ride that kept spinning faster and faster. Was it too late to slow down? Was her only option to leap off blindly and pray she somehow landed on her feet?

She felt herself getting closer. Judy was gripping her ass, and licking her perfectly.

“I-I’m, I’m gonna come, baby, shit, I’m coming, Jude. I’m coming….” For a split-second, Lucy’s face flashed in her mind, and disappeared just as fast.

“Mhmm, mmph, mmhmm, come for me V. That’s it.” Judy dove back in and soon finished off the mercenary magnificently….

Valerie pulled her up, and they made out intensely. Her shorts were still hanging around her ankles, and her entire body radiated steam and heat.

They stayed under the stairwell for close to an hour. Kissing, holding each other, and making love. A few times, people walked by and briefly stopped to watch. They didn’t care. It actually turned them on so much more.

At one point, as their bodies were feverishly rubbing together, V gasped, “Look. Look.”

Judy could barely hear her. She was caught up in her own wild thoughts. She looked to see two women holding hands and eyeing them intently. “S-So? K-Keep going, V. Ugh, uh-huh, Awww, shit.”

They didn’t care who watched. Not anymore. They closed their eyes and let the world burn down around them….

II.

Later, they staggered to Judy’s office in the basement. V sat in one of the chairs and held the other woman in her lap. They were both hot, damp, and sweaty.

“Mmmm, I needed that,” the techie murmured, nuzzling against the merc’s chest, and kissing her neck and shoulders. “I never had a lover like you, V. Y-You’re so sensitive, and gentle, but strong too.”

V didn’t answer, but she ran her hands through Judy’s multi-colored hair, and kissed her reddened cheeks. “You’re so warm, leelou bean,” she said, and laughed out loud.

“Leelou bean? What, like the candy?”

“Uh-huh. Exactly. Sweet, sour, tangy. Delicious. Like you.”

Judy wrapped her arms around the other woman. And then said something she’d never said before, to any of her former partners.

“I love you, V.”

Shocked, the mercenary inhaled sharply. She was frozen, and thought of Lucy. She grappled and wrestled with so many sudden, conflicting emotions.

(What should I say? Do I love her? I-I think I do. But, what about Luce? Don’t I love her too?)

She looked to see Judy staring at her. Waiting…. A warm, vulnerable smile on her flushed face. The seconds dripped past, like honey from a near empty bottle.

(SAY SOMETHING! NOW!)

“Oh, Jude. I-I love you. I do, baby. C’mere.”

They held each other and were overcome with excitement. Inside, V felt so good, yet a part of her knew she wasn’t being completely transparent. Sooner or later, she would have to admit, she was falling in love with two different women, at the same exact time.

The techie rested her head against V’s shoulder, and kept kissing her there, one after another….

(What the fuck am I gonna do?)

It was then she noticed Johnny standing next to the braindance chair in the middle of the office. They stared at one another. He took a drag of his cigarette. “What did I tell you? Straighten it out before it’s too late. Now you got this chick here saying she loves you and another one willing to go beyond the fucking Blackwall to save you. How much longer can you keep it going? Pretty soon, it’s gonna bite you in that preem ass of yours. How long, V?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered aloud.

Judy looked up at her. “What?” She asked.

“Oh, uhhh, nothing. Nothing.”

But the techie persisted. “You said, ‘I don’t know.’ What don’t you know?”

“Ummm. Remember the night we went diving and you synched our brains?”

“Uh-huh.” And then her eyes opened wide as she realized what was happening. ”Wait. S-Silverhand?” She murmured.

“Yeah. Him.”

“What did he say, V?”

Jude. It’s nothing. He’s just being a dick. It’s nothing.”

But hearing his name was all it took for the fear and worry to come flooding back. Judy sighed, sadly.

(Oh my god! She’s got six months to live? How can that be?)

Quietly, she asked, “Will you come back to my place and spend the night? Let me make you breakfast in bed. Please, calabacita?”

V was lost in a maze of self-doubt. In her haste, without thinking things through, she professed her love to someone and now she was worried that jealousy might tear a hole in her relationship with Judy. She was split in two. One half wanted a life with the techie. The other ached for the netrunner….

“C-Calabacita? Helloooo? You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay. W-What did you ask me? I’m sorry. I spaced.”

“It’s okay. I asked if you’d come back to my place and spend the night.”

Valerie stopped smoothing out Judy’s hair. She took a deep, uncertain breath, and said, “Sure, leelou bean. Of course. I-I’d love that.”

But the other woman recognized a tiny, subtle shift in the merc’s demeanor. It was slight, but she noticed it nonetheless.

“What is it? Talk to me.”

At that moment, almost on cue, Valerie’s phone pinged. She ignored it, but Judy asked, “Aren’t you gonna see who that is?”

“Nah, it’s not important. Whoever it is, they can wait.”

Judy was still sitting in V’s lap. She turned and held both of her hands, looking straight into her eyes. “H-Have you heard from Lucy at all?” Imperceptibly, she started to shake….

V was, and wasn’t a good liar. When it came to fixers, gigs, and gonks, she could bullshit with the best of them. But when it came to the few people she really cared about, it was extremely hard for her to be dishonest.

“I did. Two nights ago.”

Judy immediately stiffened. They let go of their hands. And the atmosphere became charged with anxiety.

“Oh…. D-Do you wanna talk about it? I mean, can I ask?”

“Judy. She’s, she’s helping me. You know that. She’s running simulations in the net. N-Nothing serious. At least not yet. She showed me her…. Ummm, workspace. She built a makeshift den in her bathroom.”

“Her bathroom?”

“Uh-huh. She likes to use the tub when she jacks in.”

Slowly, Judy left V’s embrace, and stood up. She walked to the chair, and lit a cigarette. “I’m not gonna ask,” she said, but the merc knew exactly what she meant. “You know what? I-I don’t wanna know. I don’t.”

But it sounded like she was trying to convince herself and not V. She inhaled through her nose, sniffling, trying her hardest not to get upset. But inevitably, she sat down and hid her face, crying softly.

“Hey, hey. C’mon, Jude,” V muttered, walking over to where the techie sat. “Are you mad at me?”

“Mad? Uh-uh. No. Hurt. Yeah.”

Valerie knelt behind Judy, and held her. “I meant what I said before, o-okay? Now. Does the offer of breakfast in bed still stand?” She rested her head in the crook of Judy’s neck. She could smell the anxiousness seeping from her pores…..

The techie turned to face the other woman, and there was sadness in her eyes because she was powerless to stop herself from falling in love with V, even though she knew the merc was seeing someone else. It stung like a nasty bite from a mutated bug.

“Yeah, it still stands. C’mon you. Let’s get outta here.”

Chapter Text

Watson. August, 2077.

....Lucy sat on the cold tiled floor of her bathroom. At first glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Red lights blinked off and on. Lines of code moved vertically on the miniature server. The sound of dripping water bounced rhythmically off the walls. Her forehead was wet, and she was completely naked. Next to her, the tub was filled with cool water. A few cubes of ice bobbed near the surface and the waves were slowly losing their energy and fading away.

Minutes before, she’d suffered a setback and leaped wildly from the bath. Was it a glitch? A daemon? Had something found her? Lucy shook her head and sighed worriedly. She hadn’t even gone that deep! She was still on the, “safe,” side of The Blackwall. But she’d let her guard down. Became complacent and it terrified her. Something lurked just beneath the surface and Lucy’d been caught unawares….

She was rushing, over-confident, trying to do too much. Not giving herself enough time to heal. To focus. Racing from one dive to the next, without letting her mind recuperate.

What could it have been? Some rogue A.I. that escaped from the Old Net? Something malicious or indifferent? An enemy netrunner? Arasaka? An echo of the past, come to haunt her like a vengeful spectre?

She ran a hand through her damp hair, and took a deep breath. Lucy reached for her holophone. V still hadn’t responded to her message. Where was she? It was almost two in the morning! “I need you. I’m scared. I felt something I hadn’t felt in so long. Maybe I never even felt it before? I don’t know. Shit, I just don’t know.”

Everything started out fine. She laid in the tub, closed her eyes and jacked in. Just like she’d done countless times before. She was gliding smoothly around the net. Weaving through the corridors of cyberspace. It was clear, and the path seemed accessible. Easy to navigate….

But then she felt static. Interference of some kind. Something was jamming her lines, and interrupting the dive. It started out innocuously, like a tiny shock from touching metal. From there, it grew, and she was suddenly jolted forcefully backwards by the sound of a voice. Or some piece of code mimicking a voice.

(H-He-Hey…. L-Lucy…. It’s me…. D-Don’t…. Go….)

It sounded frayed. Like it was caught on severed wires. Torn and shredded. But it sounded strangely familiar too....

Her eyes shot open in terror. “O-Oh my god. D-D-David?” She whispered, and held herself

And then another fragment, but this one hit her like a sonic blast. An entity from beyond?

(UNKNOWN PRESENCE DETECTED.)

Desperately, she tried to jack out, to break protocol, but then the message changed.

(HI LUCY….)

She screamed, or thought she did. Immediately, Lucy severed the link, but the reverberating echoes had paralyzed her nervous system and for a few agonizing seconds, made it impossible to move…. Plus, her neural interface was glitching. Did she pick up some kind of psychic infection?

Sitting on the floor, she felt weighed down, yet her limbs were restless and she could barely keep herself from moving them uncontrollably. Had she disconnected too quickly? Did something follow her back? An odd sensation gripped her, like being stuck in two places at once. It was extremely jarring and disconcerting.

Lucy rolled her head in circles and looked down at her hands. They were still shaking! Slightly, but it was enough to scare her.

“I’m not ready,” she whispered. “I’m not fucking ready.” She rocked back and forth, hugging her knees tighter. “Nice. Real smart, Luce. Gonna flatline in your own fucking bathtub, before you even get a chance to save her.”

She thought back to the first voice she’d heard.

(No. No, that’s impossible. He’s gone. I saw him die. Didn’t I?)

She reached around to the side of her neck, and ejected a shard she designed specifically for these test runs. She would have to scan it to make sure it was free from outside intrusion. Did something hitch a ride back with her? A stowaway?

And she couldn’t erase the sound of the voice from her head. It was echoing in her mind. It couldn’t have been David! It’s just not logical!

Again, Lucy checked her holophone to see if Valerie had answered….

When she looked down, she froze. Weird, indecipherable symbols had filled the screen. Jumbled strips of broken, fragmented code. Imaginary numbers and letters, but there was something jammed between the lines of gibberish that made Lucy scream, “NOOO!” at the top of her lungs.

She slammed the phone face down on the tiled floor, but it was far too late to unsee the single sentence….

“YOUCANNOTSAVEHER….”

….Somewhere across Night City, V slept peacefully, unaware of the nightmares on the loose….

Charter St.

“Wake up, sleepyhead,” Judy whispered, smiling and kissing V softly on the lips. “Just like I promised. Breakfast in bed.” Next to her, resting on a chair, was a tray laden with plates of different foods.

Valerie blinked slowly, and let her eyes adjust to the morning sunlight. She yawned loudly and stretched out her arms and legs. She felt dazed and fuzzy, but in a preem kind of way. It was already warm in the techie’s apartment. V sniffed a few times. “Mmmm. Cinnamon? Maple syrup? French toast? Smells amazing...."

“Mhmm. My own recipe,” Judy exclaimed proudly. “Eggs, milk, butter. Oh yeah. I even made whipped cream. Sugar and heavy cream.”

Valerie’s eyes were full of sleep, but she had a lazy, relaxed vibe going.. She stared at the other woman and whispered, “C’mere.” Judy leaned in and V held her face in the palm of her hands. “Thank you, leelou bean. This feels good. Waking up and seeing your face first thing. I could get used to this.” She pulled her close, and kissed her again.

“Awww, welcome. I could get used to this too. Now. Are you hungry? Do you need a few minutes to wake up?” She asked, and winked.

Valerie sat up on her elbows, and shook her head. “Nah, I’m starving. I’m awake. Let’s see if it tastes as good as it smells.”

Judy reached for the tray, waited for the merc to get comfortable and set it down in her lap. She turned to walk away. “Ohhh, I hope you like it. Coffee? I even have a little orange juice in the fridge if you want some.”

“Preem. I’ll have both.” V started cutting the food, staring at Jude’s butt as she left to get the drinks….

(She’s so sexy. Love her personality. She’s smart, kind. I’m so glad I met her.)

V took a bite of the food, and shouted, “MMMM! This is the best french toast I’ve ever had in my entire life! Tastes fucking amazing! WOW!”

From the kitchen, Judy yelled back, “Really? You’re not just saying that? Awww! I’m so glad you like it!”

“Like it? I love it!”

Suddenly, like an alarm bell going off in her head, Valerie thought of Lucy, and she remembered her holophone pinging. She wondered if the netrunner had been trying to reach her from the previous night.

“Shit, I have to check my phone,” she mumbled. V cleaned her plate and scanned the bedroom for her shorts.

Judy came back in and handed the merc her coffee, and asked, “Whatcha looking for?”

“Oh, uhhh, just my shorts. Where did I put ‘em?”

“I think they got crammed between the couch cushions. Remember? Ya know. When we first got home last night?” She grinned.

V flushed, and looked away. She’d forgotten they started on the couch and ended up in the bedroom. “O-Oh yeah. Hehe. Right.” She put the tray back on the chair, kissed her fingers, and said, “By the way. That was the preemest breakfast I’ve had in a long, long time. The fruit and whipped cream were cherries on top of the sundae. Thank you. Did you eat?”

“You’re welcome! And yeah, I ate before. When you were still asleep.”

V threw the sheet off, stood up and made her way to the living room. Judy opened her mouth in ecstasy as she glimpsed the merc’s nude body. Valerie was built like a sleek, streamlined machine. She had a feline, velvety grace about her. Shiny lines of cyberware ran along the contours of her taut figure. Her understated muscles accented her athletic build perfectly. Judy bit down on her fingers and stared for a few seconds more.

V sat on the couch and saw that her shorts were indeed jammed into the cushion. She pulled them out and immediately checked her phone.

“Shit!” She said out loud, seeing that Lucy had sent her several messages. When she read through them, V had to stop herself from panicking and running out of the apartment as fast as she possibly could. They were all similar in tone. Something bad had happened to the netrunner. A setback or possibly a malfunction with some part of the tech. Lucy herself didn’t even seem to know what it was. The last message was three hours old. It sounded like a plea for help….

(“Valerie. Please. My phone might be compromised. Fuck! Where are you? I don’t even know if you’re getting these messages. Please come as soon as you can. I really need you right now. Please.”)

She was so preoccupied with the unsettling nature of the texts, she didn’t even notice Judy standing in the kitchen watching her intently. Trying to figure out what was going on.

“I gotta get going. I gotta meet with a couple fixers today. There’s some shit I’ve been putting off for a while now.”

Judy had a stoic expression. “Really? You have to delta already? V, is everything okay?”

She walked over to where the techie stood. The atmosphere had changed. They were both nervous, edgy. V took Judy in her arms and held her. She smoothed her hair, and spoke in a soft, gentle voice. “Thank you for last night and this morning. For everything. I had an amazing time. I love being with you, Judy Alvarez.” But then Valerie looked away, like she was struggling with how to continue. “I don’t wanna lie to you, because you deserve transparency. L-Lucy messaged me. Last night. I think something happened in one of her simulations. Her test runs. I don’t know what it is yet. I don’t even think she knows. I-I need to go there. Check on her. S-See what’s up.”

Slowly, Judy nodded. She closed her eyes, and laid her head on Valerie’s shoulder. “W-Well. Thank you for being honest. I’m scared, calabacita. What’s gonna happen? To you? T-To us?” She could feel the merc tense.

“Honestly? I don’t know, leelou bean. I wish I could say everything’s gonna work out, but I don’t know if it is. I’m sorry….”

Judy kissed the other woman on the neck. Her lips stayed there for a long time. “Be careful, okay? Call me if you need anything. Anything.”

“I will. Bye, Jude. Ping you soon.”

“Bye, baby. Missin' you already….”

Chapter Text

I.

….Lucy was curled up in bed, hidden under a mess of thick quilts and comforters. She was shivering, even though it was August, and the air conditioning had been off for hours….

She was rocking back and forth, holding onto a pillow like it was some long-lost lover. The only thing keeping her tethered to reality. Keeping her from falling off the edge of the world. Fear was colliding into her, and the psychic residue from her last dive hung heavy in her heart and mind.

By now, the voices and echoes should’ve dissipated. They should have disappeared hours ago, along with her involuntary muscle spasms and uncontrollable shaking.

But they hadn’t….

Brief, painful pulses and vibrations kept striking her at completely random intervals. Aftershocks from her most recent excursion to cyberspace. What made it so frightening was that Lucy had absolutely no idea when the next one would come. Sometimes they were seconds apart, other times, minutes. Everything was so unpredictable and fickle.

Each jolt struck the same way: sharp, rapid, leaving her mind scrambled and her body reeling. By the time she’d finally start to calm down and catch her breath, another one would crash through her system, and the cycle would start all over. It’d been going on for hours now, and she was beginning to think she’d suffered some kind of neurological damage, or cerebral hemorrhage.

A dozen times, she checked her ports, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She ran test after test on the stability of the tech, and nothing came back amiss. Instead of the results lessening her worry, Lucy felt worse. If it wasn’t the machinery or computers, then that could only mean one thing….

It was coming from somewhere inside. Somewhere in her own mind….

“Oh, fuck. Ouch!” She pressed the palm of her hand against her forehead, and rubbed her temples. There it was again! That jolt of electricity! Like she was still jacked in, and her neural port or something was fried, short-circuiting.

Lucy sniffed at the air, and wrinkled her nose.

Ozone….

A strong, sharp, pungent tang, like burning wires or electrical currents. But also too, it smelled oddly clean, almost fresh. The scent had unwittingly jarred a memory from her distant past and she realized this moment felt different. It wasn’t frightening. Actually, it was warm and inviting. She closed her eyes and thought back to how she loved watching thunderstorms. That charged, swollen kind of atmosphere that smelled eerily similar. As a child, she would stand underneath the awnings and stare into the dark skies above. It was exhilarating to watch the spindly fingers of lightning flash and strobe. To hear the deep, booming, resonant sounds of thunder rolling across the firmament and breathe in the odor of falling rain….

Lucy inhaled through her nose again and sighed. She couldn’t understand this sudden polarity of emotions raging within her. Was something toying with her?

A painful moment, followed by a fond recollection?

She hid back under the blankets, and whispered, “What’s happening to me? I’ve never felt these kinds of lingering sensations before. It’s like half of me is still jacked in.” She opened her eyes in the humid darkness. “Oh god. What if part of me’s still stuck? Trapped somewhere out there in the net?”

II.

Lucy jumped. There was a loud, insistent banging on the front door.

“LUCE! IT’S V! HELLO?”

She wrapped herself up in one of the down comforters, stumbled clumsily out of bed, and staggered to the living room. She was so out of it, stuck in a trance, sleepwalking, lost in a fog….

When Lucy opened the door, V took one look at her, gasped, and yanked her forcefully into her arms.

“Baby, what happened? Oh, Lucy. What happened? Awww, c’mere. It’s okay. I’m right here.”

The netrunner threw the blanket around both of them, and held Valerie tightly. She nestled under the merc’s chin. “I-I don’t know,” she whimpered softly, like she was afraid of her own voice. “I-I think s-something may have f-followed me, o-or I-I left a p-part of myself behind. I’m scared.” She clung to V, and pulled at her tank top. Her body seemed clammy and feverish, but she shivered as though she were freezing. “I r-rushed. Didn’t take my t-time. Reckless. S-Stupid.”

Valerie had never seen her this vulnerable, so completely exposed. Even in their most intimate moments together, Lucy still had walls put in place. She always held a part of herself just beyond reach. A programmed aloofness or distance. An escape route, or failsafe, just in case things went south….

Now she seemed frail. Unsure of herself. There was an air of self-doubt that came from deep within her.

V rubbed the girl’s back with the flat of her hands. She moved the rainbow lock of hair behind Lucy’s ear, and with her thumb, wiped away the makeup that had run down her cheeks.

“Are you hurt?” She asked, “Do you need to see someone? You feel feverish. Awww, Luce. I’m worried about you. C-Can I take you somewhere? A ripperdoc? Med Center?” Lightly, V kissed the netrunner’s damp forehead several times, trying to gauge whether or not she had a fever.

Lucy started to cry, and it scared both of them. “I don’t know. I— OUCH!” She staggered backwards, and almost fell down, but V held her close and pulled her back into her arms.

“What happened? What happened, Lucy? W-What is it? What’s wrong?” She squeezed the netrunner as fear rose like bile in her throat.

“GOD! I-I DON’T KNOW! SHOCKS! VOICES! V-VOICES! ECHOES!”

“Voices?” V asked. “What do you mean? O-Out loud? Here? Now?”

Frantically, Lucy shook her head back and forth, and mumbled, “I-Inside. Outside. Of me.” She stared at Valerie and murmured, “David….”

V kissed her on the lips. Up until now, she’d been trying so hard to maintain an air of calmness and optimism. Telling herself that maybe Lucy was simply suffering from the effects of an extremely vivid nightmare. But if she were hearing actual voices from someone who was no longer alive? Uh-uh. Nope. Something could be very wrong with her….

“David? Luce. Baby. A-Are you sure?”

“No, a-and that’s what’s killing me. I feel like I don’t know what’s real or imaginary.” As if to illustrate her point, she kissed Valerie back and caressed her face. “A-Am I losing my mind?”

III.

“No. No. Uh-uh. M-Maybe we should take you to a ripperdoc. I know someone who could take a look at your hardware. Run some diagnostics. Check the stability. All that. His name’s Viktor. He’s the best. His shop’s in Watson. I-I trust him with my life.” Over and over, V ran her hands gently through Lucy’s hair. She could tell she’d calmed down a tiny bit.

“I don’t know,” Lucy’s voice was muffled against Valerie’s shirt. “W-Where were you? Last night? I n-needed you.” V continued to hold the girl in her arms, but she didn’t answer. Lucy pulled back and stared at her. “V? W-Where were you? Didn’t you hear me calling? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I-I was, I was with someone.” She looked up at the ceiling, and then shut her eyes.

“Who? J-Judy?”

“Lucy….”

“No! Who was it? Judy?”

“Uh-huh.” V could feel the netrunner squirm and twist, trying to free herself, so she held her tighter. “C’mon, Luce.”

Weakly, she used her hands to slap at V’s chest, but they felt more like gentle taps than anything else. “I needed you! I was afraid, okay? And where were you, huh? In someone else’s bed? We’re running out of time! I-I don’t—” but she didn’t finish the thought. She sniffled a few times. “N-Nevermind.”

“You don’t what? Finish.” Valerie was still very loving in her gestures and actions. She smiled, but it belied the worry and fear in her own heart.

“I-I may have o-overestimated my a-abilities. If this kinda stuff is already happening, and I’m not even close to where I need to be, then I-I just don’t know.” Desperately now, she kissed the merc hard on the lips.

V’s voice was barely audible. A dry, parched whisper. “You havin’ doubts? About me? ‘Bout us? About s-saving me?”

Lucy inhaled sharply, caught off-guard by the merc’s spot-on accuracy. “No, I just mea—”

“It’s okay, baby,” Valerie soothed. “It’s okay if you’re scared and you wanna stop. I’m so afraid, heh. S-Seems like ever since I took The Relic from Jackie’s bloody hand, I wake up every morning never knowing if today’s the day I’m gonna die. Oh, I try to put up a front. But inside, I’m terrified. So I understand if you wanna sto—”

But Lucy cut her off with a tender kiss and said, “Shhhhhhh. I’m not giving up on you. No way. It’s a setback, and I’m scared shitless, but I’m not quitting. No, V. I care about you too much. I-I….” She started to blush, and bit her bottom lip.

“Ugh,” Valerie said, brushing Lucy’s hair. “Just finish what you were gonna say.”

“I don’t wanna lose you. I can’t. You’ve opened me up in ways I never thought possible. Even admitting something like that out loud would have been so hard for me to do before I met you. After I lost David, I closed myself off to the outside world. You made me feel alive again.” Lucy reached down and held V’s hand. “It’s very difficult for me to let other people in. To trust. I know I’m young, but I’ve seen so much dishonesty, so much cruelty. I feel like I can be myself around you, and there’s very few people, if any, I can say that about.”

They still had the quilt wrapped around themselves. Lucy moved her fingers over the surface of V’s lips. Tracing them, and pulling the bottom one down.

But the tenderness couldn’t hold….

IV.

Suddenly, Lucy’s head jerked back. Another shock. This time, her eyes rolled behind her head, and she fainted. V wasn’t prepared for such a swift, sudden change, and she almost lost her balance. She nearly let the netrunner slip from her grasp….

“Lucy? Shit. Lucy? Stay with me, baby. Fuck.”

It was no use. She was like a rag doll in the merc’s arms. Her head lolling loosely with each movement. Thankfully, V found a pulse, and made sure she was still breathing. She ran a quick scan using her own implants. Lucy looked like she was resting peacefully.

Valerie cradled her easily, and set her down back in bed. She continued to monitor her vitals, and murmured soft words of encouragement. About a minute later, she heard the girl stir and start groaning.

“Ughhhh, ooof. W-Where? Wha- happened?” Wild-eyed, she looked about the bedroom, like she was seeing it for the first time.

Valerie breathed a huge sigh of relief. “Lucy. Lucy. Look at me, baby. I’m right here. It’s okay. I’m holding your hand. It’s me. It’s V. Do you know who I am?” After she asked the question, she watched and waited for signs of recognition.

Slowly, she blinked several times, nodded and said, “V? Maybe you’re right. Maybe I-I do need to see someone. Could be I suffered some kind of trauma to my cerebral cortex, a type of psychic corrosion. Hold me. I’m a little freaked out. J-Just wanna try and relax for a few minutes….”

“Okay, sure. Okay.” Valerie moved Lucy’s hair from her eyes. The touch of her warm fingers brought a slight smile to the young netrunner’s face.

She held V’s waist. Her eyes, a mixture of glassy and glazed. “What happened?”

V continued stroking her hair. “I think you had another attack. You fainted. You were out for like a minute.” She could feel Lucy squeezing her. “In a little while, I’ll make a few calls and see if we can set something up for later tonight or tomorrow.”

“Mhmm, m’kay. I’m glad you’re here.”

Valerie could feel the girl settling. Her heart rate was still elevated, but some of the worry had left her face. “I’m glad too,” she whispered.

“I-I remembered Europe. My home. Standing outside on the back porch. Watching the thunderstorms. I could smell the charged air mixing with the rain. A happy memory. Be-Before I went underground.”

She searched for something to hold onto. Her head was nestled in V’s lap. It felt natural. Heightened because of where she lay….

….A few minutes turned into an hour. It was obvious Lucy was exhausted from her latest ordeal and she moved in and out of sleep. At one point, V sat up in bed, with her back against the headboard, cradling the netrunner in her lap. Not once did she leave Lucy unattended. Thankfully, there were no more aftershocks or sudden attacks. In the midst of a humid, August afternoon, Valerie held her tenderly, kissing her cheeks or forehead every few minutes, and listening to make sure her breathing was normal and her heartbeat regular.

A few times, Lucy whimpered softly, like she may have been fighting a bad dream or memory, but her cries never lasted more than a few seconds….

Around 3:00 pm, she opened her eyes to see V smiling down at her.

“There she is. How do you feel? Did you sleep at all?”

Lucy nodded. “A few minutes, here and there. I’m a-alright. F-Feels nova, this. Being in your lap…. D-Don’t know what I’d do if anything bad happened to you.” And then Lucy began acting strangely. Seconds later, she repeated herself exactly. “A few minutes, here and there. I’m a-alright. F-Feels nova, this. Being in your lap…. D-Don’t know what I’d do if anything bad happened to you.”

V started. She clicked her tongue and looked down to see the netrunner’s mouth moving slightly, but no sounds issued forth.

“L-Lucy?”

“A few minutes, here and there. I’m a-alri—”

“Lucy!” V held her face. “Hey. Can you hear me?”

“Huh? Oh, uhhh, uh-huh. I can hear you. What’s wrong?”

Valerie studied her intently. “You repeated yourself. Just now. Exactly. Word for word. You don’t remember?”

“Oh wow. I did? Oops.” She smiled beautifully up at V.

“Yeah. You did. Are you sure you’re okay?” V was rubbing Lucy’s cheeks.

“I’m fine!” And for whatever reason, maybe it was because she was still groggy and somewhat out of it, Lucy giggled softly and whispered, “I love you….”

V’s heart twisted. She leaned over and kissed Lucy’s damp forehead, staying there, breathing her pheromones in deeply. When she answered, her raspy voice sounded ragged and worn down.

“Get some rest, Luce. We’ll talk when you’re feeling a little better.” Valerie felt that love too, but she panicked and thought of Judy. She buried her face in the netrunner’s tangled, silvery-white hair, afraid of saying out loud what was inside her heart.

Times like these, she thought, I could stay here forever, as the tears welled in her eyes, and the shard indifferently stole another sliver of her mind….

Chapter Text

Interlude. V’s Corpo Plaza Apartment. Mid-August

(….Isn’t it strange?)

I miss you, Johnny. A lot.
Do you miss me, too?

It’s been a week since I’ve seen you. Never been this long before.

I’m lying in bed, on my side, facing my closet, away from the window and the outside world.

Things are so crazy right now. I really wish you were here with me.

I think Judy’s freaked out. With me, with us. Lucy. Ever since I left her house that morning, she’s been distant. I think about her constantly. I find myself missing her more than I want to admit. The few convos we’ve had were short, sterile. Hardly any emotion. It’s like she can’t wait to get off the phone. I know she’s hurt, maybe disappointed with me? And here’s the thing. Can I really blame her? I’m going back and forth between her and Luce. I know she wants to tell me what’s really in her heart, but she’s afraid I might run away. I don’t know, but I feel this growing distance between us, and it’s fucking me up.

It’s coming up on three months. Three months since I’ve had this fucking shard in my brain. Alt, or rather her engram, told me I’ve got six months, so I guess I’m at the halfway point. Sixty days until you overwrite me completely, hmmm? I can’t believe this is happening….

And Lucy? God I miss her too. I hated leaving her at Vik’s, but it’s the right thing to do. She needs help. Swear to god I’ve never felt this confused in my life.

I brought her there two days ago. Vik’s been keeping her for observation. So far, news is meh, I guess. One positive is she doesn’t seem to have suffered any permanent, lasting neurological damage. Her blood work and other tests have come back clean. But the weird thing is, some of her gear might have been compromised and infected with a cyber-organic virus, but that’s not Vik’s area of expertise. We need a techie to help with that side of things. (Of course I instantly thought of Jude but would she even be willing to help me at this point?).

The problem with not being able to pinpoint the cause of Lucy’s symptoms is, we don’t know what to do, or how to help her. It’s as simple as that. I spend as much time as I can at her bedside. Vik’s been nothing but nova. Takes time out of his busy days to help us however he can.

All this to say, you were right, Johnny.
I should’ve fixed things sooner. Now everything’s slipping, and I don’t know how to fix it….

II.

….Is the AC out? Again? Pfft. The lap of luxury my ass!

Sometime during the night, I must have taken my underwear off because I can feel the corpo-grade microfiber sheets between my legs. I’m sleepy, but I'm really turned on, aroused.

Johnny?

Can I lay my head against you and run my fingers up and down your body? Feel the tiny hairs that curl themselves in circles and run in a crooked line from your chest down to your belly button? Rub my nose along the surface of your skin?

Show yourself to me, rockerboy.

Take me. Grab me by my waist and set me down on top of you. Push me down. Hold me there and let me make love to you..

I know you can hear me.. I know you’re out there. Somewhere….

I wanna smell our bodies as they converge and meet as one.
Want you to be rough with me (but gentle too).

I wanna come with you. Feel your mouth tugging at my nipples while I ride you.

You know my darkest, most taboo desires. Everything.

My attraction (or is it infatuation?) to older men. Being my boss’s mistress for months. When I was still at Arasaka. I knew he was married. Two of his three kids were older than me! (Yikes!).

(Is it because I never had a good relationship with my own father? He always seemed disappointed with me, and I tried so hard to please him! I wanted him to be proud of me, but it always, always felt like I was just one step away….)

I grew up with all the money in the world but not an ounce of love or family.

Silverhand?

Let me move up and down on you, slowly. Press the palms of my hands against your muscles. I want you to hold me down and keep me there until my face turns red.

Put your finger in my mouth and let me suck on it..

I touch my nipples. They’re so sensitive, so hard. I’m moving faster. Speeding up.

I know what you’d say. “Whoa. Slow down.” And I’d blush the brightest red. Can’t help it. I’m convinced you’d feel so nova inside me.

Ugh, am I sweating? Shit. I want you in the worst way.

Is that wrong?

I’m close.

It’s just, I need you. It’s been days and I need to feel your electricity, the vibrations from your essence.

I wish you would touch me everywhere….

(And so I take a chance. Toss the dice. Fuck it. At this point, what do I have to lose?)

“Hey, ‘s me,” I whisper aloud. “C’mere.” In the deepening darkness of this strange, shallow, superficial apartment, I wonder if you’ll even show up.

Close my eyes, turn over on my back, bend my knees and open my legs. Toss the sheets to the floor.

I can feel dampness, heat, and humidity below my waist.

Downtown. Summer, August. Midnight….

I’m about to give up, when I feel you scoot in next to me.

III.

I cry out in surprise!

Is this real? I don’t wanna know. I don’t care.

“Don’t open your eyes until I tell you to,” you grumble, taking me by the waist, and pulling me into your arms….

“Oh god, yes,” I gasp loudly, quivering, as you slowly lower me down on yourself, inch by magnificent inch….

My mouth opens in ecstasy once I realize you’re all the way inside me. I start to move my hips, but you hold me still, and I’m buried to the hilt.

“C’mon, Johnny,” I murmur. My teeth clench, eyes shut tight. “Let me ride, baby.”

It’s an indescribable feeling, but I’ll try anyway….

The sensation of your touch is so much more intense than anything I’ve felt before. It’s as though there’s millions of tiny, wonderful vibrations hitting me all at once. Again, I try to move, but you hold me firm….

I’m impatient.

(Johnny, I want to make love to you so bad, it hurts).

“Let me move,” I whimper. “Come on.”

“Alright, alright,” you answer back, letting me go and now I’m free to do whatever I want.

I grind slow. Slide up, ease back down. My hips circle, rock. I hear you grunt. That sound, shit. It drives me crazy.

“Just like that, V. Good girl….”

“Am I doin’ it right?” I pout, breathless, submissive, before I moan loudly, feeling your mouth tasting me.. “Am I doin’ okay, Silverhand?”

“Uh-huh, Keep going, but pace yourself, sheesh….”

“S-Sorry.” You’re coaching me and that makes it so much harder for me to control myself. I want to come and the ache builds and builds.

“Can I, baby? Please.” You know exactly what I’m asking. Our moans bounce off the walls of my Corpo Plaza apartment.

“Already?” You ask, with a hint of playfulness, and I’m so embarrassed. You grab my ass and start moving me up and down harshly. “Come for me, Valerie.”

We start kissing, deep, mouths open wide, before I throw my head back. After that, it’s only a matter of time.

I speed up. Your hands are warm around my hips. You’re so strong and handle me effortlessly.

“I’m coming. I’m coming, Johnny. Awww god, you’re making me come so hard….”

I climax on top of you and it’s the most beautifully impassioned orgasm I’ve ever felt. I want it to last forever. It’s as though I’ve made love to a being of wild, chaotic energy….

Out of breath, on fire, I collapse against your chest and pant, “W-When c-can I—?”

“....Open your eyes,” you say, but now your voice is distant. Cold.

Dazed, I look around the apartment. It’s empty. Both my hands are wet, sticky, and there’s a subtle smell of sex weaving its way through the air. I’m still breathing heavily and then I sigh. Look towards the window and I don’t know if it’s day or night.

Then it hits me. I was by myself the whole entire time....

Out of the corner of my eye, I see one of Lucy’s shirts balled up on the couch. Then I spot a pair of Judy’s dirty socks on the floor, next to the bed. Relics from happier times. I’m so lost, and time is running away. I’m thirsty and I reach for a bottle of water that isn’t there. Fumble around for my cigarettes. I light one, take a drag and blow smoke rings through my mouth. I can’t get out of bed. Not yet. It’s too soon.

It feels like I’m fading, and I wonder if anyone will remember me when I’m gone.

I stamp out the cigarette and hide my face in the crook of my arm. My breathing slows. I’m tired, full of crippling shame….

And how is it that I miss you even more now?

All three of you. My ghosts….

What did I do?

What did I do to make you go away?

Chapter Text

I.

….By the time V fell into an uneasy sleep, exhausted, and raw, it was 4:30 in the morning.

Johnny Silverhand’s “visit” had exacted a heavy, heavy toll and she tossed and turned for hours, traumatized inside and out, stuck in a weird limbo of digitized phantoms.

She felt betrayed by him, like he fucked with her emotions and took advantage of her vulnerabilities by pretending to materialize in the apartment. Playing with her, and for the first time, she felt resentment over the nature of their relationship. Robbed of her voice, her spirit, and independence.

It was like one day, he appeared and suddenly had access to all her secrets, all her dreams, fantasies, and fears. He stole the key to her soul and then disappeared with it, leaving where she couldn’t follow..

But was he really to blame? After all, didn’t he save her life after Dexter DeShawn put a bullet in her head? Did she expect too much? Something he simply wasn’t capable of giving her?

Love?

“Bastard,” she whispered, sniffling and choking back tears. “I hope you can hear me. I hate you for what you did to me last night. I opened myself up, completely. How could you fuck with me like that? You hurt me, Johnny. I-I hate you.”

She rolled out of bed, groaned, and yawned softly. She felt sore, achy. Psychically hungover. The only thing she was wearing was a white tank-top. She half-heartedly looked for her underwear, but gave up after only a few seconds.

“Why do I care?” she mumbled. She went to the kitchen area, made herself a cup of coffee, and saw a cigarette stub in one of the ashtrays.

V lunged at it, and in a wide arc, swept it off the counter. “FUCK YOU! My heart! You spit on it like that?” She sank to the floor, and began crying. She put her head between her knees, and whispered, “What’s wrong with me? T-Talking to a f-f-fucking guy who’s been dead for f-fifty fucking years?”

Her head shot up when she heard the sound of her holophone.

II.

V trembled, assuming the worst.

“Everything’s been so shitty. Nothin’ feels right anymore.”

Who was messaging her? Some gonk? Another soulless fixer? Som—

Shit….

What if it’s Vik?
What if something happened to Lucy?

V looked up at the ceiling, and murmured, “Please let this be someone I trust. I could really use a choom right now.”

Come on. Five minutes.
Just let me be happy for five minutes.

She stood up, half-naked and staggered over to where her phone lay on the carpeted floor.

When Valerie saw who it was, she gasped, and put a hand to her mouth.

Judy.
Oh, Jude.

She didn’t open the text message. Not yet, she was too afraid.
V hovered, and touched her chest.
Her first thought was, Don’t say goodbye, baby.
Not now, not ever.

She squeezed her eyes shut, and opened them slowly, staring meekly at the screen….

“Hey, V. Got a second? Can I call you?”

Her fingers couldn’t work fast enough.

“Hey, Judy. Sure. I’m here. Ping me.”

Valerie felt queasy. She’d convinced herself the techie was going to end their relationship.

A minute later, the phone rang out, and her heart skipped a beat.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

“H-How are you, V? I know it’s been a little while. You okay?”

She looked down, and shook her head. “Uh-uh,” she whispered. “T-Things have been, just, I don’t know. Weird…. Are you mad at me?”

She looked up to see Judy staring at her intently. “No. Not really. Listen, V. I uhhh, I’m sorry I’ve been distant. Got a lot on my mind. It’s like you said, t-things have been weird. But….” She paused for a long time, unsure of how to proceed.

“W-What, Jude? What is it?” Valerie’s voice sounded cracked, hollow.

“I just, I miss you. Been thinkin’ about you. ‘Bout us.”

V could have melted right then and there. A tiny, tiny smile appeared on her lips. “Same,” she answered. “Ummm, you doing okay otherwise?”

“I don’t know. Maybe? N-No? Not really,” It seemed as though she wanted to say more. She took a deep breath. “My abuela. We’ve been talking. She wants me to come live with her in Seattle. Leave Night City.”

Valerie faltered. Fuck, she thought. Now you’re slipping away? In seconds, her emotions went from one end of the spectrum to the other. Happiness became shock, then utter dread. Timidly, she said, “Oh. Wow. That’s. What are you, I-I mean, what did you say?”

Judy curled her lips. “That I didn’t know. I wasn’t sure. We kinda left it up in the air.” She ran a hand through her vibrantly colored hair.

Quickly, like she was racing against time, V said, “D-Don’t go.” Her voice was hushed, full of worry. “S-Stay. Please, leelou bean. I don’t wa—”

“Where are you?” Judy interrupted, almost urgently.

“My apartment. Downtown.” V held her breath. “You wanna co—”

“Uh-huh. I’ll be right over. I need to see you. Don’t worry. I remember how to get there.”

Valerie closed her eyes and felt a faint flicker of hope for the first time in days. “Nova. C-Can’t wait,” she said,

III.

As soon as she hung up, Valerie walked to the bathroom, took her shirt off and stared at her nude body in the mirror.

She sniffed her underarms, rubbed her temples, and muttered, “Ugh, gotta take a shower.”

A persistent awkwardness settled on her like a wet, cold blanket.
She was sore, and cursed her foolishness.
Trusting, believing she could have shared something deep and meaningful with an engram (a fucking engram?).
It was all just a disjointed, twisted mockery of what actual, real love should feel like.
Silverhand fucked with her, simple as that, and it made her doubt herself.
Doubt her intuition, her inner voice….

Is it even my voice anymore?

She felt so stupid.
Whatever he did to her emotions was convincing enough to string her along to the bitter end.
But as much as she tried, she couldn’t hate him.
In fact, a part of her wanted him still.
Their futures were inextricably linked, whether she hated him, loved him, wanted to kill him, or kiss him.

She was stuck with him, and vice-versa.

Just as she was ready to step in the shower, she heard a loud knock.

What? No way she got here that quick! I didn’t even have time to clean up!

Unless? Shit, how long was I standing in front of the mirror for? Did I just completely space?

What the fuck? She briefly wondered if Johnny was somehow messing with her perception of time. Nah, not even he would be that vindictive.

“Shit!” she said, quickly turning off the water, throwing her tank top on (inside-out!) and sprinting to the closet, to grab a pair of something, anything!

“HOLD ON! JUST A SEC!”

V found an old pair of sweatpants, hastily threw them on, and jogged to the front door.
She ruffled her hair a few times, and pressed the handle….

Judy was standing there, wearing shorts, sneakers, and a blue t-shirt, nodding like she knew this is where she belonged.
Their eyes met and they weren’t quite sure what to do….

“Gonk,” the techie whispered softly. “Your shirt’s inside-out. What am I gonna do with you, hmmm? C’mere.”

V blushed. “O-Oops. Hehe. B-Been a rough couple days.”

They stepped inside the apartment, and Judy pulled the merc into her arms. They squeezed tightly and it felt so natural, so right….

“I missed you calabacita,” she said, eyes closed, blissful, her mouth stuck to Valerie’s neck. “It’s been too long….”

“Mhmm,” V whispered back, happily lost in the techie’s bold, unique scent. “I agree. Too long. But I’m so glad you’re here. Come on in.”

....Mid-morning.

Outside, it was already hot and the Night City was bustling with sounds of sirens, horns, shouts, and annoying, repetitive advertisements.
The air conditioner still hadn’t kicked back on.

Judy waved a hand in front of her face and said, “Whew. No AC? It’s hotter here than it is out there.”

“It’s been out for like twelve hours. You believe that shit?” V said, annoyed. “The amount of euros I pay for this place you’d think they’d replace the whole system, but nah. I’m sorry. I should’ve warned you.”

Judy clicked her tongue. “Oh, stop. Don’t apologize. Not your fault.”

“Want something to drink? Water? Coffee? Juice?”

“I’ll have water. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

As they made their way to the kitchen, Judy reached out and grabbed Valerie by the arm, turned her around and smiled, “Lemme fix your tank-top, ‘kay? My OCD’s been acting up lately.”

“Ohhh, right. Yeah, go ahead,” V answered back lazily, feeling a little better already.

Gently, she lifted the shirt over the merc’s head.
V’s perfect breasts tumbled out and settled.
Judy started. She bit her bottom lip, pulled the other woman close, and kissed her deeply on the mouth, bodies pressing against one another.

It escalated quickly.
Before long, they were breathing heavily, and moving faster.
But it was a bit too soon and the moment, still too fragile.
They both knew it and pulled apart.
Judy carefully put V’s shirt back on and they held hands.

“Let’s take our time, yeah?” The techie asked, winking. “I don’t have anywhere to be today, do you?”

“I’m free all day,” Valerie said, winking back, adding, “And all night too….”

IV.

….They spent the next few hours catching up, talking casually, easy, like two old friends.

This is good, V thought, listening to Judy complain about work. Normalcy is good. This feels so natural, spending time with her like this. I didn’t realize how much I missed her. The simple things. Hearing her laugh, the color of her hair, her tattoos. The smell of her perfume.

Without thinking, V reached down and held Judy’s hand. She didn’t know why, but she felt overwhelmed by the purity of the moment.

“F-Forgot how sexy you are, leelou bean.”

The techie looked pleasantly confused. “Where’d that come from?” she asked coyly.

“I-I don’t know. T-Thinkin’ about my life. The Relic. I’m halfway there.”

She didn’t need to explain it any further. Judy Alvarez understood exactly what the mercenary meant.

“Calabacita. D-Don’t give up. It’s a setback, right? Lucy? She’s at Vik’s, getting better, yeah?”

“Mhmm.” V reached for Judy’s other hand. “I’m scared. I-I’m not ready to die. I don’t wanna leave you. L-Leave here. T-There’s just never enough time, is there?” Valerie looked away, embarrassed by her own sudden vulnerability, but Judy understood. She got up from her stool, met V by the sink, and held her tenderly, rocking her. Swaying together, she could feel the merc’s shoulders heaving.

“Awww, it’s okay, mi amor,” Judy soothed. “I’m here, and you’re here, and you’re gonna be okay. I-I feel it, baby. Feel it in my heart.”

“Hold me. D-Don’t let go. My life. I’ve never felt more powerless than I do now.” She laid her head against Jude’s shoulder and let out a tiny, pained moan.

Over and over, hypnotic, Judy rocked Valerie from side to side, like a swing, and she suddenly felt tired. “Wanna lay on the couch, with your head in my lap, like you used to do for me?”

“Uh-huh, yeah, ‘M so t-tired.”

Judy sat down first, and waved V in. She laid down on her back, resting her head on the techie’s warm thigh.

“How’s that?” With her fingers, Judy combed through V’s damp, matted hair. Stroking, smoothing it, moving it out of her eyes, and tucking it behind her ears.

“Feels nova. W-Was gonna take a shower before you came. W-Wash my hair. Just didn’t have time.”

“Rest for a while and then I’ll help you clean up later on. Deal?”

“Mmmm, deal.”

As she lay there, V thought of a lot of things. Lucy, Vik, Judy, David Martinez….

And Johnny Silverhand. Couldn’t get him out of her head and she felt violated, helpless, unable to control her anger. Was he here now? Listening to them? Judging her? Snickering and mocking? She didn’t notice her breathing change. It became faster, more excited, anxious.

“V? Hey. You okay? V?” Judy was looking down at her. “What’s wrong?”

Maybe it was the feeling of the techie’s hands through her hair, or maybe she just couldn’t keep it inside any longer. Whatever the catalyst was, V started whimpering. Judy didn’t move except to draw the merc closer and hold her tighter....

“S-Something happened to me last night, a-and I can’t get it out of my head.” In the midst of her tears, V actually laughed at her own pun. “Heh, haha. L-Literally, figuratively can’t get it out of my mind.”

Judy was a bit confused, but she stayed patient, positive. “Tell me. T-Talk to me. What happened?”

She told the techie everything....

She needed to get it off her chest, to purge it from her system. V spoke of feeling lonely, aching for someone else’s touch, lying in bed and wanting to feel the release of her pent-up passions, frustrations. Feeling super-sensitive, vulnerable. Calling Johnny’s name aloud in the darkness, and believing he’d come back from to be with her. To hold her, make love to her. She described the intimacy like a vision or some surreal fantasy. Convinced they’d shared something special, only to realize she’d been alone, He was never there. He tricked her into thinking it was something real, concrete, but it was only a pipe-dream, nothing more….

When she finished with her confession, she was frightened Judy would be mad, resentful, but it was actually the opposite….

She leaned down and kissed V twice. One on each of her eyelids. Then she lightly touched her lips to Valerie’s and whispered, “I’m so sorry, baby. I can’t imagine what you must be going through. To have him in your head, along with everything else.”

The merc smiled. “Means so much just to have you here, to listen, not judge, or t-tell I’m crazy.”

“I think you’re strong, I can tell it hurt you. What happened between you and Silverhand. I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to tell me, to trust me.”

“Feels like a weight off my shoulders. Thanks for listening, leelou bean.”

They stayed on the couch as morning turned to afternoon. The apartment was humid, the AC still not working.

Later on, V asked sleepily, “Shower with me? We can hold each other. Cool down.”

Judy’s eyes were closed but she was awake. “Yes. Yes. Yes….”

(I’m so high. Standing here, the cool water running down our bodies. Holding you. Kissing your shoulder, sucking on it, while you do the same thing to me. I needed this. Needed to feel you against me….)

Afterwards, they stayed in the bathroom, drying off. Judy bent down to pick up her clothes and noticed a strange-looking shirt on top of the hamper….

“Hey,” she called, nodding toward the pile of dirty clothes. “This hers?”

V followed her gaze. “Uh-huh. Lucy. She must’ve left it before we went to Vik’s.”

“Any more news? She still okay?”

Valerie shrugged her shoulders. “Last I heard, she was stable. He wanted to keep her for a few days. Some of her gear, her tech. He found anomalies. I don’t know the specifics. He doesn’t either. Listen, Judy….” She walked behind her, and held her loosely at the waist. “I know how good you are with that stuff. You can say no, but wo—”

Judy turned around. “Anything. I mean it. I’ll take a look. Just let me know.”

“Thank you.”

“You care about her. Lucy.”

V nodded slowly. “Yeah, I do.”

The other woman held her gaze. “It’s not a bad thing.”

“I don’t know,” Valerie mused. “I guess it depends on the day. Sometimes, it feels like I can’t tell up from down. I’m worried about so many things. Her, you. Us….”

A long silence passed.

“You’re not the only one who’s struggling,” Judy said.

V blinked. “No. I-I know.”

They held each other, and their towels fell to the floor, both thinking of Lucy. Where did she fit in all of this? What future did she see or want for herself?

Chapter Text

I. Vik's Clinic, Watson.

….Lucy opened her eyes, shimmied up in bed, and sat with her back against the damp concrete wall.

“Wow, what a fucked up dream,” she croaked softly….

She was wearing a pair of comfy pajamas. Part of her, covered by a thin, soft sheet. She groaned, and reached for the glass of water on the table, took a cautious sip. It was lukewarm.

Ugh, tastes like metal and chlorine, yuck.

She rubbed her eyes, pressed her thumb and forefinger against her temples, and whispered, “Shit, what's going on with me?"

The remnants of a dull, distant headache slowly dissipated. Maybe she’d found a small clearing in the overgrown thickets of her mind. The fog certainly hadn’t lifted, but at least some of it seemed to have burned off….

Lucy yawned and looked around. “So fucking annoying. Why can’t I ever remember where I’m at when I wake up?"

For a few seconds she drew a blank, then it gradually came back. She was in Watson. In the dank, musty basement of the ripperdoc’s clinic. She turned her head and saw him, sitting down in his favorite spot, drinking coffee and watching reruns of boxing on TV.

She looked up at the clock on the far wall. 2:30 pm. The room was dimly lit. Different colored lights blinked in rhythmic patterns on the various monitors and screens. The sounds of hustle and bustle on the streets above sounded far-off, muffled. Blunted....

“V-Vik?” She called out weakly.

He turned around and studied her. “Lucy. You’re awake. How’d you sleep?”

“Uhhh, bad? I-I don’t know.”

“Hmmm. Well, any dreams?" Gently now, he led her back to the waking world….

She hesitated, already nervous and unsure.

He nodded warmly. “Go on, it’s gonna be okay,” he said.

Lucy smiled uneasily. “Yeah. Hazy. Unsettling. I was running in the dark. Couldn’t really see anything but these weird lines of cyberware all over my body. They were shining, sparkling, almost glowing in the dim moonlight. Only…. It wasn’t my body. I don’t know. It was really fucked up. I was racing through a burned out, dead forest, and it was weird, I was chasing my younger self. I knew it was me because of her hair. My hair. I was trying so hard to catch her, but it was like my steps were weighed down, heavy, Like plodding through quicksand. The forest turned into an old, abandoned industrial park. The walls were super high, the corridors narrow, and long. Like a maze. I was outside, underneath the stars. The crickets were so loud. I remember thinking, is someone trying to talk to me? I was afraid.

Then Lucy’s voice changed…..

She seemed bewitched, and murmured eerily, “Was it worth it? I guess you’ll never know. Was it worth it? I guess you’ll never know. Was it worth it? You used to be so pretty. What happened? You used to dream, so high, wish for so many things. Nothing ever came true, did it? You’re a petty thief in an evil city. You let him die, and now you’re going to let her die too? Was it worth it? Don’t know. Can’t tell.” She froze, gasped, and whispered, “Don’t worry Lucy, I’m here with you, always. Just remember. “DO NOT LISTEN TO YOURSELF….”

II.

Lucy flushed. She covered her mouth, shocked and embarrassed by her sudden outburst. "OH MY GOD! WHAT WAS THAT? THAT WASN'T ME! She hid under the sheets, but a second later, peeked out and whispered, "W-Was it?" It sounded like her, only more youthful, child-like. A naive innocence. But to say such bizarre things! What did it all mean?

Vik stared at the netrunner, a look of concern on his face. He turned the TV off, and used his feet to push the swivel chair closer to the bed. At first, he didn’t speak. He let her work through the moment on her own. He knew, better than most, people process trauma differently, and Lucy was probably more comfortable relying on herself. At least in the beginning....

Finally, he took his sunglasses off and in an easy voice, gently asked, "Just now. You don’t know what happened? It was you, but your voice sounded young, like a little kid. Hmmm, nothing like that's happened since you got here.” Obviously, Vik didn’t want to scare her more than she already was. He smiled, unassuming. “How do you feel right now?”

She was ashamed, self-conscious. “I don’t know, like myself again, I guess. Before, it was like I was gone. Like my body belonged to someone else.” She was struggling. He could see her frustration, discomfort, so he backed off.

“Know what? Take a few deep breaths, relax. We don’t have to talk about it right now. Take your time and when you’re ready, I’ll be right here, okay, kiddo?”

She ignored him, and murmured, “Like someone else had taken over my body, m-my thoughts and didn’t ask for permission.” An ominous stillness settled in on the humid room.

“Okay, yeah. That makes sense, just by the way your voice shifted. You weren’t all the way back yet.”

She stared at him. “I felt a chill when I first woke up. My last run, I think they might’ve found me. I mean Arasaka. Before I jacked out, I could feel something, someone poking around in my head. But it felt almost familiar somehow.” Lucy reached behind her head and touched the neural port. It was slightly warm, tingling with leftover power. She continued, “You mentioned traces of residue in and around some of my gear. C-Corrosion? Something viral? The sudden shocks, jolts of electricity. They go away, and now I’m having the craziest, most vivid nightmares. M-My younger self? It’s like one of their training programs. Devious, cunning. Manipulative.

“Don’t jump to any conclusions just yet. It’s only been a few days. These things take time to manifest. You mentioned your younger self. Chasing after her. Do you know why? Why you were trying to catch her? Was it to warn her? Save her?”

“N-No. I don’t think so. I needed to tell her about V. Remind her to be careful, t-that they were watching, waiting….”

“What do you mean?”

“I wasn’t alone. Running through that burned-out forest, I felt like an intruder. Unwelcome. And then, when it shifted. I wasn’t just lost. I was being hunted. I'd turned into prey...."

Vik spun back to his desk, and thumbed through his notes. “It could’ve been a hidden firewall, something they went to great lengths to conceal from enemy netrunners. But you were still so shallow. Why go to such trouble to protect something so near to the surface?” Silently, he read through the data. “Unless, they were guarding an entrance to somewhere deeper….”

“Maybe. Maybe I was close to something. I think I fell into one of their traps.”

“So, you didn’t catch your earlier self?” Vik asked.

“I don’t know. I woke up.” She muttered, almost to herself. “T-The crickets. They were so loud.”

Lucy stared at Vik, searching his face for something. Reassurance. An answer. He seemed stumped, especially when it came time to interpret her latest nightmare.

He rubbed his temples, cleared his throat, and asked, “Any attacks since yesterday? Jolts? Stings? Shocks?" If she said no, it would be the longest she’d gone between episodes, and the nano-machines along with the meds were doing their job of protecting her.

“I-I can’t, I don’t remember, but no, I don’t think so, no.”

The ripperdoc breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. That’s good news, obviously. How do you feel physically?”

“Tired, no energy. Weak, unfocused—”

“Well you’re not eating,” he interrupted. “I told you, you have to eat something.”

She groaned like a surly teenager. “Ugh, I don’t wanna eat kibble, or any of that other processed shit! All Foods! Scop! No! Bring me something good and I’ll eat it!”

He sighed, frustrated. “Like what?”

“Fresh fruit. Real vegetables.”

“You know how hard that stuff is to find? How expensive?”

She looked at him sideways. “You want eddies?”

He shook his head. “No. That’s not what I meant. I’ll see what I can do, okay? Otherwise, what do you think? You’ve been here for a little over 72 hours. Do you feel like you’re getting better?”

Lucy reached out and held Vik’s hand. She’d gotten to know him (a little) in the time since V brought her here. She knew he was only trying to help, to get her up and running again, get her back to normal.

“Yes, I feel a little bit better. Sorry I snapped. I really do appreciate what you’re doing. I’m just frustrated, a little freaked. I don’t mean to take it out on you."

He smiled wearily. “I know. Apology accepted. I’ll try and go out a little later on, when it cools down a bit. It’s almost a hundred degrees out. I know a guy. I’ll get you fruit.”

She nodded, then asked, “Do you still think my symptoms are somehow related to infected hardware? Accelerated corrosion of cables? My ports? Not neurological?”

“I really don’t think so. I think the last time you jacked in, something happened with the wires, the power lines, so to speak. All the stuff you brought, I told you, I ran scans on the integrity. Some of it came back compromised. But again, I’m no techie. I know a little bit about it, but it would help if we could have someone from the outside co—”

“No,” she said. “Absolutely not. I’m still being hunted by Arasaka. The only reason why I agreed to come here was because V said she trusted you with her life. No, Vik. Don’t you dare tell anyone else I’m here.”

“Alright.” He leaned back in his chair and grew quiet at the mention of the merc’s name. “Installed more cyberware, more chrome in V than anyone in NC. She’s very important to me. I’m worried about her. That fucking shard. I just don’t know.”

“I’m gonna save her, Vik. I told you that when I first got here.”

….He looked at her and didn’t quite know what to think. Lucy was shy, introverted. Sullen, and moody. But he could tell she cared deeply for the mercenary.

Plus, she talked in her sleep….

Sometimes Vik would ignore her. Sometimes he wouldn’t….
He gathered some part of her loved Valerie. In the midst of her dreams, she said as much.

Things like, “Never let anything happen to you or, I’m not leaving your side.” Once, he heard her utter, “Not gonna make the same mistake I did with him.”

Vik didn’t know who she was talking about, and wondered what she meant.

“Do you think she’s gonna die?”

He shook himself out of his fog to see Lucy staring at him. Her eyes seemed to peer into his soul. Purple, but subtly shifting, changing to blue and then back to purple. Speckled, like flecks of multi-colored rainbow dust. Her intensity unnerved him and he blinked quickly, for fear of losing his bearings…. Just as he was about to answer, she added, “And tell me the truth, ripperdoc.”

“I don’t know. The tech that’s in her head is scary, top secret, wildly innovative stuff. Years ahead of its time. Dangerous because only Arasaka knows its full potential. I don’t know, Lucy.”

“That’s not an answer,” she scoffed. “I said, tell the truth.”

In a low gravelly voice, Viktor Vektor answered, “Yeah, I do. I don't think she can win this battle."

“I can save her.”

“How?” He stood up, threw his hands in the air. “You mean The Blackwall? Seriously? Are you crazy? You got a deathwish too, Luce?”

“I’ve been there before,” she whispered. “A lot.”

Vik shook his head in frustration. She mentioned it before, when all this started. He ignored it and acted like he didn’t hear….

“You’ve been there? When? How old are you?”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m 20. So? What’s that have to do with anything?”

“Netrunners with years of experience get fried, flatlined, even coming anywhere near it! C’mon, huh? What do you take me for, an idiot?” He shook his head in disgust.

“I was born with a gift for hacking. In Europe. M-My father, his name was Takeshi. I loved him. I guess there’s a part of me that still does. He was a soldier. In Arasaka. One day, I discovered what he really did….

And like she’d done with Valerie weeks before, Lucy opened up and told Viktor Vektor her story. He listened in stunned silence as she talked of her early life, and the things she was forced to do. All for the sake of plundering the treasures of the Old Net. And as she spoke, he knew she was telling the truth, could see it in her shifting, iridescent eyes. She was convinced that if anyone could find the answers V needed, it was her….

When Lucy finished, she took a sip of water, and ran a hand through her hair.

“That’s a hell of a story, Luce,” Viktor said, quickly putting his finger in the air. “Oh yeah. Forgot to tell you. We got a special visitor coming by later on to see you.”

Lucy smiled. It was genuine, real. “V?” she whispered.

“I can’t tell. It’s a secret. Anyway, you’ll find out soon enough.” He stood up and walked to the back of the clinic. “There’s a shower back there. Hot water, clean towels. If you want. I wanna talk more about your past, about getting you up and running. The earlier, the better. Think you’re gonna jack-in again?”

“Absolutely. It’s like I told V, it’s a setback. I’ve been doing this for most of my life. I know parts of the net like the back of my hand. I just have to take my time, relax. Just breathe….”

“Well, you got people on your side, you’re not alone. Don’t forget that. And I’m gonna do whatever I can to help you help V.”

“Thanks Vik.”

“Thank me over a beer when we’re all out celebrating, drinking to her long life.”

“Preem, deal.”

….Outside, Night City was cloaked in the shimmering heat of August. Dusk was approaching, twilight. The moon had risen above the skyline, already luminous.

Slowly, Lucy was finding her way back, climbing.

Higher….

Chapter Text

I. V's Corpo Plaza Apartment. August, 2077.

….It feels different, better.

Life.

It’s so preem when I’m with you, I hear you laugh, and you have the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard.

V….
It happened. I’m in love with you.
Never felt this way before, and I’m scared, so scared because it’s coming up on four months.
You, the shard. I’m trying not to think about it.

I’m watching you get ready in the bathroom, brushing your teeth, doing your hair. I can still smell the shampoo and soap hanging in the air.

We’re running out of time so fast and I’ll lose my mind if something, anything happens to you.

I’m jealous of Lucy, of your feelings for her. I am. I can’t help it. There, I said it. When you asked me to help, I said yes, but I don’t know why.

No…. That’s not true.

I said yes because you believe she can save you and so I have to help her, but I don’t wanna share you. Not with her, not with anyone.

We’ve gotten closer since she went to Vik’s. I’ve been staying at your apartment, sleeping here. We do everything together. You just finished telling me you were going to see her.

I don’t want you to go back! I know, I know it’s selfish. I don’t care.
Am I being irrational?

Maybe….

I come up behind you, wrap my arms around your waist. We’re looking at each other in the mirror. You’re still not dressed. I close my eyes and rest my chin against your neck. I breathe in through my nose. I love the smell of your warm skin. I’m fascinated with how your body feels pressing into mine.

We fit, Valerie. I want you always. It’s getting harder and harder to control myself….

“Hey, penny for your thoughts?” V’s watching Judy in the mirror kiss her softly, and rub her nose against the damp spot where her lips just touched a second ago.

“Thinkin’ of how much fun I had these past couple days. I don’t want it to end. Why do you have to leave? Let’s make love. One more time?”

V turns around and holds the techie in her arms. “I just got out of the shower, Jude. I can’t get all messy and dirty again.” She plants a dozen gentle kisses all over Judy’s face. “Listen, stay as long as you want.”

“Are you gonna kiss her like that?”

She blurts it out before she can stop herself, looks away, and sits on the edge of the sink.

Valerie bends over and tilts Judy’s face up. Their eyes meet. Her smile’s soft, and for a second, their hearts beat faster.

“Hey. C’mon. I need your help.” She waits and adds, “We need your help. You’re the smartest techie in this city.” V kissed her and murmured, “I need you. Please?”

Judy sighs. “Of course. I said I would. You know that. It’s just, what is this?” She pointed at each of them in turn. “Are we partners? Friends? Lovers? What?”

“Maybe a little of everything?” She tucks a piece of Judy’s hair behind her ear. “Leelou bean…. I’m sorry. I wish I could give you more. This is really, really hard. Four months, right?” V smiles bitterly. “Means I got, what, eight weeks left? I’m barely hangin’ on.”

Judy holds her calabacita. “I know, baby. I know. I’m sorry. I love you and I’m trying so hard not to be jealous. I don’t want to make it worse. It’s just, the more time we spend together, the harder it is for me to imagine you in someone else’s arms. Every single time I do, it hurts more.”

They eyed each other curiously. V in her underwear, Judy in her pj’s. Almost on cue, she leapt up and wrapped her legs around the merc’s waist.

V gripped Judy’s butt, holding her high. “I understand. I do. But I need you in my corner.” She paused. “We all do, baby.”

Judy nodded, started kissing her and couldn't stop. “Ooof, you’re so strong. My big strong mercenary. I’m like putty in your arms, mmmm.”

They stayed in the same spot, cuddling, nuzzling, loving each other. Finally, V set her down and said, “Now out, you. Let me finish getting ready.”

“Fine,” Judy pouted and blew a kiss. “Want a cup of coffee?”

“Mhmm, definitely.”

She leaves, and now Valerie’s alone. Suddenly, the bathroom feels cavernous. Hollow in its stillness. She inhales sharply, unable to catch her breath and has to steady herself on the sink. She almost faints, squeezes her eyes shut tight.

“Oh my god, I’m dying,” she whispers, panicking, anxiety building. Tears ready to fall. “I’m fucking dying. I’m 23 years old and I’m dying. Oh god.” The room starts spinning. She slumps to the floor, and frantically rubs her eyes.

Can’t let her see me like this. Get a hold of yourself. Stop it. You’re strong. You’ll get through this….

But all the eddies in the world don’t mean a thing. Celebrity. A living legend in Night City. So what? Where are you, Johnny? You vanish just when I need you the most. I’m so afraid. What if Lucy can’t help me? What then?

“COFFEE’S READY!”

V tries to stand up, but she’s dizzy, wiping her eyes, shaking her head. “O-Okay! Be r-right out!” But she slumps back down. Can’t move.

….A soft knock. The door creaked open.

“Hey. V? Baby? What’s wrong? Hey. Awww, mi amor. C’mere,. Oh Jesus.”

Judy sits next to the fallen figure, and holds her, rocks her back and forth. V’s a mess. She’s crying, shaking.

“I-I don’t wanna die, I’m so fucked up, Jude. F-Feels like I’m gonna p-pass out. It just hit me all of a sudden.”

“Listen, Valerie. You’re not gonna die. You’re gonna be okay.” But is she trying to convince herself or the merc?

She laid her head in the techie’s lap. The only sound was V’s muffled sniffling. “I’ll never forget these moments with you. Thank you,” she says.

“Anything. You know that, baby. Anything.”

They stand up and make their way to the kitchen, hand in hand.

….An hour later, they said their goodbyes. V looked incredible. She was wearing a half-cut tee, jean shorts, and orange sneakers. Her platinum blonde hair was done perfectly in a bob. Her makeup, meticulously, expertly applied….

“Wow,” Judy murmured. “You look absolutely stunning.” She had to stamp out the feelings of jealousy rising within her.

“Hmph, thanks, but I just threw something on.” V answered, knowing that wasn’t entirely true. She wanted to look good for Lucy. Valerie could sense the other woman’s rising insecurity. “Baby? I’m just going to see how she is, alright? We have to talk about what’s next. Think about what I said before. About helping. You’re a brilliant woman. Having your expertise would be huge.”

“I’ll do whatever you need me to, okay? Please be careful.”
Should I tell her I love her? What if she doesn’t say it back? So what? Tell her. Say it.
“Love you, V.”

The merc sighed, delighted. “Love you. Talk soon. Bye-bye."

Judy watched the door shut behind her, torn between love and fear….

II. Watson

….On the way to Vik’s clinic, V decided at the last minute to stop by Misty’s shop and say hello. It’d been a long time since she last saw the fortune-teller, and she always enjoyed their interesting convos immensely.

As soon as she walked through the front door, she was hit with the intoxicating smell of burning sage and sandalwood incense. Chimes tinkled, tiny bells rang softly. The place was empty, as usual.

Misty was standing behind the counter, and smiled when she saw the other woman.

“Been a long time, V,” she said, coming around to meet her. “Missed my favorite NC mercenary. Guess now that you’re a big-shot you don’t have time for us little people, huh?”

They hugged warmly, and stayed locked in a tight embrace.

“You know that’s not true, Misty. Things have been really crazy lately. I’m trying to hold onto what little sanity I’ve got left.”

“I know. I’m just teasing you. What are you doing down here? Paying Viktor a visit?”

They separated, but held one another’s hands. “Yes, but not only Vik. I’m paying one of his patient’s a visit.”

“One of his patient’s? Really? I didn’t know anyone was staying with him. Who is it?”

“It’s a long story. Kinda wanna keep it on the down low.” V winked. “Know what I mean?”

Misty nodded. “Mhmm. Want a cup of tea? Let’s chat. I think I can squeeze you in.” She rolled her eyes in annoyance at her constant lack of customers.

They sat on the tiny couch, and V told Misty all about Lucy. She spoke of David Martinez, the jacket, Lucy’s former crew, meeting the netrunner at Afterlife, their shared trauma with Arasaka, eventually bringing them closer and closer….

“Are you two more than friends?” Misty asked, her voice hushed.

V’s face reddened. She took a sip of her orange blossom tea, and whispered, “Uh-huh. Yes. B-But, do you remember the last time we talked and I mentioned meeting someone? A techie with the Mox?”

“Oh yeah, yeah. Judy, right?” Misty studied Valerie’s face, looking for clues as to her inner turmoil, her emotional state.

“Yep. Her. We’ve become close, very close.”

“Uh-oh, so you have deep feelings for two women?”

“Yes, I do. And it sucks, because I feel like I’m being pulled in two different directions, constantly. And it’s probably me. I don’t know what to do. I care about both of them. Judy’s already said she loves me.”

Misty actually grinned when she saw how happy V seemed after admitting the fact.

“Did you say it back?” she asked.

“Mhmm. I did. Because I feel it, in my heart.”

“And Lucy?”

This time, V shook her head.

“Almost. Not quite. She’s much more guarded, more introverted, private. She’s beautiful,” the merc said fondly.

Misty turned and looked V in the eyes.

“I know I don’t have to tell you this, but be careful, V. Please. Not just for your sake, but for theirs too. Know what I mean? Jealousy. Love. Desire and hate. Those are powerful, incredibly dangerous, fascinating, wonderful emotions. Volatile and utterly unpredictable. Please be careful.” She smiled, but in a worried kind of way, like she knew V was playing with fire….

“Thanks Misty. I know, I know.”

She took a slow, deep breath. “Wanna do a reading? She asked. “I think you might need one.”

V tensed. Even though they’d done hundreds of them before, she never really knew what to make of Misty’s words of wisdom. It wasn’t exactly advice she was offering; more like warnings? Premonitions? And that made her reluctant to go ahead with the process.

“I don’t know. Maybe some other time.” She took out a cigarette and twirled it in her fingers.

But the other woman was adamant. “V. I really think you need a reading.”

Something about the way she said it sounded frightened Valerie. What did she sense? Could she feel a negative vibe or bad juju looming on the horizon? Some foreboding event right around the corner?

V clicked her tongue. “Alright. Okay. Let’s do it,” she said….

They walked back to the counter. Misty spread out a small velvet, purple cloth, took out her deck, and began shuffling. A subtle tension wove its way through the shop….

“Thinking about anyone in particular?” She asked, almost rhetorically.

V stood there lost in thought, tapping her foot, staring at the cards as they slid in and out of Misty’s hands. She didn’t answer. The sound of the other woman’s rings hitting off each other was both hypnotic and disconcerting at the same time.

She drew the first card and calmly placed it face-up on the table between them….

“Hmmm. The Lovers. Reversed.”

She said it like she’d known it all along. Now Misty was staring directly at the mercenary.

She cleared her throat and began. “At its core, it represents relationships, the choices we make in those relationships, and how they affect our emotions, feelings.” Misty took a deep breath. “Reversed? It becomes a bit more muddled, complicated.”

“O-Okay?” V whispered.

She couldn’t look the other woman in the eye and thought of Judy. Making love to her until she was sore, and her body ached. Lucy, and the sublime intimacy they shared. The netrunner, crying out her name, all through that magical afternoon in late July. V was the first woman she’d been with. To be trusted with that vulnerability was both a burden and something she’d never forget, no matter how much longer she lived.

But then she winced painfully as an image of Johnny Silverhand popped in her head. Her secret, shameful, unabashed lust for the rockerboy. How desperately she wanted him still! To feel him everywhere. But then the betrayal of being led astray by his manipulative actions, convinced they’d made love, only to find herself alone and yearning even more for his elusive touch.

“You’re struggling, unbalanced. Stretched thin. Pulled in all different directions,” Misty began slowly. “There’s growing disharmony in your life. People love you, but that love is laced with fear. Fear of the future, of where your loyalties truly lie.”

“Y-Yes. I-I’ve never felt more confused in my life.” Valerie’s voice was hushed, raspy, tentative. “I don’t wanna hurt anyone, b-but is it too late?”

Misty didn’t answer, but continued with the reading. “You’re running away from the difficult conversations. Avoiding the imminent consequences of your actions, but you can’t let fear be your guide.”

V sighed loudly. “And you wonder why I’m so reluctant to do these readings. Is it all bad news? Am I just another hopeless case?”

For the first time since they started, Misty smiled.

“You drew The Lovers, V. Yes, it’s reversed, but it means you’re surrounded by love, and love is crazy, messy, wonderful, and beautiful. Right now, it’s a central theme in your life. Romantic love yes, but also platonic, spiritual love. And here in Night City? That’s so rare, but so important too. These conflicts wouldn’t exist unless the bonds you’ve formed are significant. They’re fundamental to your growth as a woman. As a human being.”

Valerie smirked. “I do have people in my life that care about me. And I’m so thankful for that. Always. I don’t want to forget.”

Misty held her hand. “You always have the power to choose. You’re not trapped. That’s another aspect of the card. Choice. The power within you to change the things that make you unhappy.”

Valerie squeezed the woman’s hand. “I missed you. You’re a good friend, Misty. There’s always more than meets the eye with you. Just when I think all is lost, you give me something I really need right now in my life.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

V put a hand on her chest.

“Hope,” she said….

The rest of the reading was pretty mundane and straightforward. No revelations, or earth-shattering portents.

By this point, they’d both loosened up. Neither of them could keep a straight face for more than a few seconds. V in particular kept smiling, laughing. This felt good; to spend time with a close friend. To forget about engrams, and corrupted shards. At least for a little while.

Misty shook her head, pretending to be annoyed. “Someone’s got a case of the giggles. Okay, okay. Shhh, shhh. Last one. Let’s see what the universe has to say.”

She flipped over the final card.

“The Star,” she said, and paused, letting it sink in.

V looked from Misty to the counter and back again.

“Uh-oh. What’s that mean? Let’s hear it. What terrible, horrible fate awaits me tonight, under the stars.”

She playfully poked Misty who sighed and clicked her tongue.

“No, it’s good. Very good.”

V stopped laughing and grew quiet.

“V-Very good? Really?”

Misty nodded. “It signifies renewal, rebirth and the healing of self. Light, and a guide.

Valerie looked skeptical. Her eyes narrowed, like she was waiting for the other shoe to fall.

The mystic continued. “You’re still in the dark, V. But The Star is proof you’re moving toward something brighter. You’re not quite lost. Just… in between places.”

Almost to herself, Valerie laughed softly. “Whew. Alright, okay. That? That I’ll take….”

III. Viktor’s Clinic

….They finished their tea, and said their goodbyes. V left through the back exit of Misty’s shop, and stood in the narrow area that led to the ripperdoc’s clinic. It was dimly lit, damp, dirty and humid. She took the set of stairs down and came to a pair of iron gates.

She checked her holophone. There was a message from Viktor….

“Had to run to the store, pick up some groceries. Be back later on. Lucy’s resting. make yourself comfortable. Everything’s okay. Fingers crossed. Vik.”

Valerie entered the clinic quietly. In the far corner, in a makeshift hospital bed, she saw the netrunner resting.

At once, V was struck with Lucy’s youthful, yet elegant beauty. Even asleep, she was beautiful. Ravishing. Her pulse quickened, and she tiptoed closer. There was a single metal chair, but she ignored it and leaned over, kissing Lucy softly on the forehead.

“Hey, you,” She whispered, her face already warm with excitement. “Long time no see. I missed you. Everything okay?”

Lucy yawned, opened her eyes, and looked at V for the first time in almost four days. She gasped, pulling her close.

“Valerie. You made it. I missed you too. Kiss me. So happy you’re here.”

They clasped hands and kissed one another tenderly on the lips. Neither of them wanted to pull away. It felt so good to be this close. To breathe each other in.

V sat on the bed, and Lucy threw her arms around her neck.

“How do you feel?”

But Lucy said, “Shhhhhhh. Just keep kissing me. We can talk later.”

“Definitely,” Valerie murmured.

They spent the next several minutes making up for lost time. Cuddling, laughing, and rediscovering themselves.

Finally, Lucy sat up and gave V a condensed version of all that’s happened since she first arrived. She spoke of the vivid dreams, nightmares, and a possible connection to compromised, infected gear. She pondered the possibility that Arasaka had been looking for her, or had traps set in place for enemy netrunners. Most of it was speculation.

V held her hand, almost afraid to ask the question. But she had to. Time was running. Lucy could tell something was on her mind.

“What? What is it?”

“D-Do you think you might, I mean, are you gonna, maybe try again?”

With the back of her hand, Lucy grazed the side of V’s face. “Of course I’m gonna jack in again.” Then she grew somber. “I know time’s running out. I know that. As soon as we pinpoint the cause of my symptoms, we’ll know how to prepare.”

It was a perfect segue for the topic Valerie wanted to broach.

“So, listen. I, ummm, I spoke to Judy.”

At the mention of the other woman’s name, Lucy stiffened. She stared at V so long, it almost felt like she was looking through her. Her purple, blue eyes, spinning in the soft light of the dank basement.

“Yeah? And?”

“Lucy, she wants to help. We can trust her. 100%. She’s one of the smartest techies I’ve ever been around. Brilliant, and her work in BD technology is cutting edge, innovative. Top-notch. I think you two should meet and get to know one another. She can help. Knows all about equipment, gear, all that stuff.” V stared at the netrunner for some kind of validation.

But Lucy wasn’t thinking of deep-dives, or neural port efficiency. Her mind was on intimacy, and the thought of sharing V with another woman, any woman, made her cringe.

“Did you two spend a lot of time together? You know, since I’ve been in here?”

V licked her lips nervously. She had to play this right. One wrong word, and the fragile bond they’d built could shatter like glass….

“Luce. I’m just so happy to see you. And Judy’s on board. She really wants to help.”

But the other woman wasn’t satisfied with the answer. “Did she spend the night at your apartment? Valerie?” Silence. “I feel like I need to know. Please.”

“We spent some time together. And yes, she stayed over. Awww, c’mere. Shit. Lucy?”

The netrunner turned away, and pulled the blanket over her face, but she reached out from under the sheets and held V’s hand.

“It’s not you, it’s me,” she said. “We never made any promises. Ever since D-David, I’m just, I feel so alone sometimes. That night at your apartment. It felt so preem. I wanna feel that way with you again.” She sniffled, trying to swallow the ache in her chest. “No one’s ever touched me like that, V.” She reappeared. “Do you love Judy?” She asked matter of factly.

Valerie tried to smile, tried to answer honestly. Wanted things to be different, wanted both women, but it was illogical, and all the promises, declarations wouldn’t change the fact that someone was going to get hurt.

“Baby, my life is so fucked up right now. Do I love Judy? I-I do. Yes.”

Lucy closed her eyes. In a cracked voice, barely above a whisper, she asked, “And what do you feel for me?” She reached for the mercenary, pulled her close. “Tell me the truth, because these past few days away from you made me realize something….”

Valerie’s heart was practically pounding out of her chest.

“What?” she asked, breathless. Her whole body, hot to the touch.

“I-I, shit, this is so hard.” She shook her head back and forth quickly. “I love you, V….”

The mercenary gasped, simultaneously hit with so many conflicting emotions. Happiness, anxiety, fear, desire, curiosity.

Euphoria….

Her eyes shot open. “Oh god! I love you, Lucy." Valerie couldn’t help it, couldn’t stop herself. The words came out so fast, set free in a deluge of uncontrolled exhilaration.

They lunged at one another and felt the purest kind of organic rush as their lips collided forcefully. Their mouths opened, soft moans escaping as they lost themselves in the brilliance of the moment.

But even in the midst of such a liberating act, Valerie became a prisoner of her own design. Caught between two incredibly beautiful, sensitive, complex women.

It was too late to turn back now. The wheels were in motion. V was already careening, speeding down the same dark freeway Johnny Silverhand had warned her of just weeks before….

Time was running out. Two months was all she had left. And unless the netrunner (and the techie?) could somehow figure out a way to save her life, Valerie would die, never knowing in whose arms she truly belonged….

Chapter Text

I. Vik's Clinic, Watson.

“....Shower with me,” Lucy whispered in a sensual, inviting voice. She grazed the front of V’s shirt, tracing the outline of her hardened nipples.

V grabbed her hand, and moved in back and forth across her chest. She took Lucy’s middle finger in her mouth and sucked on it softly.

“What about Vik?” She murmured, still sucking, staring at the netrunner with a coy expression.

She let out a soft whimper. “Oh, he j-just left. Won’t be back for a while.” Her voice now hoarse, tinged with lust. “Wanna hold you, feel the hot water running down our bodies. I really want you right now.”

V reached behind Lucy’s head, and pulled her close. “Okay. God, I’m so fucking attracted to you. I-I feel wet already.”

“Mhmm, me too. C’mon.”

It was the deepest part of summer. Outside, Night City was bathed in humid, sticky heat. In the dank basement of the ripperdoc’s clinic, it was cooler, but not by much….

They jogged, hand in hand, to the other side of the room, and found the tiny shower stall. V pulled back the thin, blue curtain, turned the water on, and stepped out of her shorts. She felt flushed, incredibly aroused, as she watched Lucy slowly take her heavy pj’s off. As soon as she removed her underwear, Valerie caught a subtle whiff of the netrunner’s unique, fascinating pheromones. A salty combination of sweat and heat.

They stepped under the water and studied one another, both blushing from the scent of sudden arousal escaping from their bodies. Lucy made the first move as she reached out and pulled V into her arms. They started kissing deeply, their tongues exploring, cautious, tentative. Then the netrunner opened her smooth, pale white legs and brushed up and down rhythmically against V’s tanned, toned thigh.

Water.

Hot. Running, creating the perfect amount of drag, making them earn every delightful sensation of touch.

A few minutes later, they’re breathing in sync, panting softly. Steam rising, filling the immediate spaces around them. They were locked in the tightest embrace, fingernails digging into one another’s backs….

“Love the way you feel against me,” Lucy whispered, reaching down and grabbing V’s behind, pressing into her hard, sucking tenderly on her sensitive nipples. Pulling and tugging on them with her lips, pushing them back and forth with her tongue.

The merc held her and cried out. “Baby, k-keep doing that. Ow, ouch. Oooh, god. So good. Suck on ‘em, j-just like, o-ouch, mmph, yeah, yeah….”

Lucy moved up and down and could feel her throbbing pussy sliding against the other woman’s skin. She leaned in and bit V’s neck over and over as she rode her firmly. She ran her mouth the length of Valerie’s underarm, and inhaled deeply, getting higher and higher on the intoxicating odors of their lovemaking.

Then she sped up, edging closer and closer to a powerful orgasm. Lucy’s eyes opened and she whispered, “Look at me. Watch me. I’m ready to come.”

V went weak in the knees. She grunted, “Do it. Come, baby. I’m watching you. I’m still so fuckin’ wet.”

Lucy kept going faster. She stood on her tiptoes, and said, “Oh, V. Oh, fuck. Y-You’re making me come….”

Her hips thrust, methodically, while the orgasm wove its way throughout her entire body, from head to toe. Valerie watched her face redden to a lovely shade of crimson. Lucy scratched her back so hard, red lines ran from her shoulder blades to her waist.

Eventually, she slowed down. They made out lazily, making tiny little sounds of pleasure, the water cooling their feverish bodies. Slowly, she went to her knees, kissing V’s electric body the entire way down, first her neck, then her breasts, belly button and finally pushing her head between her legs.

Lucy found Valerie’s swollen clit quickly, using her tongue to nudge it back and forth while lazily spinning it in circles. In a matter of minutes, she brought her to the cusp of a powerful orgasm.

As she neared that pinnacle, she found herself overwhelmed with emotion. Her body tingled from millions of pins and needles. Valerie tried to control herself, but Lucy handled her easily, and she climaxed harshly, holding the netrunner’s head in place, while she moved up and down against her mouth.

"Luce, I-I can’t hold it. I’m coming. Don’t stop. I’m coming, baby. Oh my god. Oh shit….”

V’s body moved in sync with Lucy’s tongue, and she gasped, euphoric from the intimacy of the moment. The netrunner couldn’t let Valerie go. She held her in place, against her tongue until she orgasmed again, and had no choice but to reach down and yank her up. She was much too sensitive to keep going….

Afterwards, they held each other, and closed their eyes. Maybe it was because they hadn’t seen each other in almost a week, but Lucy was extremely affectionate. She clung to V desperately, sucking on her softly, hands moving over the surface of her back.

“M-Make me feel so good,” she sighed, washing the both of them off so they were covered in soapy suds and sweet-smelling bubbles. They were dazed, out of it. Wanting the moment to last, feeling closer than they’d ever felt before. Rinsing off, Lucy says, “Guess we should probably get out, get dressed, huh?”

“No. Why?” V protested, but in the end, she knew Vik would be returning home soon. Reluctantly, she murmured, “O-Okay,” and turned the water off.

For a few minutes, they stayed hidden behind the curtain, their bodies dripping wet, nuzzling, laughing quietly.

“What’s so funny?” Lucy asked, giggling herself from Valerie’s infectious laugh.

“I don’t know, life I guess? Just, life.” She smiles sadly, unable to tell the netrunner of her already burgeoning guilt over how much she enjoyed making love to her.

In her mind, V was already comparing her two lovers….

Lucy’s caress, measured and methodical but also strangely delicate, eagerly exploring V’s body as if it were an undiscovered paradise and she sought to divine its secrets. Finding V’s most sensitive places, using those to fully amplify her pleasure.

Different from Judy’s intense physical heat and fire. The techie always seemed to know exactly how much pressure to apply to her touch and movements. Making love to her was an unforgettable experience. She could make V orgasm on command, her actions so sublimely perfect.

….They dried off, threw their clothes back, and scrambled back to the bed. Lucy crawled in, and whispered, “Lay with me? C’mon. There’s enough room.”

“Okay. Scoot over. I wanna wrap my arms around you anyway,”

They hadn’t realized how much the sex tired them out. Ten minutes later they were fast asleep, entwined in a gentle embrace….

II.

About an hour later, Vik returned. He unlocked the iron gates and put the two bags of groceries down on the long table. He looked towards the bed and did a double take.

Both women were asleep, spooning. V was on the outside, holding Lucy at the waist.

He walked over and studied their expressions. To him, they looked like lovers. Relaxed, content and not a care in the world.

He didn’t want to wake them. As quietly as he could, he sat in the chair next to the bed, and watched V.

He knew time was slipping away. All their talk of Militech, Rogue A.I., mystics, and whatever other possible solutions they pondered would all soon be one big afterthought. They needed to figure out how to extract the shard, fast, or he’d lose another of his closest chooms. Jackie Welles had flatlined far too soon, and now V was next….

That is, unless the mysterious, introverted girl who she held in her arms could somehow save her. Even though he’d only known her for about a week, Vik knew she had what it took to go beyond The Blackwall. Her gear was top of the line, state of the art. The best on the market. Most of it was military grade, stuff even the best netrunners in Night City couldn’t touch.

He looked around the basement and took a deep breath. He knew he was a good ripperdoc. He had dozens of clients. Mercs, solos, ex-military, corpo businessmen, underground fighters, athletes, etc. But in terms of loyalty, friendship, and overall rapport, none of them could hold a candle to the way he felt about the 23 old girl lying a few feet away from him.

He loved V like family. A sister or a niece. He could never admit how afraid he was of losing her. Hell, he’d done more work on her than the rest of his clients combined: Implants, coprocessors, cyberware, monowire, mantis blades, Sandevistans. Kiroshi’s. He knew her body like the back of his hand.

But for all his skills, his gifts, his reputation as one of the best ripperdocs in Night City, he was utterly clueless when it came to figuring out how to save her life.

Vik was lost in a haze of unknown futures. He didn’t notice V had opened her blue eyes, and was staring at him with a bittersweet expression. It was like she could read his mind, and knew he was just as confused as she was about this entire situation….

“Viktor,” she whispered, not wanting to wake Lucy. She held out her hand.

He smiled, and held it in his. “How are you?” He asked in a low, gruff voice.

All she could do was shrug her shoulders, and shake her head. “Scared,” she answered.

As gently as she could, V crawled from the bed, and they walked over to his operating chair. Unexpectedly, she hugged him warmly.

“How long have you been here?” He asked.

“About an hour, give or take.”

Vik noticed her wet hair. He looked back at Lucy, and saw hers was damp too. He turned back to Valerie and said, “All good?” He knew what they’d done. There was no need to spell it out.

The merc turned red anyway, and felt hot. “Y-Yeah,” she stammered. “Nova.”

“Hmmm, okay.” Vik dropped it and subtly changed the subject. “She’s better today, for the most part. She had a nightmare, but ever since, she’s been okay.”

“Nightmare?” V’s eyes opened a little wider. “About what?”

“Chasing after her younger self. She thinks it might have something to do with Arasaka.” He let the last word hang ominously in the air. “Told me she thinks they might be on to her, or at least aware of her presence in the ‘net.”

“Fuck. Are you serious? Shit. That’s not good.”

“I don’t know. She seems to think it’s manageable. She was freaked, but then, it was like the experience made her want to jack back in. I think her confidence is coming back. I can sense the tiny changes since the day she arrived. Little nuances. Not arrogance, but belief, a renewed faith in her abilities. She’s stubborn, V. Won’t let me involve another soul. I think it’s vitally important she has someone with her when she does decide to start diving again. Didn’t you mention knowing a techie? What was their name? A woman, right?”

“Uh-huh. Judy. Judy Alvarez. She’s super smart. Brilliant when it comes to BD, the technical side of things. She offered to help. In whatever capacity she could.”

“You mean…. The girl you met at Lizzie’s? A few months back?”

“Exactly.”

“And Lucy’s on board?” Viktor nodded back towards the still sleeping netrunner.

“Yeah. She is. At least for now. Like you said, stubborn.”

At that moment, they heard a loud yawn, followed by a deep stretch….

“Mmmm, V?” Lucy called out weakly. “Come back to bed.” Slowly, groggily, she sat up. When she saw Vik had returned home, she gasped, remembering what she and the mercenary did in his absence. She buried her head in the pillow, and called for Valerie in a muffled voice.

As she stood up, Vik held her by the forearm. “We need to talk. The three of us. Talk about what’s next. Maybe even bring Judy in on it. It’s coming up on sixteen weeks, if I remember correctly, yes?”

V bit her upper lip, anxiety suddenly coursing through her veins. “This is week seventeen actually. Time’s running out. I know that. I know.”

“But it’s not too late,” he tried to reassure her. “There’s still time to find a way to extract that goddamn shard from your head. Don’t give up. I know it’s easy for me to say, but we’re gonna beat this thing. I just know it. I can feel it. I believe in you, V.”

She smiled, deeply affected by the man’s sentiment. “Thank you, Viktor. I agree. We gotta start moving though. It’s true.”

He stayed put while she went back to Lucy, and kissed her awake. He watched the two of them interact, and it certainly seemed they were a couple. No doubt about it. But what about that Judy woman? Didn’t Valerie tell him weeks before how much she was falling for the techie?

He was confused, but it didn’t matter. What did matter was saving V’s life. He went straight to his notes, and gathered all the information he wanted to share, praying they still had enough time to somehow make this thing work….

Chapter Text

I. V’s Megabuilding Apartment. One Week Later

It was August 20th.
The dog days of summer.
The hottest part, and there wasn’t any kind of relief in sight.

V had just gotten off the phone with Judy.
Reluctantly, she agreed to come over so they could walk to Vik’s together, to meet Lucy for the first time.
The netrunner had since gone home to her own apartment, but it was agreed by everyone that meeting at the ripperdoc’s clinic in Watson was the best way to break the ice.
V walked to the window that overlooked Night City and lit a cigarette.
It was evening, and a thousand neon lights made it look like she was staring out at an electric jungle….

She took a drag and replayed the conversation over and over in her head, wondering if she could’ve said or done anything differently.
Anything to make it a little less uncomfortable.

Earlier....

“Hey.”

Silence, then. “A week, V? You wait a week to ping me?” Judy scoffed bitterly. “Hmph, guess you were busy huh?”

“C’mon. It’s not like that. You know I missed you.”

“Yeah, uh-huh. Yeah. Sure I do. Mhmm.”

“Please, Judy. I need you. A-And I understand you’re upset. Please. Come over. We can go to Vik’s together and meet Lucy.”

The other woman stared at her image on the screen. Her eyes held bitterness, confusion, but she was worried too. Worried she’d fallen in love with someone who didn’t feel the same way. And with every passing day, that was becoming more and more evident to Judy Alvarez….

She sighed, like her head and heart were at complete cross-purposes, unable to find balance, in turmoil over the state of affairs.

“Ugh. Alright. I wanna help. I do. It’s just….” She turned away. “It’s hard, V. Knowing you’re making love to this woman and I’m by myself, waiting for you to ping me, call me.” Judy stopped and inhaled sharply. “Is she better than me? That it? She a better lover than me?”

Valerie turned away. It was hard to look the woman in the face. “N-No, Jude. God, no,” she croaked in a raspy whisper. “It’s just so complicated. That’s not what happened.

Judy shook her head. “Please! Don’t try to deny it, V. This is hard enough without you making a fool out of us both. Think I’m a gonk?”

"No, no. You’re right. I promise you we can talk more once we get this whole thing figured out, okay?”

The other woman sighed. “Okay, V. Okay. I’ll see you soon.”

II.

….About thirty minutes later, V was still staring out the window, lost in a fog of confusion. She looked down at the ashtray and saw she’d smoked four cigarettes. In the distance, gunshots rang out followed by a cacophony of NCPD sirens. Overheard, the hum of engines from all the different AV’s filled the sky.

I’m not ready to say goodbye. Part of me loves this city. The excitement, risk, danger lurking around every corner, down every darkened alleyway. She studied the lines of cyberware that ran along the surface of her arms and legs. She was at capacity. Towing the line between woman and machine.

She watched her reflection in the glass. It was partial, insubstantial. Vague, hazy. She ran a finger over the outline of her face, tracing the angles of her chin, cheekbones and nose.

23 years old. Will I live to see 24?

Then she gasped out loud. Standing there in the window behind her was the engram of the man overwriting her consciousness, killing her bit by bit, each and every day. The cause of all her worries, anxieties….

Johnny Silverhand….

It’d been over two weeks since that fateful night when he tricked her into thinking they’d made love. It was an unbelievably intense moment in V’s life and she climaxed harder than she ever had before. But it was all an illusion, she was alone. He manipulated her, led her on, and she was devastated for days after. Never before in her life had V felt so betrayed, so used. She’d opened herself up to him, completely. Let him see inside her soul, her vulnerabilities, insecurities, hidden desires. Her unabashed lust for the rockerboy, but in the end, he’d toyed with her, and now she saw him standing there, nonchalantly smoking, acting like everything was preem.

Super fast, she spun around, and ran at him full-speed….

“BASTARD!” She screamed, colliding with a wall of energy. V burst into tears, as she felt his arms take her in, and hold her tight. She squirmed and spun with every ounce of augmented strength, but it was no use. It was like trying to break free from herself.

He held her and rocked her back and forth. With her fists, she pounded against his chest, and wept. Johnny didn’t speak. He just held her close.

“Calm down,” he finally whispered. “I thought I could make you happy by doing what I did. By simulating that moment. It backfired. I’m sorry, Valerie.”

Her fists still balled up, striking him half-heartedly, she whimpered softly into his jacket. “H-How could you do that to me? I was so convinced you were in bed, making such sweet love to me. It felt so real, so nova. You were everywhere, inside me. So strong, you felt so good. I never wanted to stop. You took advantage of me! Why? Why? I opened my eyes to an empty room! N-Now you show up right before the most important, stressful moment of my fucking life? Are you trying to kill me, Silverhand? Is that what this is?”

Again, he saw how vulnerable she was, wounded, hurting still. He had to remind himself she was so young. 23, and to be beset by so many problems!

“No. I’m not trying to kill you. I know you still think abou-"

“YES,” she whispered, cutting him off, her voice was sultry, full of renewed sexual energy. “You’re in my head. I-I…. Never mind. You know how much I still want you. T-Tomorrow night, and if you fuck around with my heart again, I’ll end it, Johnny." She closed her eyes and smelled his masculinity seeping through his clothes. Instantly, she felt wet between her legs. Never before had she been overwhelmed so quickly, so decisively.

Still sniffling, she was startled back to reality by a quiet tapping on the door. Quickly, she ran to the mirror, and said, “Shit.” Her eyes were puffy, bloodshot. Black makeup had run. “Fuck,” V scoffed, roughly wiping the tears from her face, her mind overloaded with thoughts of Judy, Lucy, and now Johnny. She ran a hand through her hair several times, but it was more habit than anything else….

Another tap, and then another….

“Coming! Just a sec!”

She hiked up her shorts, fixed her shirt, and jogged to the door.

When she opened it, Jude was standing there, shaking her head. V wasn’t quite sure how to proceed, so she stuck out her hand timidly. Judy looked annoyed, pushed it aside, and fell into Valerie’s arms. They embraced warmly, it was both odd and tender in equal measure….

III.

“Hello, V,” Judy said, her voice, sad….

“Hey, Jude. Thank you for coming. It means so much to me.”

“Uh-huh, of course.” She pulled back, and stared. “Were you just crying?”

She thought of lying, but what for? “Yeah, just felt a little overwhelmed before you got here. It’s everything. Maybe I’m just feeling sorry for myself, ya know?”

With the tip of her thumb, Judy rubbed the corners of V’s eyes. “Nah, don’t say that. It’s good to see you.”

V thought of reaching for her again, but she had to be careful. If she tried to rush things, it could backfire, and scare the other woman away…. “We should probably head out in a few minutes.”

“So…. Tonight’s the night, huh?” Judy asked, crossing her arms, tapping her foot. “Tonight I finally get to meet….” She froze, suddenly hit with jealousy, resentment and anger. Her eyes narrowed. “I’m so fucking pissed off at you, Valerie,” she blurted out, unable to control herself. She sighed disgustedly. “I don’t hear from you for a fuckin’ week. Pfft. Unbelievable. You know what? Maybe this isn’t a good idea after al—”

Instead of escalating the moment, V reached for Judy’s arms. She uncrossed them, and held both her hands. “Please. I’m begging you. I know you’re upset with me. I know I’ve been dishonest but Judy, this is my last chance. I’ve seen your work. You’re incredibly intelligent, brilliant. One of the smartest people I’ve ever met. I know you can help Lucy get to where she needs to be. She can’t do it alone. Please. Despite what you may think, I meant what I said the last time we were together.

“Oh yeah? Do you even remember back that far?”

“Of course I do, baby. Oh, Jude. I know this isn’t what you had in mind for us.” V looked down at her feet, and in a hollow voice, asked, “Did your feelings for me change? Can’t say I blame you, but I still love you.”

“How can you say that when you’re having sex with someone else?” Now Judy was on the verge of tears.

“Because I know what’s inside my heart. I’ll admit, I’m a fucking mess right now. I know that but I need you. I really need you.”

Judy clicked her tongue. “I’m not going anywhere. And, no. No, my feelings haven’t changed. I’m just like really, really pissed at you.” She shook her head. “No, not pissed. Disappointed. Upset. That night at the lake-house, you know, I thought we really had something. I felt it. Didn’t you?”

“I did. Yes, I did. And I promise, as soon as we get some answers, I promise to talk to you. To tell you everything.”

For several moments, Judy stood still. Eventually, she said, “Okay. Alright. Well, I’m ready. Let’s go and meet Lucy….”

They left and walked slowly down the long, dirty hallways of Megabuilding 10. As they stood waiting for the elevator, Judy was more nervous than she’d ever been before in her life.

And then something happened.
Something almost imperceptible, yet so poignant as to erase almost every one of her fears.

She felt the warm touch of V’s hand wrap itself gently around hers….

IV.

….They got off the elevator, and stepped out into Night City. Vik’s clinic was right around the corner from V’s apartment. About a ten minute walk. It was 9:30 pm and the city was already buzzing with activity. People running up and down the avenue, gangers parading around, streetside vendors selling scopdogs and other less than savory characters peddling their wares….

V and Judy were still holding hands as they turned the corner, and made for the clinic. They passed Misty’s Emporium and the dollhouse, Gomorrah. A bunch of joytoys, customers and drug dealers were hanging out up and down the narrow street. V opened the gate, they walked down the dank set of stairs and stood in front of the pair of iron grate doors.

“You okay?” The mercenary whispered.

“Just really, really nervous.”

V squeezed her hand. “I’m right here. I have a feeling once you two get to know each other, you'll have a lot more in common than you think.”

Judy didn’t answer. She squeezed V’s hand back, and they walked inside….

The netrunner and Vik were chatting at the other end of the room. As soon as they heard the metal doors clang shut, they stopped and looked up.

Lucy immediately locked eyes with Judy and the two women stared long and hard at one another, like they were transfixed.

Judy blinked first and thought, Of course she’s beautiful. Drop-dead. Why am I not surprised? No wonder V can’t stay away.

Lucy was wearing her sleek white netrunning suit that hugged every inch of her taut body. She was captivating. Black accents traced the contours of her hips and breasts, and her long legs were totally bare all the way up to the high-cut of the suit. Her distinctive arm sleeves clung to her forearms, separate, like they were part of another outfit entirely. Thin, glowing lines of energy ran in vertical and horizontal patterns, signs of highly advanced, integrated tech. She had the preemest boots, black, high-heeled that accented her lithe frame perfectly.

Judy caught a quick glimpse of her exposed back, easy access for ports, and various cables to jack-in. All in all, the whole thing looked custom designed, streamlined, and sharp as hell.

She had a youthful, detached air about her, and Judy was instantly intimidated by her not so subtle air of sexuality….

V was glued to both of them, watching intently to see how they greeted each other. Her mind, already frazzled. She hadn’t seen Lucy dressed like this since their first meeting at Afterlife, nearly a month ago. She licked her lips, and held her breath….

Meanwhile, Lucy was quite taken aback by the techie’s appearance, and thought her sexy in a way that felt wild, free, like she couldn’t care less what anyone else thought.

Judy had on a pair of tight, almost fluorescent blue nylon shorts with yellow stripes running vertically down the sides. For her shirt, she chose a white, half-cut tank top, tied in a knot. It looked like she was ready to spend the day at a resort somewhere far from NC.

What fascinated her the most though were Judy’s various tattoos. She found them alluring, extremely well-done, expertly rendered. They accented her body perfectly, and she found herself unable to avert her eyes. She was particularly drawn to the owl on her thigh, and the roses, one on each side of her neck.

Vik watched all three of them, wondering how this tense meeting would ultimately play out. He could tell they were extremely nervous. Lucy’s face had turned a subtle shade of red, as had Judy’s. V kept swallowing hard, and running a hand through her hair. It was damp, humid in the basement and the pervasive heat of August definitely heightened everyone’s anxieties.

Then, completely out of character, Lucy slowly reached out a hand in Judy’s direction, smiled, and in a voice barely above a whisper, said, “Hi. Lucy. Really glad to finally meet you.”

Judy was a bundle of nerves, but she smiled, taking the netrunner’s hand in hers, and shaking it warmly. “Judy. Hi. So nice to finally meet you too. Love your boots by the way.”

“Thanks. Nova tattoos.”

V.

….V breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She wanted to grab Judy and thank her for at least trying to break the ice and loosen the atmosphere. She just prayed it would stay this way. She knew one wrong word, one wrong look, and the whole thing could fizzle out in an instant.

After V introduced Judy to Viktor, and some small talk about the weather, they all got down to business.

Judy went first….

She spoke fluidly, eloquently about her different areas of expertise. Braindance technology was her primary forte, but she also possessed vast knowledge in customizing/optimizing cyberdecks, tracing and rerouting secure signals, bypassing, decoding ICE. All corpo-level stuff. She talked proudly of hacking old outdated tech and uploading new programs into ancient mainframes. It was like she spent most of her life in the ‘net. She also talked of designing custom BD environments for actors, so real they’d sometimes forget it was Braindance.

And then, after a brief pause to catch her breath, Judy shocked and surprised everyone in the room by saying she’d done a bit of experimenting with mapping some of the Blackwall’s outer layers, the periphery, never diving past it, but getting a feel for its unique shifts and patterns, along with interpreting the speed of its various responses to different levels of intrusion, threat….

“I can rebuild and optimize your cyberdecks,” she said, eyeing the netrunner. “I’ve been screwing around with that kinda stuff since I was a kid. I can give you the tools to bypass the strongest defenses, loops, shortcuts, backdoors. I’m sure you know that kinda stuff will almost certainly let you survive longer in hostile environments. Whatever you need.”

She smiled, lit a cigarette, and without thinking winked at Lucy. It was an understated, subtle gesture, but the netrunner picked up on it immediately, and felt a tiny flutter in her stomach….

….As Jude continued talking, Lucy found herself stealing glances in V’s direction. She was trying as hard as she could to focus on the tasks at hand, but it was getting more and more difficult to maintain her composure. Her mind began to drift, wander. Slowly, it filled with images of the mercenary and the techie together, kissing, or simply lying in bed together on a rainy, gloomy morning. She wondered how Judy might smell or taste in the midst of intimacy, and cursed her inability to control her impulsive thoughts. She felt her bodysuit hugging her tightly and shifted in the metal seat. Lucy smiled awkwardly, fearful that everyone could sense her inner turmoil….

Meanwhile, Judy kept talking, trying to avoid the awkward silences. Her nerves kicked in and she quickly moved from one topic to the next, ending with a stream of consciousness monologue on the history of technology in post data-crash NUSA.

Finally, after about fifteen minutes, she took a deep breath, turned to the three other people and asked, “Well, what do you think? Sorry I tend to ramble when I’m nervous.”

“Are you?” She turned to see Lucy, her shifting purple-blue eyes looking directly at her.

“Am I what?”

“Nervous.”

“A little, yeah.”

“Me too.” Lucy said and shifted in her seat again. “V? What about you?”

“Uh-huh,” was all the mercenary could get out.

Meanwhile, the night deepened and The Blackwall beckoned….

VI.

For a full minute, no one spoke. It was an awkward silence. Each of them, wrapped up in their own thoughts.

Finally, Lucy softly cleared her throat and said, “Judy, that’s perfect. All of it. Exactly the kind of assistance I’m looking for. We can go over specific details later, but I’m looking forward to working together.” But then just as everyone started to relax and let their guard down, she said, “There’s just one thing I’m curious about.”

They all froze. Judy pointed to herself. “What? Me?”

“Yes. What did you learn? About The Blackwall. You said you stayed on the edges, right? You built your own gear, used unauthorized software. Well, did you see anything? Anything that might actually help? You know, when it comes time for me to go past the edges? To cross over?”

Lucy’s tone had subtly shifted. It sounded a little antagonistic, like she was diminishing Judy’s accomplishment of getting near the Old Net. Almost insinuating it was a useless, pointless exercise. What could it possibly do to help her?

But the techie was cool under the hot light of scrutiny.

“Well, you’re right, I didn’t go deep,” she began. “I don’t have the kind of gear needed, or the experience. Not even close, but I did find patterns on the surface. Weakened points of access that could potentially make it a lot easier for you to delve deeper. Less resistance, looser security. Also, and I thought this was important. I could pinpoint flare-ups, with certain rogue AIs. I was far enough away to stay hidden. If we could determine an increase in AI activity, we could end the dive before it got too dangerous, bypass it altogether and look for another way in.”

“In theory,” Lucy cut in.

“Well, sure. But isn’t it all theoretical?” Judy answered, staring her down. “I could show you some of my mapping. Backdoors, before NetWatch, Arasaka or Militech tightened things up. Even they couldn’t fix every crack in the dam.”

Humbled, Lucy wiped the dampness from her forehead, and said, “Nice work, techie. Can’t wait to see your data.”

Viktor nodded, and lightly slapped his knees in excitement.

V couldn’t tear her gaze away from Judy Alvarez. In her distinctive rasp, she said, “I never knew you did all those things. That’s so fucking preem. I’m really glad you’re here.” Then, silently she mouthed, “Thank you.”

The closeness, heat and humidity were getting to Lucy. She felt hot, bothered. Her mind stuck on thoughts of Judy. A few times, she’d caught herself staring at the techie’s tattoos, wondering what it would feel like to run her tongue up and down the length of them. Suddenly, an odd urge took hold of her, to escape, run into the night, scale the skyscrapers, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, searching for what she lost.

Who she lost.

David….

She stood up and announced, “Anyone want a drink? There’s beer and Nicola in the fridge.”

It was everyone’s cue to stretch and readjust their positions.

“I’ll have a beer,” Judy said.

Vik shook his head no, while V added, “Beer….”

They took their break but no one knew where to sit or stand, who to gravitate towards or who to talk to. Out of the blue, Lucy announced, “I think I’m gonna head upstairs, take the elevator up to the roof, have a cigarette. Won’t be long. Just wanna get some air.”

Judy watched her glide across the room. Her movements, fluid, measured, the bodysuit hugging her frame perfectly, the light fabric of her sleeves trailing in the humid air. Then she turned around and said, “Judy? Wanna join me?”

Pleasantly surprised, she stood there, but didn’t answer. Her heart was already beating faster. She looked over at V, almost like she was asking for permission….

With the back of her hand, the merc waved her on. “Go ahead,” she whispered. “Have fun. I’ll be right here.” V smiled, and nodded. She wanted them to bond so badly, because in the end, that would only increase her own chances of making it out of this ordeal alive.

The atmosphere at Viktor's clinic was vibrant, coursing with electricity. V, Judy and Lucy could all feel the heat of summer. Their emotions simmered with secret desires. It was an exciting time to be alive. The wheels were in motion and they couldn't wait to see where it all would take them....

Chapter Text

I.

….They rode the elevator to the rooftop in silence, both of them staring at the floor the entire time. The tiny compartment felt stuffy, thick with the scent of mildew among other things.

After what felt like an age, it loudly ground to a halt. Barely operational, the double doors slowly slid open, and they were greeted by a dark, dirty hallway. It was littered with garbage, and the cracked, peeling walls were covered in all different colors and styles of illegible graffiti.

They took a rickety staircase up two flights, and came to a wooden door. As soon as Lucy opened it, they were hit with a current of warm, relatively fresh air. Far below, the unsettling sounds of Night City made them appreciate the fact they were so high up, away from it all. The pop-pop-pop of pistols, the heavy booming report of shotguns, screams, disjointed, maniacal laughter, Trauma Team and police sirens each combined to create a powerfully discordant, ominous tune….

Side by side, Judy and Lucy walked to the rooftop’s edge. Brightly colored billboards and advertisements illuminated their faces, making them seem bathed in light.

They looked out across the skyline, quiet, smoking and sipping their beers.

“I hate this city,” Lucy said, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Judy nodded. “Not my favorite place in the world either.”

“Not too bad up here though, is it?”

“No, no it’s not.”

Lucy turned to the other woman. “Do you ever think about leaving?”

“Yeah. A lot. Then, I don’t know. Days become weeks, then months, and before I even realize what happened, it’s been a year I’m saying I wanna leave.” Judy sighed.

“Mhmm.”

Neither of them wanted to talk about Valerie. Finally, Judy felt like she couldn’t stand it anymore. Not knowing. The speculation.

“Lucy?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you really think we can save her?”

The netrunner turned to look at her. “Honestly?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t know.”

Judy shivered and made a fist. Wait, what? V always made it seem like you were so sure you could do it. Find a way to excise the chip. There were times she was so optimistic. Were you lying to her?”

“No, Judy. I think I was lying to myself. The last time I jacked in, something followed me back here, to the waking world. Physical pain, nightmares, aftershocks. I-I don’t what happened. And I wasn’t even that deep. That’s how I ended up at Vik’s in the first place.”

“She said you were the best ‘runner in NC.”

Lucy looked out at the moon. She wanted to be there more than anything in the world. The only thing keeping her here was a promise she made to a woman she loves. “I’m scared, Judy. Okay? I’m scared.”

“I’ll be with you. Every step of the way. It’ll be different this time around.”

“Do you love her? V?”

The other woman let out a pained moan. “I-I do. Yes.” And then she turned to Lucy and whispered, “Do you?”

The netrunner took a drag of her cigarette and flung it over the side of the building. It seemed to float towards the street below, until they lost sight of it in the smog. She downed her beer, and put the bottle on the ground.

“Uh-huh,” she answered. “I do love her and therein lies the problem, huh?”

“It shouldn’t be. Not now. The fact that we both have feelings for her shouldn’t cloud our heads, or keep us from our goal. Lucy, she’s running out of time. You know that, don’t you?”

“She told me.”

It was then Judy felt the first pangs of jealousy. She wondered when V shared such sensitive information. Was it after they’d made love? Tired and sweaty, bodies entwined, damp with the bouquet of sex swirling around the room?

“She’s got a little less than six weeks left, according to the information she was given.”

“I’m trying not to think about it, Judy.”

“I know. Me too. It’s so painful. I don’t wanna lose her.”

Lucy looked over at her. “What happens if we do figure out a way to destroy The Relic?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, V. Do we fight over her? Meet at the playground? After school? 3:00 pm?”

They both chuckled. The image of the two of them, duking it out, was rather amusing, but deep down inside they wondered who of them truly had the mercenary’s heart?

Suddenly, Judy asked, “How old are you?” She’d lit another cigarette and was staring out at the tall buildings in the distance.”

“20….”

Judy whipped around, and she looked Lucy up and down. Her long, smooth, porcelain white legs seemed to radiate heat, light. Her body, perfectly symmetrical, its curves and angles, sublime. She found herself staring at the outline of Lucy’s breasts. The way they fit inside her bodysuit made her weak in the knees. She bit down softly on her bottom lip, in disbelief at Lucy’s revelation. She tried to kill the thoughts in her head, but the more she tried the harder it became. She looked again, and nearly gasped. The tiny outline of the netrunner’s nipples, so hard against the shining surface of her suit, had suddenly appeared.

She swallowed hard. “Y-You look older.”

“Is that good or bad?”

Judy felt like she was slipping on ice. Her thoughts jumbled, scrambled. Her brain, misfiring and unsure of what to say next.

“J-Just, I-I don’t know. G-Good I guess.”

Lucy licked her lips. “How old are you?”

“Huh? O-Oh, ummm. I-I’m 24.”

Now it was Lucy’s turn to study the techie. She was entranced by Judy’s body art. The way the colors seemed to blend so seamlessly with her naturally darker complexion. Her hair, purple, green and blue. It fit her sense of style so well. Even her casual outfit was incredibly sexy. Tight blue shorts and a half-cut tank top? She looked amazing, and Lucy’s curiosity grew exponentially with each blink of her eye.

What followed was a moment of extreme tension and awkwardness. Both of them touched their faces. They were hot, burning up. Then, almost like they were reading one another’s thoughts, their eyes met, and they stared at each other. And then stared some more….

“W-We should go back down. Right?” It was Judy who finally found her voice.

They were shaky, wobbly. Confused by the complex emotions that had taken hold of them. It was everything. The intensity of their feelings. Their love for V and the weight of having to share her unique affections. They were swept up in a delicious undercurrent of competition. It carried them away. Of course they were thinking of how they’d measure up against each other! Who of them was truly the better lover? But it wasn’t only that. It was an overall vibe of being young and at the height of their sexual prime. Of living in such dangerous, exhilarating times, living life on the edge. Their curiosity mixed with a hint of jealousy, a budding attraction, and the heat of a NC summer. The little things. The way they dressed, their sense of style, and the understated scent of their bodies radiating such sweet, subtle, alluring smells.

They simply weren’t prepared for all the nuances of the romantic triangle that had risen so swiftly, so unexpectedly.

“Uh-huh. C’mon,” Lucy whispered.

But as Judy turned to go, she felt a hand reach out and grab her by the arm. She looked to see Lucy shaking her head.

“It’s very hard for me to trust people. We just met. I feel weird.”

“Me too,” Judy answered. “I know it’s gonna take some time, but that’s the thing. We don’t have much of it left.” Then, she took Lucy’s hand from her arm and held it. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you, once we start diving. I’ll do whatever’s in my power to keep you from harm’s way. This is hard for me too.”

“You know I’ll be completely vulnerable when I’m under.”

“I know.”

“I’m worried,” Lucy murmured. “Does it feel like it’s too fast? Judy?”

“Yeah, it does. But Lucy, we can’t afford the luxury of taking our time.”

“You’re right. We should start working soon. Give me your detes, and I’ll send you my contact info. We should probably start tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Without a word, they took the stairs back to the elevator and rode it down to the street. As they got ready to go back to Vik’s clinic, Lucy said, “I feel a little better.”

“Good. So do I. Let’s let V know what the next steps are.”

The iron doors creaked open, and they walked inside….

II.

V was reading some of Viktor’s datasheets when she heard the two girls come in. She looked up, and froze. She wanted to go to both. To hold each one in turn, kiss them on the mouth, taste the flavor of their lip gloss, breathe them in. A hidden part of her wanted each of them to have to watch as she kissed the other….

Her gaze moved back and forth from Lucy to Judy. She thought both were uniquely alluring….

They stared back at her. Finally, she walked to greet them. It was uncomfortable for everyone.

“All good?” She asked, full of nervous energy.

“Yeah,” Lucy said. “We’re gonna start working on preliminary stuff tomorrow. Gear stability, integrity. You know, real exciting stuff. Judy’s gonna meet me at my place. Sooner the better, right?”

“Uhhh, right. Preem,” V said, and for the first time, she felt jealous! Her face flushed. Was she the one being excluded now? No. That was ridiculous. She was just being paranoid, wasn’t she?

“We’re gonna go over some of the mapping I did, maybe do a few very basic, shallow dives. Nothing too sophisticated,” Judy said, running a hand through her hair.

“Mhmm,” Lucy nodded and smiled.

“D-Do you need me for anything? I could come by too,” V blurted, before she could stop herself, the fear of missing out hit her hard. She felt humiliated, for yielding so fast to these embarrassing, irrational feelings of envy….

Both girls stopped and stared at her strangely.

“Not yet,” Lucy said, covering her mouth and stifling a sarcastic giggle. Something about her reaction really pissed V off. “I gotta figure out what I’m doing first, remember?” She playfully nudged V’s arm but the merc didn’t think it was funny at all….

They sat back down and talked for a while longer, mostly procedural, boring stuff. It took up most of the next hour and by the time they finished, it was almost midnight.

As the meeting wound down, Valerie knew she didn’t want to be alone. She was bothered but also thoroughly aroused. Her body craved companionship, intimacy. She wanted to fall asleep in someone’s arms, feel their hands smoothing out her hair. She felt a strong stirring below her waist and clicked her tongue, frustrated by her undeniable urge….

At that moment, she thought of Silverhand….

Ugh, fantasizing about ghosts now, V? She thought to herself, as everyone was saying their goodbyes. Vik had retired earlier, retreating to one of the back rooms of his clinic with instructions for V to lock up.

The three of them stood there, milling around, waiting for someone to make the first move. To say something. Neither Lucy nor Judy wanted to say goodbye to V. Both desperately wanted to spend the night with her.

The tension and angst grew by the minute.

“Well, I uhhh, guess I’m gonna delta,” Lucy finally said, her voice slow and measured. She looked at Judy, silently urging her to leave too. If she couldn’t have V, then why should anyone else?

“Uhhh, yeah. Me too,” the techie mumbled. She was annoyed and frustrated now. They were all bothered by the thought of spending the night alone….

V sighed, secretly hoping her holophone would ping later on with an offer, a proposition. “Ehhh, okay. I gotta stay and lock up.”

She hugged Lucy first. It was stilted and formal. She was still pissed about the netrunner’s earlier sarcasm.

Then she walked up to Judy and they embraced. It was much warmer, and as V went to pull back, she whispered as quietly as she could, “Ping me?”

Imperceptibly, Judy nodded.

“Walk out with me, Jude?” Lucy asked, more and more worried she’d be the one left out in the cold.

“Okay.”

They turned and left. V was suddenly alone in Vik’s basement. Her pulse, quickening, waiting impatiently for Judy to ping her. She started pacing back and forth, looking at the lines of cyberware that ran along her arms.

After five minutes, she locked the iron doors, and made her way around the corner to Megabuilding number 10, and her apartment.

Then, she heard two pings, one right after another. Eagerly, she pulled her holo from her pocket and looked at the screen….

“Oh shit,” she said, seeing a text from Judy, and one from Lucy.

She read the netrunner’s first:

“Hey. Just said goodbye to Judy. She’s coming by tomorrow and we’re gonna get to work. So, I have one more night to let loose before I gotta get serious. I’m like five minutes away from your apartment. Wanna hang out?”

“Fuck,” V said, doing a facepalm. "Shit." Next, she read Jude’s message.

“Hey. I just said bye to Lucy. Can I see you? I’m still in Watson. It’ll take me like ten minutes.”

Her hands shook with nerves as she typed back, “Come over, Jude. Now. I really wanna see you.”

“Nova. Can’t wait.”

Then V answered Lucy….

“Hey. I’m so beat. Think I’m just gonna turn in. Sorry. Good luck tomorrow. Ping me.”

Seconds later....

“Really? Wow. Okay then. Guess I misread the vibe. Night.”

“Fuck,” V mumbled, rolling her eyes, quickly regretting how she handled it. She opened the door to her place and made a beeline for the couch. She crashed down, closed her eyes, and waited….

Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Valerie jumped up and ran as fast as she could.

When it opened, Judy Alvarez was standing there nodding. They rushed into one another’s arms.

“Take me to bed calabacita. Make love to me. Make love to me all night long and don’t stop.”

“There’s nothing else I’d rather do right now, leelou bean,” and she lifted the techie as though she were weightless. V cradled Judy tenderly, and spun her around the room slowly.

“I missed you,” she said, grinning, throwing her arms around the merc’s neck.

III.

Lucy was pacing back and forth in her darkened apartment, seething. As soon as she got home, she tore off her netrunning suit, and threw on an old pair of pj’s.

Walking from room to room, absentmindedly checking ports and cables, she yelled, “I know you two are together. Think I’m a gonk? We have to start tomorrow! What the fuck are you thinking, Judy? Huh?” In a voice filled with malice, she mocked V’s earlier response, “I’m so beat,” she sneered. “Think I’m just gonna turn in!” She picked up an old lighter, and threw it against the wall. “BITCH!”

Lucy forgot that an unlit cigarette had been dangling from her mouth since she walked through the door. “Where the fuck is that lighter now!” She cursed, bending down, running her hands across the fake wooden floors. She switched on her Kiroshi’s and her eyes turned into tiny points of blinding light.

When she found it, she could barely keep her hand steady long enough to light it. She was so nervous, angry, and envious of Judy Alvarez. “What do you think, V? I’m fucking stupid?”

But then the anger and jealousy faded to pain, sadness. In the dark, she started whimpering. “W-Why her? W-Why not me?” For the second time tonight, her mind frustratingly filled with thoughts of David Martinez and it hurt her deeply knowing he was no longer around, and she really was alone in this awful hell called Night City.

In the spaces lit by the soft glow of fluorescent and neon lights, Lucy sat against the wall, smoking her cigarette. In the distance, a rumble echoed through the room….

Thunder.
Followed by a brilliant flash of lightning.

Then the pitter-patter of a few drops of rain, then more and more, until it was coming down steadily.

Lucy stood up and walked to the large living room window, She stared out and sniffled a couple times.

“Why did you lie to me?” She whispered, closing her eyes and wiping her nose against the long sleeve of her pajama top. “That’s not love, is it? Why did you say it? What the fuck, V?”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her holophone. In one, blindingly swift motion, she grabbed it, and sent V another text message.

“Hey. Are you still awake? Can you talk? Please. It’s important.”

She put it down, and waited….

An hour of silence. It was after 1:00 am. Pouring, the sound of thunder reverberated through the city.

Lucy went to her bedroom, took off every piece of clothing, and laid down on the mattress. She ran her hands along the surface of her body, and envisioned making love to V.

She pressed the palm of her hand between her legs. Frustrated, she moved it in fast circles, and cried out softly, imagining V’s hand touching her, bringing her closer to a bittersweet orgasm.

And even though she tried to hold it back, she felt tears running down her cheeks as she sped up and called out to the mercenary in the darkness….

“Oh V, oh fuck. Baby, I-I wish you were here w-with me, shit….” She sped up, and started rubbing her clit. It was the only way to quiet the ache inside. Faster and faster she went. She could feel the blood rushing to her head. Her skin, hot to the touch. Cheeks ablaze with unfulfilled desire….

Suddenly, like she had no control over herself, Judy replaced V in the fantasy. She gasped because the change happened so seamlessly, so subtly….

Now the techie had become the object of her unparalleled lust and Lucy was more confused than ever….

She could feel her own wetness as her thoughts swam with incredibly vivid images of the techie. Licking, smelling, touching Judy’s beautifully inked body. Lucy started panting. It was such a powerful tug, She imagined straddling her, their bodies colliding, licking the blood-red roses on the sides of her neck.

Moments later, she tensed and then climaxed harshly, biting down on her fingers while in her mind, she held Judy’s face in the palm of her hands….

“O-Oh, Judy,” Lucy murmured, defeated by her lust. “J-Judy, I’m coming. Oh god. You f-feel so good.”

It was an urgent, powerfully intense orgasm. Her body rocked, hitting the mattress with sustained force while her hips thrust over and over….

Before Lucy finished, she tried wiping the tears from her eyes, but it was no use.

More continued to flow….

Eventually, she slowed down, and came to a gradual stop. She reached for the spare pillow and covered her face, ashamed by how quickly she’d lost control of her body.

“How am I gonna be able to face her tomorrow? H-How? I’m so fucking embarrassed and she’s not even here.”

Those were the thoughts swimming around her head as she fell into a bruised, uneasy, sleep….

Outside, the thunder, lightning and rain seemed to echo Lucy’s turbulent, fractured state of mind….

IV.

….Just as Lucy struggled to come to terms with her inner turmoil and growing curiosities, V and Judy lay entwined in bed, spent, their nude bodies damp from sustained sex.

V was on her back, Judy curled up next to her as close as she could get.

Judy ran her fingernails up and down the mercenary’s sweaty body, nuzzling her neck, kissing her cheek. Every few seconds, one of them would sigh softly….

“Calabacita, that was so unbelievable, love the way we move together,” Judy whispered, opening V’s mouth with her finger, moving it down and drawing circles around her breasts.

“Mhmm, I needed that. I needed that so bad tonight.”

“S-Same, baby….”

“C’mon,” Judy whispered, breathless, starting to move up and down against V slowly. “I-I don’t wanna stop.”

“Ohhh, Jude. I can’t move, baby. I’m so tired,” but then she felt the other woman biting her neck, and her heart beat quicker. V opened her eyes, and sighed happily. “I’m at your mercy,” she whispered. “Do what you want with me.”

They laid atop one another and moved in a rhythm of their own design. V was on the bottom, her knees bent, legs apart, allowing Judy to fit perfectly inside her heated embrace. Side to side, in lazy circles, she spun against the mercenary.

V ran her own fingers along Judy’s back, over and over, letting her dictate the pace, take the lead.

She could feel her tongue licking her collarbone, then slowly moving further down. Judy tucked her teeth under her lips, pulling and tugging at V’s stiff nipples….

She whimpered and her movements grew faster. Pushing into the techie, she could feel her body getting ready to climax….

Judy looked to see V lying there, eyes closed, her face, an expression of ache, pleasure, and exhaustion mixed together….

“J-Jude, I can barely move, b-but I think I-I’m gonna come again. Oh god, baby. Keep moving, shit.”

Both women felt the deep, deep tug of another orgasm, and they cried out together and moved with reckless precision….

When they finished, V murmured, “N-No more. I need sleep. So do you. Big day tomorrow at Lucy’s, right?” She leaned over and kissed the techie softly, and shut her eyes.

“Hmph, I guess.”

As they slowly drifted off to sleep, locked in a gentle embrace, thoughts of the enigmatic netrunner filled their minds.

Did she really hold the key to Valerie’s life in her hands?

Chapter Text

I. 8:00 am. The Following Morning

….The sun rose way too early. Bright, brilliant light filtered through the Japantown apartment’s windows. V was jarred awake by the shrill sound of her alarm. She groaned loudly, stretched, rolled over and groped blindly on the floor for her holophone. Judy was still sound asleep, snoring in long sustained breaths.

V tried slapping at the phone to turn off the alarm. When that didn’t work she tried punching it.

“C’mon, Jesus Christ. Stop, stop,” she moaned.

Judy stirred, and grumbled, “Turn it off, why do you keep letting it go off?”

“I’m trying, jeez.” She picked it up, shut it off and stared at her screen. There was a message from Lucy. It was six hours old. “Fuck,” she whispered….

“Hey. Are you still awake? Can you talk? Please. It’s important.” V sighed, looked over at the woman sleeping next to her, and felt that same strange guilt slowly take hold of her. It was so difficult juggling two lovers. She was torn, still wanting, needing to feel the touch of both….

She started typing her response, unaware that Judy had quietly rolled over, opened her eyes and was looking over her shoulder, watching intently.

“Hey, Luce. Sorry. As soon as I got home last night, I crashed. Fell asleep early. I was beat. Just seeing this now. I’m sorry. Message me back, okay? Miss you. Let’s talk.”

She gasped as Judy’s elbow dug into her back.

“You crashed? Fell asleep early? What the fuck, V? Why did you lie to her? Let’s talk? MISS YOU? I mean, what is this? I’m right here!"

Judy sat up on her elbows, still half-asleep. Her hair was messy, and she had these tiny, cute bags under her eyes, but it was obvious she was pissed.

“God, Jude! You sneak!” V yelled, shocked and embarrassed. “Why are you spying on me?” She quickly hid her holo away, and turned to face the other woman.

They lay there, glaring at each other, breathing heavily, ready to explode.

Judy sprung up. “Fuck this! I’m outta here! Call her! Go ahead. Tell her how much you miss her! I can’t believe you, Valerie. I’m so fuckin’ hurt!”

She couldn’t help it. In the corners of her eyes, tears welled. A few fell, and Judy wiped them away harshly.

“Jude, please. I-I’m sorry. Please, I-I didn’t wanna tell her the truth because today is such a big day, right? The two of you, working together for the first time. I-I’m sorry.”

But the techie wasn’t in the mood for hollow words, and phony apologies. “You know, V? I don’t hear from you for a week. You were probably with her the whole time.” The merc opened her mouth to protest, but Judy stuck her finger in the air. “Let me finish! We spent all last night buried so deep inside each other! (V turned bright red and whimpered painfully as she thought back to all the taboo things they did)) And the second you wake up, you tell Lucy you miss her? COME ON, V! REALLY? I’M LEAVING!”

But as she went to stand, V grabbed her by the arm. “No! Don’t leave like this, Jude! Please! I’m sorry, baby. Please!”

“LET ME GO!” She squirmed and wriggled but was no match for the mercenary’s augmented strength.

“NO!”

They rolled around until V straddled her, pinning Judy to the bed by her wrists. The techie thrashed wildly, but it was useless. V was way too strong. Slowly, she moved lower until their lips were an inch apart.

“I’m hurt,” Judy said, but her tone was softer, simmering.

As tenderly as she could, V kissed her on the mouth. “Sorry, leelou bean. Can you forgive me?”

Judy still couldn’t move but her head shot upwards and she kissed V back, harshly, full of emotion.

“No,” she pouted, in a bitchy, flirty voice….

Again, V kissed her. This time she opened her mouth and found the techie’s tongue with her own. They brushed against each other, and both moaned softly.

“Mmph, sorry, baby,” V whispered, kissing and sucking Judy’s stomach, slipping between her legs. She paused, catching a strong whiff of her organic pheromones, before going down on her….

The techie moaned loudly, and held the merc’s head against her crotch. “N-No. ‘M so mad at you. Make it better, neughhh, oh shit. Yeah, yeah….”

V worked her over rather quickly, and a minute later, she felt Judy arch her back and climax, thrusting her hips and crying out into the bright light of early morning.

As soon as she finished, she yanked the mercenary up and kissed her a dozen times.

They stopped, and stared at each other. Valerie had a meek, apologetic smile. “Forgive me, leelou bean?”

“Ugh, I’m gonna kill you V,” Judy said, breathlessly. “I’m losing my mind over you. I hope you’re happy.” She lunged at the other woman and held her close. “I gotta be at Lucy’s soon. What time is it?”

“Quarter to nine.”

“Shit.”

“Wanna take a shower here? With me?”

Judy shook her head. “More than anything. But I can’t. I gotta run home to my apartment. I left all my shit there. I told her I’d be at her place by 11:00.”

Inside, V was on an emotional roller coaster. Highs, lows, twists and turns. Happy one second, jealous the next. She was excited,sad, buzzing with unchecked energy. As much as she tried, she simply could not relax and thought of Judy and Lucy running away together and leaving her all alone.

“Okay. You’re right. You should go. I don’t want you to be late.”

They embraced for another minute before Jude got up, throwing on her dirty clothes from last night.

“You have coffee? Can I borrow a pair of panties?”

“Uh-huh, uh-huh. I’ll make some. Top drawer.”

“Thanks.”

Twenty minutes later, they stood at the door.

“Let me know how it goes today, please?” V asked, already worried about the dynamics of this complicated love triangle.

“Okay,” Judy answered. And as they said their goodbyes, V’s holophone pinged loudly. Instantly they broke apart. “I wonder who that could be. Better answer it,” Jude added, turning around and closing the door behind her, already pissed off again….

II.

“Hello?”

Silence. Lucy stared longingly, sadly at the woman on the other end of the holophone.

“Luce?”

“Remember when I told you I loved you? What did you say?”

V closed her eyes. “S-Said I loved you too.”

“Why did you lie to me last night, V?”

“What do you me—?”

“DON’T LIE TO ME!”

The merc swallowed hard. “Because I want you and I want Judy. I want both of you so fucking bad, more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. I think it’s ‘cause I know I’m running out of time. And all I think about is making love to you and her. Not stopping. It’s all I think about. I-I was mad at you last night.”

“What? W-Why?”

“That little sarcastic smirk when I asked if you wanted me to come by today. I felt like a fucking idiot. You embarrassed me….”

“V, it was a joke! I didn’t mean anything by it! Why didn’t you tell me last night?”

V actually began laughing. It was all she could do to keep from having an anxiety attack. “Oh, Lucy. I don’t know. Because I’m constantly fucking up, aren’t I?” She licked her lips, and nodded. “You know what? I need to get away for a little while. Tell Judy I hadda delta, okay?” Now Valerie was in tears. She smiled, but it was full of pain. “S-She’s on her way, be there soon.”

“Wait a minute. Where are you going? V! We’re running out of time! What if we need you?”

“I have a date with a ghost! I love you, Lucy! Thank you!”

She hung up the phone, and the other woman screamed. “VALERIE! HEY! HELLO?”

III.

....An hour later, showered and changed, Judy stood at the entrance to Lucy’s building and pressed the buzzer.

A young woman’s voice crackled over the intercom. “Judy? That you?”

“Hey. Yeah. ‘S me.”

“Come on up.”

She unlocked the door, and the techie strode in, nervous, guarded, and a tiny bit envious….

When she got off the elevator at the 92nd floor, Judy looked down the long hallway and saw that Lucy was waiting outside her door.

They waved awkwardly. Each of them carried so much weight. It was everything. Unspoken feelings, secret emotions, and the burden of trying to come together to save the woman they’d both fallen in love with.

When Judy reached the netrunner, she could tell something was wrong. They smiled, and hugged one another, but it was careful, measured, a little too mechanical.

“Hey,” the techie murmured. “Everything okay?”

“Hey,” Lucy said and took a deep breath. “I-I don’t know,” she answered. “I just got off the holo with V. It was very weird.”

Judy tensed. Her mind swam with conflicting images. The beautiful love they’d made just hours before, then fighting over the woman standing right in front of her. It was hard to maintain her composure.

“What do you mean, weird?”

“She sounded panicked, full of worry, but laughing. Told me to tell she had to delta, and that she had a date with a ghost.”

Instantly, Judy thought of the engram. Silverhand? Was that what V meant? And why would she have to leave? Especially now, when they may need her at any moment.

“What? A date with a ghost? What did she mean?”

“I don’t know,” Lucy said, shaking her head. “I’m worried about her.”

“Did she say anything else? Should we try to ping her?”

Lucy thought back to V’s declaration of love and her admission of wanting them both so badly. Part of her wanted to tell Judy. To let her know nothing was set in stone. And whether or not Valerie spent the night alone, or in each of their beds, the fact remained. The mercenary was torn between the two women….

“She said a bunch of things but I-I think we should let her go. Maybe she needs to be alone for a little while. To figure out her feelings. She’s overwhelmed. That much is obvious. As for us, we’ve got a lot of work to do. Don’t worry. She just needs to let off some steam. It’s been so crazy for all of us, ya know?”

But Judy wasn’t so sure. Tentatively, she asked, “You don’t think she’d…?”

“No. No, I don't think she’d do anything to herself. No, Jude. We’ll try her a little later on, okay? I really wanna start. It’s already 11:00. We’ve got a long day ahead of us….” Lucy stared at the techie. “Alright?”

“Alright.”

“Preem. Now. Please tell me you brought the notes from your trips to the Old Net. Weakened access points? Increased security? Firewalls? Flare-ups of Rogue AI?”

“I have everything.” Judy nodded.

“Nova. Now, let me show you around the place. I converted my bathroom into what’ll be our workshop. Wait until you see what I chose for the rig.”

IV.

….The fact that Lucy referred to the workshop as, “theirs,” put Judy at ease. It was a small detail, but it made her feel accepted, trusted….

As they walked through the apartment, Judy noticed several interesting things. Everywhere along the floor ran thick cables and wires. The place seemed to hum with power, invisible currents of electricity lit up strips of dim multi-colored lights. It was as though dusk had enveloped the spaces and more than once, Judy had to remind herself that it wasn’t yet noon. Outside, the sun was shining brightly and it was already ninety degrees.

Slow, hypnotic trance music played in the background. It was just loud enough to give the place an eerie backstreet nightclub vibe. The furniture was all black, spartan in its design. A few times, Judy almost stubbed her toes along the edges.

As they walked past the bedroom, its open door yawned like an invitation, heightening the techie’s curiosity, giving her a glimpse of where the netrunner spent her solitary, private nights.

….And what strange, electric dreams visited her while she slept? Did she lie in the darkness, thinking of V? Did the mercenary make love to her underneath those same black and white sheets?

Finally, they came to the bathroom. Lucy slowly, cautiously opened the door. It creaked as if it were on old, rusty hinges….

Judy let out a soft gasp when she looked inside. It was like something out of a feverish dream. The walls seemed to glow and pulse with artificial life. The porcelain bathtub was filled with a blue, gel-like substance, while hundreds of small ice cubes bobbed up and down along its surface. The rig was lit by a soft, pale green light. On the floor were two small servers, unceasing red lines of odd code running vertically from bottom to top….

“What do you think?” the netrunner whispered.

Judy almost jumped, startled by the girl’s gentle, robotic voice. “It’s n-nova. Holy shit. Did you do all this yourself?” She asked, studying the various pieces of tech with great interest.

“Uh-huh. Took me a little while, but it all came together in the end. I thought we’d do a couple practice runs. I want you here, with me, assisting.”

“Sure. I could monitor your vitals, watch for signs of overheating, and stress levels. Pull you out if it starts to get too hot. That what you mean?”

Lucy didn’t answer. After a minute, Judy looked over to see her nodding, smiling.

“That’s exactly what I mean. I want us to be able to trust one another. You in the real, me in the ‘Net. I may be the one diving, but I need you with me every step of the way.” And then Lucy reached down and squeezed Judy’s hand. “Okay?”

In the near darkness, the techie could feel herself getting warm. She hadn’t realized the intimacy associated with this entire process. “Uh-h-huh,” she stammered, the heat from Lucy’s touch short-circuited her thoughts....

“Preem. Alright. Let’s go over some of your data. Fill me in. Afterwards, we’ll try a shallow, surface dive. Nothing too deep, not yet. I want us to learn to get comfortable with each other, get to know our rhythms, patterns, our tendencies, got it?”

“Got it, Luce….” Judy ran a hand through the blue coolant gel that filled the bathtub. It was thick and viscous. Crisp, extremely cold. She pushed an ice cube down, and watched it return to the surface. “Are we gonna use the rig today?” She asked, swirling her hand around the liquid, wondering if the netrunner would undress, remembering the jet black bodysuit and how it hugged her beautiful frame....

“Mhmm, I hope so.” Lucy grinned, like she could read Judy’s mind. “Now, show me the data, let me see what you got….”

V.

….Even V’s expensive, chic sunglasses couldn’t hide the sun, or the fact that she was falling apart. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her nose wouldn’t stop running. She kept looking at herself in the rearview mirror, wiping at her makeup.

Before she took off from Night City, she stopped in Arroyo and bought a gram of high grade synth-coke from one of the dealers she knew there. As she merged on to the I-9, she was wired, talking to herself, talking to Johnny, laughing and crying at the same time.

She was driving the limited edition gold Herrera, flying down the highway at 120 mph. The car moved gracefully, effortlessly. Its engine, thrumming with unchecked power.

The coke had spilled from the torn baggie. It lay strewn all over the passenger seat and floor. She’d just done a huge line, and kept fidgeting with her 1,000 euro sunglasses.

She was wearing her favorite pair of high-cut jean shorts, a pink tank top and white sneakers with pink laces.

“What the fuck does it matter, anyway!” She yelled, the windows down, the hot desert wind blowing through her platinum blonde hair. “A month! A fucking month! I’ll be dead in four fucking weeks! Oh fuck you all!”

Faster and faster she flew down the highway, in free-fall now. The synth-coke hit hard, quickly sending her spiraling down a twisted, euphoric, feverish fantasy….

V was crying more heavily, saying things like, “JOHNNY! I BET THEY’RE IN BED RIGHT NOW! THE TWO OF THEM! I knew it was a mistake. I FUCKIN’ KNEW IT!”

Paranoia strangled her and the fact she was slowly losing her grip only made things that much worse….

She dabbed at her lipstick and inhaled sharply, deeply through her nose.

Her thoughts filled with images of Judy and Lucy running away together the moment after they knew she’d died. The two of them living peacefully, happily as a couple, somewhere far, far away from Night City, forgetting all about her.

Every few seconds, she would furiously rub her nose and eyes.

“WHY ARE YOU ACTING LIKE THIS!” She screamed at herself. “WHAT THE FUCK IS IT WITH YOU? FUCKIN’ GONK!”

She was up above 150 mph now, really high, full of anxiety, envy and jealousy….

Valerie could not stop obsessing over the netrunner and the techie, the two of them seducing each other. Judy’s mouth, an inch away from the back of Lucy’s neck, sliding her hand down the front of her shorts, rubbing her—”

“FUCK! FUCK!”

What if they’d already given up on her?
Given up on trying to save her?
Was it all just a ploy so they could spend more and more time together, slowly cutting V out of their lives forever?

Suddenly, Johnny Silverhand appeared in the passenger seat. He took one look at her, and shook his head from side to side, sadly….

“There’s a motel up ahead. Pull over,” he said. “You’re too fucked up to drive. You’re going over 150 miles an hour. You did way too much coke. Shit, even I can feel it….”

“I’M SCARED!” She roared, pressing her foot all the way down on the gas pedal…. She was losing what little control she had left. “IT’S OVER!”

And then, somehow finding herself in the eye of the storm, Valerie felt Johnny’s hand on top of hers. It gave her the chills, but in a really good way….

“C’mon, V. Slow down. I’m right here. You don’t have to be afraid anymore….”

Chapter Text

I. Lucy’s Apartment. August, 2077.

….For two straight hours, Judy and Lucy pored over pages and pages of notes, calculations, algorithms, hypothetical pathways, and the safest routes from points A to B. This wasn’t jacking into an ancient Arasaka mainframe or going beyond The Blackwall, but it was a good start. They had to walk before they could run….

But this work was mostly tedious, clinical, and eventually they both wanted to take a break. They were still holed up in the tiny bathroom. Lucy leaned against the sink, Judy sat on the lip of the tub. They needed to stretch their legs, move around. Two hours was a long time to be in the same small space. They were beginning to feel their muscles tightening up….

“Want a drink? Coffee? Tea?” Lucy asked, taking a deep breath and stretching.

“Hell yes. I’ll have coffee. Thanks.”

“C’mon. Let’s go to the kitchen. Afterwards, I wanna jack-in. I think we’re ready. How do you feel about me going under?” Lucy was eyeing her closely, trying to gauge her confidence level.

“I feel good. No worries at all. But I need that cup of coffee before I can do anything else.”

They both smiled and made their way out.

As they stood there waiting for the coffee to brew, Judy thought of V. Was she okay? Should she text her? Let her know things are going smoothly? Maybe she should wait until after Lucy’s simulation. Wouldn’t want to jinx anything, especially when they were so close to making real, tangible progress.

“Whatcha thinkin about?” Lucy asked, pouring her cup. “Cream? Sugar?”

“Both. Lots. Ummm, I don’t know. Was thinking about….” Judy stumbled, but the other woman picked up on what she was trying to say….

“V?”

“Yeah, yeah I guess I was.”

“Me too. Here.” She handed Judy the cup and pointed to the fridge. “Cream’s in there. Sugar above the cabinet.”

“Thanks.”

“Welcome.”

Judy took a sip. “Mmmm, this is good. I needed this.”

“So…. What’s your story, Judy Alvarez? How did you end up to be in this wonderful city?” Lucy rolled her eyes, the sarcasm obvious.

The techie tensed. It was a very personal question. Was she ready to go there? Did she trust Lucy enough? Was this the netrunner’s way of building rapport?

“I grew up in a place called Laguna Bend. To the west, on the outskirts of NC. I, I—” She thought of her childhood, the fractured relationship with her parents. Her mother’s untimely death. Her father’s disappearance. She faltered, stumbled. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it. It was presumptuous of me to ask.” Lucy was staring directly at her. The radiance of her purple-blue eyes was hypnotic, and Judy struggled to find her voice….

“N-No, it’s fine. I just, the place where I grew up, some fuckin’ corpo destroyed it, turned it into a fuckin’ dam, flooded us all out. My childhood, heh, submerged under a hundred feet of dirty, filthy water. We had nowhere to go. M-My parents, I never really knew who they were. I was raised by my grandfather and mi abuela, granny. He d-died and she left, moved t-to Seattle. I stayed behind. She felt hot tears burning her cheeks. “I’m s-sorry. It’s just hard sometimes, ya know?”

Lucy thought of her own volatile relationship with her mother and father. Gently, she rubbed Judy’s shoulder. “I do know,” she whispered. “I-I had to run away f-from my home, in Europe. I haven’t seen my parents in a very long time. I know it’s hard.”

They spoke of the pain and heartache of growing up in a cold, frightening world, growing up without the love of family and feeling the weight of so many things on their shoulders. Never knowing if they had any siblings, or even if their parents ever truly loved them. It was so difficult, working through such deeply complex emotions, but slowly, they were learning that maybe they had more in common than they’d initially thought….

They held one another in a warm embrace. Completely different from how they’d interacted every other time before. Judy could feel Lucy barely squeezing her. It was purposely subtle and that made it even more intimate. She squeezed back and hoped the girl wouldn’t feel the constant pounding of her heart…

She could smell the netrunner’s shampoo, her perfume, her skin. Sudden, sensual thoughts assailed her. Judy wanted so badly to touch and kiss every inch of Lucy’s body. She had to clench her teeth to keep herself from tasting the girl’s neck. What she couldn’t possibly know was that Lucy was struggling with the same exact impulses. She wanted to suck on Judy’s tattoos, make love to her and experience the rush of climaxing together. Afterwards, they’d hold each other, their bodies sweating out the last remnants of their lust….

Judy cleared her throat and they both reluctantly pulled apart, but somehow they still found themselves holding hands, staring at each other.

Lucy bit her bottom lip. She wanted to say more, do more. In the end though, they knew it would only make things worse. They moved to opposite ends of the kitchen and finished their coffees in silence….

Fifteen minutes later, Lucy put her cup down, and said, “Ready to get to work?”

II.

….They walked back to the bathroom, and Judy immediately started prepping for the dive, tweaking gear, checking wire stability, and monitoring the servers. She began tinkering with Lucy’s custom-made cyberdeck, modifying it, adding her own personal touches of flair, strengthening its bandwidth, solidifying its integrity.

Lucy watched her with great interest. She was becoming more and more impressed with Judy’s technological acumen.

“Looks good. I’m glad you’re here. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Judy looked up from her work. “Where are you going?”

“To get changed. Hope you’re not shy,” Lucy looked down at the tub and skimmed its surface with tips of her fingers. Her demeanor changed. “Jude, I’m nervous. I want this to work. I wanna save her. But we’re running out of time. I haven’t been under in weeks. You already know what happened the last time, so we don’t need to rehash it. I just have to remember not to rush. That’s my biggest problem.”

The other woman stood up and went to her. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.” She nodded to reaffirm the point. “I’ve been a techie my whole life. I’m pretty good at reading the signs. If I think the dive’s going down a dark path, I’ll pull you out. Gently. You won’t even feel it.”

Lucy nodded. “See you in a few.”

As soon as she left, Judy pulled her holophone from her pocket….

No messages, nothing from V. She started typing one of her own.

“Hey, calabacita? Are you okay? We’re getting ready for Lucy’s first dive. Please let me know you’re okay. I’m a little worried. Bye.” Before she hit send, she took a deep breath, and typed, “Love you.”

A minute later, Lucy returned, dressed in a thin white, satin kimono. All along her body, lines of cyberware shone with a pale gold light. It looked as though she were more machine than human. Judy froze, fascinated by her surreal beauty. Lucy sat on the edge of the tub while she finished with some last second pre-dive systems checks.

“How are we looking?”

“Perfect. No instability, no corruption of data. Everything looks smooth.”

Lucy stood up and turned away from the other woman. Slowly, she untied the belt around her waist, and let the kimono fall softly to the floor.

Judy couldn’t look away. She studied the young netrunner’s nude body and felt a sharp, sudden fire below her waist. She was beautiful. The curves of her behind were breathtaking, sublime in their form. Then Lucy slowly stepped into the rig, one leg at a time.

She let out tiny moans as her body adjusted to the ice-cold temperature of the bath. She sank in gently, and whimpered, “J-Judy? You with me?”

“Uh-huh. I’m right here. Right behind you. Do you want me to conne—?”

“Y-Yes. I trust you. I’m ready. Plug me in. You see the port, yes?”

“Mhmm. This is fascinating tech,” Judy whispered, looking at a nearby screen and checking the netrunner’s biorhythms once more. Everything looked preem. She held the main cable in one hand, and gently moved Lucy’s hair out of the way with the other.

Calmly, she plugged it into the netrunner’s main neural port.

It grew completely quiet and still in the room.

Judy closed her eyes.
Lucy twitched slightly, drew a deep breath and dropped back into the ‘Net.

The dive had officially begun….

III.

….At first, Lucy felt a little disoriented, like her mind and body were separated much too quickly. After a few moments though, the feeling passed as she began to sync-up with her environment. Slowly, it all started coming back to her. The open spaces, trails of code, pulsations of refracted colors. The sensations coalesced, and a wave of excitement coursed through her….

They were very shallow, and the tension, strain wasn’t overwhelming or frightening. It felt like she was testing the water, one toe at a time….

In the distance she saw a thread of wispy energy that led to a platform.

“Hey,” a disjointed voice echoed in the deepest corners of her mind. “It’s Judy. I’m right here. Follow the nodes, the trails. I’ve set up some points along the way for you to stop and rest. To get your bearings, familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Don’t be afraid of other sounds you may hear. It’s normal interference. I’m with you, Lucy. I’ve got you….”

She followed Jude’s signal, and soon found her way to a small platform. Lines of codes undulated in the background.

Then, something crackled, sizzled. A glitch from her last dive? Lucy started to panic, remembering the psychic pain, but Judy was right there and gently led her back from the edge.

A voice filtered through the netrunner’s consciousness….

“It’s me again. It’s okay, Lucy. Try not to panic. Can you hear me? It’s nothing serious. Just a tremor in the firewall. Nothing to be scared of. I’ve got you.”

“Okay. T-Thanks, Judy. It’s just a little intense, ya know?”

“I know. Remember. Take it slow. We’re in this together. It’ll be different this time around. You just have to trust me, okay?”

“I do. I-I trust you….”

“Nova. N-N-N-Now-Now.” Judy’s voice started breaking up, and then suddenly, all sound was lost.

“J-Judy? JUDY?”

Lucy felt a wave of anxiety pass over her. She was about to end the dive when she saw vivid, beautiful colors up ahead….

Parallel lines of refracted purple and green wrapped around each other like a helix. They were pulsing, flashing. As she studied the patterns, Lucy realized it was Judy! She was still here! Still with her!

This was something they’d talked about on the outside, in the event of the voice comms/links failing.

This was simply another way to communicate.

Each beat or curl of color, reminding Lucy that she was safe and there was nothing at all to worry about. It filled her with so much confidence; to know that the techie thought of something like this. A sort of fail-safe.

Use this in place of my voice. Let the colors and light be my hand, guiding you forward, through the darkness. You’re not alone. Not anymore….

Lucy skipped from platform to platform, exhilarated, following Judy’s, “voice.”

When she reached a long, narrow corridor, she stopped. It was like a vast hall, with transparent floors. She looked down and emptiness opened up before her.

“You made it,” Judy said. She’d returned. “You remembered.”

“W-What was that back there? Everything okay?”

“Uh-huh. Fine. Nothing to worry about. You did good, Luce. I know you were thinking of ending the dive. I’m glad you trusted me enough to follow the patterns we talked about.”

“My instincts are slowly coming back. I can feel it. Even being this shallow, it helps. I’m feeling more and more comfortable.”

“Nova. Listen, I constructed some rudimentary puzzles for you to play around with. Just some stuff to sharpen your decryption skills. Get you back in the swing of things. Wanna try one of ‘em out?”

“Definitely.”

“Go to the end of the hall. You’ll see a floating cube.”

Lucy crept towards the shape and stood in front of it. Slowly, she moved her hand through its hazy, insubstantial edges and felt a quiet hush of excitement. “You designed this?”

“Guilty as charged. It’s just a little something I’ve been playing around with in my spare time.”

“Judy?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m glad you’re here, now. I know it’s still really early on, but I-I already feel this connection.”

Lucy stood there, studying the puzzle, its contours, faces, symbols, waiting for the other woman to answer.

Silence.
She bit her lip. Had she said too much?

But then, like some faraway beacon, leading her through this quiet, electric forest, Judy said, “I feel it too, Lucy. I feel it too….”

IV.

….Gradually, the semi-transparent cube began to shimmer and glow.

Six distinct glyphs appeared on the different faces, each etched with strange, interwoven lines. The whole object glowed with warm, inviting light, and Lucy felt relaxed, yet cautious in its presence. As she watched, two of the symbols seemed to pulse, and spin lazily in a clockwise direction….

Did the glyphs somehow correspond to her emotional state, or was it the other way around? Were her emotions controlling the movements, patterns of the symbols?

The first one she touched was a jagged, zig-zag line. She felt a quick, sudden spike in her pulse, and yanked back her hand in surprise.

Judy’s voice came over the comm link….

Calmly, she said, “It’s okay. Let yourself settle. Focus. Take a breath. Breathe….”

Lucy closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, in through her mouth, out through her nose.

“Try and keep your eyes closed,” Judy said, evenly. “Let your feelings guide you.”

She lifted her hand but didn’t try to steer it one way or another. She simply let it be. After a few seconds, Lucy felt a subtle urge and tilted the cube. She giggled as a thousand tiny sensations like pins and needles coursed through her fingertips. It felt strangely good, and when she opened her eyes, another symbol had appeared in front of her, this one, three lines in a wave-like pattern….

She touched it and instantly felt lighter, refreshed, like she’d found an oasis in the middle of a dry, parched desert.

“Good, good,” Judy said, in a firm voice. “Now, open your eyes.”

Lucy noticed a tiny space in the wall had opened up. Light spilled through, revealing a way forward, but it was still too narrow for her to proceed. She would have to interpret more of the symbols and align them to her feelings.

Four glyphs remained. As she studied the different symbols, a crackling, buzzing sound, like something short-circuiting filled her ears. Panic rose and the cube spun faster.

“J-Judy?”

“It’s okay. Focus on the glyphs. Open the path. Don’t run from it. Trust your abilities. What do you see?”

“Oh, it’s-it’s beautiful,” Lucy whispered. The cube had stopped and on its face was the image of some fantastic, alien wildflower. It conjured forth a strong memory within her. A memory of being different. Different from her peers, classmates. Learning to let that individuality flourish, not to run from it, but embrace her gifts….

Another space opened, and more light shone through.

Was she beginning to believe?

Just as she seemed to be gaining confidence, the long hallway grew dark. The light, extinguished. Lucy was alone, and the cube dimmed as it flickered in and out of view….

Quickly, too quickly, she reached out and touched it again. When she saw the glyph, a shiver passed through her. It was an eye, cloudy, its pupil, milky white. She felt a twinge, then a shock. Lucy wanted to scream, but in the midst of her fear, she remembered Judy’s words:

“Don’t run from it. Trust your abilities. Body and mind operating as one….”

She sat down in a lotus position, closed her eyes and pressed the tips of her fingers together. Her breathing regulated, everything slowed down. After all, wasn’t it simply a matter of aligning the senses?

She skimmed the glyph again. This time, the eye slowly filled with color. Deepest blue of childhood’s summer skies. Gently, the fear receded. Light returned….

Judy spoke evenly. “You could’ve called me for help, but you didn’t. You’re learning to trust yourself. We’re almost there, Luce.”

The final two symbols on the cube were strange, yet familiar too. Each looked to be half of the symbol for infinity. The number eight split, lying on its side….

Lucy studied them carefully, looking within herself to glimpse their significance. With her left and right hand, she reached in and plucked the glyphs from the swirling cube. As she held them, a vision appeared and the vastness of cyberspace, particularly The Blackwall opened up to her. It seemed to stretch out forever….

But....

What if that notion was just an elaborate illusion? Something meant to keep the human species out? To intimidate and frighten them? What if she knew the proper avenues, the hidden pathways to travel? Not to battle or conquer, but to ascend and move beyond the terrifying rogue AI's....

Could it be the solution was hiding somewhere inside herself?

What if the key to V’s survival wasn’t a single grain of sand on an endless beach, but something much more tangible, real? What if the mercenary’s cure was hiding right under their noses?

Without thinking, she gasped, struck by this fantastic epiphany. Lucy combined the two fragments, reforming the symbol. She held infinity in her hands. The walls came down and the cube splintered into innumerable shards of light, illuminating her surroundings and filling her with renewed hope that she and Judy could save Valerie’s life, and maybe the answers weren’t as elusive as they thought….

Suddenly, the techie broke in. “W-Wow. I-I felt that,” she said, her voice full of excitement and energy. “I-I designed that to help stimulate emotional responses while being jacked-in. It worked so much better than I’d hoped. How do you feel?”

Lucy couldn’t speak. She was overcome with emotion. For the first time in weeks, she was herself again. Judy’s exercise brought forth powerful moments from her life. The feeling of her body and mind moving as one affected her in ways she couldn’t quite articulate yet….

“I f-feel nova. Incredible. I need to jack out. Just for a minute. Kinda overwhelmed. T-Thank you, Judy. S-See you on the other side….” Even submerged in a bathtub full of coolant gel, Lucy felt her heart pounding. A scintillating energy coursing through her body.

Judy Alvarez had been the spark to rekindle the fire….

Chapter Text

I. Somewhere Along the Outskirts of Night City.

V sat in the parking lot of the run-down motel, in tears, trying to collect her thoughts, unable to focus, unable to do much of anything for that matter….

Shaking, her hands wouldn’t work, she kept sniffling, obsessing over her life.

How much longer? How much time? How soon until she was dead? What then? What the fuck would happen then? When would it all come crashing down?

Who held the keys to her survival?

Was it Lucy? Someone she'd known for a month? They fell so hard for each other! And in such a short amount of time too. V loved her, dearly. Thought of her constantly. They made love so passionately, so strongly....

She shook her head back and forth, trying to turn off the memory. “Baby,” she whispered. “I-I’ll never forget the first time.” She coughed and laughed. Why did it feel like her heart was breaking?

And then there was Judy. Dear, sweet Judy. Brilliant, sexy. The best lover she ever had. Her touch alone had the power to send V reeling…. “L-Leelou bean. H-How is it you always made me feel so good?”

She loved them both and couldn’t see a way forward without each woman by her side.

V reached over and fumbled with the glove box.

“COME ON! GODDAMMIT! OPEN!” She punched it as hard as she could, and the lid fell down. She rummaged around until she found a bunch of tissues. She blew her nose and looked at the synth-coke that’d spilled all over the seat….

Suddenly, Johnny appeared. “You don’t need anymore,” he said in an uncharacteristically soft voice. “You’re high enough alrea—”

“DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” She yelled, quickly gathering up the white powder, and looking at him spitefully. She put it between her thumb and forefinger and inhaled it sharply. She threw her head back wildly, and looked in the rearview mirror. The sunglasses hid her tear-stained eyes. She watched as a tiny bit of blood trickled from her nose….

“Told you. Fucking gonk,” Johnny said. He eyed her with a worried look. “I know you’re mad at me, but please, for Christ’s sake, slow down. You’re gonna crash and burn. Get a room. I'm sure they have vacancies." The parking lot was empty except for V's Herrera and the rusted metal frame of an ancient pickup truck. "Are you trying to kill yourself?”

“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU CARE?” She wiped the blood from her face, beyond embarrassed now. Confused, she tried to put on more lipstick.

“Valerie,” he whispered, reaching over and holding her other hand. “Stop. Please. Just stop.”

She turned and stared at him with a hurt, frightened expression.

“Why should I trust you?” She seethed. “I needed you Johnny, remember? Remember when you tricked me? Made m-m-me believe we were m-making l-love, only to r-realize I was alone? Do you know how much that hurt?”

“I know. I know but please, listen to me. You’re really fucked up. Go inside, pay for a room. I won’t leave you this time.”

Valerie sighed sadly. More blood dripped from her left nostril. She frantically wiped it away. “I-I can’t be alone. N-Not now. Not now.”

“Let’s go. Once we’re inside, I’ll clean you up. No more coke, okay?”

“Fine. C’mon….”

II.

….Fifteen minutes later, V unlocked the door to the crummy room, and the two of them went inside.

It was humid and stuffy. There was no air conditioner, so the first thing she did was open the windows as high as they could go. It was just as hot outside, and a dry, warm wind blew softly through the space, pushing the threadbare curtains upwards….

The room was situated on the corner of the second floor. To the east, the tops of the skyscrapers were still barely visible. There were a pair of twin beds, a small, dank bathroom, two chairs, a single large dresser, a sink, and that's it. Luckily, there was a convenience store next to the motel.

V was still wired. It was gonna take a while for her to come down. She lit a cigarette and collapsed on the mattress, flat on her back, staring up at a broken ceiling fan....

Johnny had taken one of the chairs, and he sat watching her. As much as he hated to admit it, he was concerned about V’s mental and physical state. He’d never seen her this crazy before. He could tell the situation with Lucy and Judy was really taking its toll on her. No sooner had she laid down when she shot back up and started pacing around the room….

“I can’t believe this. I-I can’t believe they’re together.”

For once, Johnny Silverhand tried to be the voice of reason. “They’re trying to figure out a way to save your life. Or did you forget that small, minor detail?”

“Oh, come on!” She said, looking at him like he was crazy. “Yeah, right.”

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? I-I mean, w-well I-I…. Oh fuck, I don’t know! I wish I was there! Why didn’t Lucy want me to go? Huh?”

He didn’t answer. He just continued staring at her. As frenetic and chaotic as she was acting, he thought she still looked really fucking good. Tall, athletic build, wearing those tight, high-cut jean shorts and a cute pink tank top. Even her sneakers were preem, the laces matching her top. Her hair was messy, but that made her even sexier. He studied her, and she turned quickly and caught him checking her out….

She felt flushed. It was already hot enough without the added sexual tension between the two of them…. Plus, she was still really high.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that? Is it my nose?” She turned away in shame. “Am I bleeding again?” She whispered softly.

“No. Just thinking back to that night.”

At the mere mention of that charged encounter in which he tricked her into thinking they’d had amazing sex, V turned red.

“Don’t bring that up, okay? I’m still so fucking mad at you for playing around with my feelings.”

“You believed we had sex. What’s wrong with that?”

She drew a deep breath. “Nothing. It was incredible and that’s the problem. I wanted more. I felt like you made me shut my eyes because you didn’t want me to have all of you. You pulled back, Johnny, just when I-I opened myself up to you. It was selfish. I’m 23 years old. I can’t handle this! You, me. Judy, Lucy. The sex, running out of time, my lifestyle. She broke down again, and kept shaking her head. “I told you,” she continued, breathless. “I’m fucking scared, and I needed to see you that night, to know it wasn't just me. T-To believe what we shared was real and not….” She stopped.

“Not what? Say it. It’s not like I don’t know what you’re thinking.”

“UGH! FUCK! NEVER MIND! NO!”

“Why?”

“IT’S EMBARRASSING! THAT’S WHY!” They locked eyes, and in a low, shame-filled voice, V said, “I wanted to believe what we shared was real, a-and not just me, touching myself, thinking of how badly I wanted you.” She bit down on her bottom lip. “H-How bad I want you still.” Quickly, she turned away from him. “There. Happy now? You know everything. Every one of my deepest secrets.” She was prepared for him to act like a smart ass and say something cocky....

Instead, he shocked them both by going to her. She cried out softly when he pulled her close, into his arms. It felt so good, so right. He held her tenderly, perfectly….

V couldn’t help it. The closeness of the act let loose a torrent of emotion, and she wept.

“I don’t wanna die, Johnny. I feel so phony. Acting all tough, some big shot mercenary. I’m scared. I don’t wanna die. There’s still so many things I wanna see and do.” She put her head against his shoulder. He could feel her body heaving as she let it out. All the built-up, repressed emotions from the past few months. They all came rushing out, the dam had burst….

He was like a different person. Soothing, comforting, funny.

Loving….

“Oh, Valerie. What I am supposed to do with you, huh? I’d say you were sending me to an early grave, but, well, I think I’m already dead, so that joke’s not gonna land well, is it?"

She coughed and laughed at the same time. She slapped his chest, but it was an act of affection, not anger.

“I know it’s probably not the cleanest place, but I have an idea.”

She held her breath and looked up at him. “What is it?”

“Let’s take a bath, sit in the tub together. I’ll clean you up, then we’ll take a nap, alright?”

She squeezed her eyes shut and moaned softly. “God yes,” she said. “H-How much time do you and I have left, Silverhand?"

III. (Interlude. Our Summer….)

We’re sitting in the bathtub. The door’s open. Every few minutes, a soft, warm breeze brushes past us. I’m on the inside. I can feel your arms around me. I feel safe, protected. It’s your understated strength, power. The smell of your skin mixing with the lukewarm bath water, combining with mine. The temperature’s perfect. My eyes are closed. We’re both sweating a little. I love the way you feel against me. How your body presses into mine. I can tell you’re aroused. God, so am I. It’s like I’m burning up from the inside out. You start tracing patterns along the surface of my arms. I’m trembling. Don’t let me go, Johnny. I need this so badly. To know I’m not alone. Hold me….

I want you. Want you to touch me everywhere….

I moan, pleasantly surprised as you kiss the side of my neck. Not once, but twice. It took you long enough! Your lips stick to my dampness. Goosebumps appear all over my body. Tiny little vibrations of static electricity. I turn my head to the side, your hand comes up and holds my face. You kiss me firmly on the mouth, over and over again. The whiskers from your beard tickle me and I can’t help but giggle out loud. These little sensations are driving me crazy.

You tell me to turn around. The water splashes over the tub and hits the tiled floor. I’m lying on top of you now, we’re looking into each other’s eyes….

Are you really here? Am I? I must be. I feel so alive. We start to kiss. You hold me close, running your hands up and down my back.

I don’t want to stop. I want to keep kissing you. You start tucking strands of soaking wet hair behind my ears.

You ask me if I’m okay.

Yes, Johnny. I’m okay, baby.

You hold me up by my butt until I’m straddling you.

Can I make love to you, Valerie?

I blush intensely. My face, scarlet red. I say, mhmm….

It’s pure, organic, natural. You lift me up higher. I reach behind, guide you into me….

Gently, I lower myself down, until you’re all the way inside. I moan loudly. The sun sets over Night City, and the crickets chirp so loudly we can hear them through the open windows. It’s humid in the bathroom. My body moves up and down, riding, while you stay completely still….

Slowly grinding, spinning on top of you….

I put my hands on your chest to balance myself. I’m giving you my love. I can feel your hands on my hips, urging me on. God, I’m like putty in your hands….

I start to speed up, but one look from you tells me to slow back down….

We move as one, you and I. You close your eyes….

Feels nova, doesn’t it?

Making love to you hits so differently. It’s like you’re here, but only for me, in my eyes….

Let’s come together, I gasp, leaning over and kissing you hard on the mouth. We speed up. A minute later, I can feel your entire body tense….

We orgasm, and I’m so overwhelmed, I start to cry. I turn back around, ashamed, but you still hold me just right….

You ask if I’m okay….

Oh Johnny. Of course I’m not okay. I’m dying. But at this moment, I’m with you and I don’t want to think about anything else except for the way you smell, or the way your muscles curve, the color of your eyes, holding me close as I feel a thousand different feelings,

All at once….

Chapter Text

I. Watson. Summer, 2077

….The first thing Lucy Kushinada did when she returned to the real world was open her eyes and lunge for the woman who was sitting right next to her.

She was still completely submerged in the iridescent blue coolant gel, her forehead damp and sweaty, her nude body felt like it was on fire. She was at an extremely vulnerable juncture. It was like those few moments after intimacy. She threw her arms around Judy’s neck, and the two women embraced tenderly….

“Thank you. I-I mean it. Thank you for everything in there, inside. T-The cube. I-It was beautiful, exactly what I n-needed.” Then Judy let out a soft whimper as she felt Lucy’s kiss on the side of her neck. It was so gentle, so warm. Then she did it again and closed her eyes, nuzzling against her shoulder. “I feel so much better, Jude. M-My confidence, it’s like, I can feel it coming back, gradually, but it’s there, a-and it’s all thanks to you….”

“No, Lucy,” Judy answered back. “No, that was all you. It’s always been there, inside. I only helped coax it out.”

But Lucy shook her head quickly. “Uh-uh, no y-you did something to me when we in the ‘Net. M-Maybe you told me e-exactly what I needed to hear, or what I had to hear at that moment in time. Whatever it was, we were….” She stopped. Her head was still buried in Judy’s shoulder. “We were operating on the same wavelength, and it was only the first dive….”

Then they pulled apart and stared at one another.

It could’ve been a few seconds, or maybe a minute, but in that span of time, they felt so much closer….

Lucy reached a wet hand out from under the water and held the side of Judy’s face. With her thumb, she brushed the woman’s cheek, lovingly. She’d given her a glimpse into this most private, sensitive part of her life….

A peek into something few people ever saw and for her part, Judy recognized this. She understood the magnitude of the moment.

“I think we can go deeper, go further. A few more runs and then….” Lucy said, as she wiped her forehead.

“And then what?” Judy asked, but she knew the answer. “Y-You mean…. The Blackwall?”

“Mhmm….”

“Lucy…. I mean, that was great, the dive, and yeah we, ummm, you nailed it, but I just think it might be a little too soon to be thinking about the Old ‘Net.”

The other woman moved her hands through the liquids in the bath. “V…. She’s coming to the final few weeks. We may not have the luxury of waiting.”

“I just don’t want to make the same mistakes as before. You told me you rushed the last one, a-and that’s what led to it all backfiring, right?”

Lucy didn’t answer. She knew Judy was absolutely correct but it was still hard to acknowledge. She clicked her tongue and sighed. “I know. I know it’s just…. It’s hard. Knowing when to push or pull back.”

Judy leaned over and smoothed the girl’s silvery hair. “You just came out. Let’s talk about it a little later, okay? Want me to grab you a towel, or do you want stay in the tub for a bit longer? How do you feel?” Underneath the water, Lucy’s cyberware glowed dimly, and the light refracted of the coolant gel….

“I’m good. And yeah, we can talk about it later. There’s a robe hanging on the door behind you. Can you grab it for me?”

“Of course.” Judy stood up and took the plush robe off its hook. When she turned around, Lucy was standing up in the tub. Her beautiful, naked figure glistening and shining, as the water ran off it. Her face had subtly reddened. She stared at the other woman....

Judy tried as hard as she could to avert her eyes, but it proved impossible. She licked her lips and watched the netrunner. An ache settled between her legs. It was so intense, she almost had to sit back down. Part of her wanted Lucy in the worst way. To touch her. To taste her. Smell her.

Love her….

Neither of them spoke. Ludy put out her arms, signaling Judy to put the robe on for her. But she couldn’t move. She didn’t want to cover her up….

“Y-You’re very beautiful,” she whispered softly. The words just came out.

Lucy smiled, and kept her arms outstretched. “T-Thanks. ‘M cold….” She stepped out of the tub….

Judy looked at her breasts. Her nipples stuck straight out. Her mind felt frazzled. “S-Sorry. Here you go.”

She held it up while Lucy put her left arm in, followed by her right, then she tied the belt at the waist.

“Come closer, Judy.”

They embraced again. Just as they went to pull apart, Lucy leaned in and kissed the other woman tenderly on the mouth. It wasn’t a long exchange, but it was overflowing with curiosity, and a hidden desire to go further….

The feeling was amazing, but it couldn’t last. They needed to concentrate, to focus on saving Valerie. They were both smart enough to know that going any further would only complicate an already confusing situation….

Afterwards, things slowly reverted back to normal. Judy went about cleaning up the area, while Lucy left to get changed in her bedroom.

It was at that moment, Judy took her holo from her pocket and saw that V had messaged back!

II.

“….Hey Jude. Just seeing your message from before. Needed to get away for a little while. I’m okay. Stopped and got a room at a motel on the way out of NC. Took the I-9. Was gonna go to SoCal. Still might. Ping or text me. Love you too leelou bean.”

Judy held the phone against her chest. She felt relief wash over her. V was okay. Maybe Lucy was right. Maybe she just needed to get away for a little while. Was she with Silverhand? Date with a ghost? Of course she was….

She wondered whether to call or send a text. What if calling Valerie created tension between her and Lucy? They’d only just deepened their bond and their relationship was still in a precarious position. If jealousies arose now, it could jeopardize all of the progress they’d made so far.

But why should she deprive herself of the woman she loved? Was that fair to anyone? To hide her feelings for fear of upsetting someone else?

In the end, Judy decided to text Valerie, rather than ping her. If Lucy confronted her, well then maybe that was a convo that needed to happen….

Slowly, she typed her response. She didn’t want to add stress to V’s life. There was no way she could mention the kiss. Sure, it was brief, a one time exchange but again, bringing it up could start a chain reaction of negativity and mistrust….

“Calabacita. So good to hear from you. I have great news. Just finished the first dive. Lucy killed it. She was great. We stayed shallow, nothing too crazy (not yet!) I was with her every step of the way. I hope it wasn’t blind luck. Somehow I don’t think it was. How are you, baby? Doing okay? Miss you….”

She heard Lucy walking down the hall. Quickly, she tucked the holo back in her pocket just as she opened the door and came in.

It was much too soon to say anything and Judy decided to keep quiet about reaching out to the merc….

Lucy was dressed casually. Sweatpants, tee-shirt, socks, sandals. Her hair was dry and when she saw Judy, she smiled widely.

“How are you?”

“Preem.”

Hey, was just thinking. Any news from V?”

Fuck, Judy thought. It’s like she read my fuckin’ mind. Shit….

“Uhhh, no. H-Haven’t heard anything. You?”

“Mmm-mmm, nope. Nothing.” Lucy unplugged the drain in the tub. “You hungry?”

“I could eat, yeah.”

“Me too. Wanna get a pizza?”

“Heh, you read my mind.”

Lucy went to where Judy stood gathering up the rest of her things. “I know I already said it, but thank you. For today. The simulation. All of it. Than—” She stopped. A pinging sound rang out in the tiny bathroom. “My phone’s in the kitchen. That must be you….”

Judy shifted uncomfortably. Lucy was staring at her, waiting for her to see who it was. Reluctantly, she took the holo out of her front pocket….

“Hmmm, what do you know? It’s V….” She tried to act casually surprised, but she could tell Lucy wasn’t buying it.

“What did she say?”

Judy took a deep breath. She had to play this just right. If Lucy suspected she was hiding something, then all they’d built today could come crashing down around them….

III. A Motel on the Outskirts of NC

V finished typing her reply to Judy, and put her holo on the floor. She and Johnny were spooning in one of the twin beds. He was on the outside, holding her firmly. She’d finally started coming down. The synth-coke, gradually wearing off. She felt more calm, more like herself, finally….

An hour earlier, they’d made love in the bathtub, and it was incredible. Because he was part of her consciousness, Valerie’s mind was able to convince the rest of her that Johnny Silverhand’s touch was as real and tangible as any other human being’s. To her, he was lying in bed, running his hands up and down her back, kissing her neck. Not as an engram, but as a living, breathing man….

They were under a thin sheet. It was still hot in the room, but outside, night had arrived. The evening air, cooler now, less humid, blew in casually through the windows. In the distance, an engine roared, and a smattering of gunshots rang out….

V reached behind her and squeezed Johnny’s thigh. She turned over so that they faced one another….

“Thanks,” she whispered.

“For what?”

“C’mon. You want me to spell it out? For this. Today.” She leaned in and kissed him hard on the mouth. “For making love to me in the bathroom.” Her raspy voice sounded flirty, coy….

“Quiet you,” he said, pulling her close. “Wanna do it again?”

She smiled as her heart skipped a beat at his offer. “Yeah, Silverhand. Let’s do it again….”

….They made love again. And again. V’s orgasms were so strong, so full of emotion. She couldn’t get enough of him. Being with him on this level was everything she thought it’d be. Crazy, chaotic, exhilarating, wonderful, and sensual.

But, for the first time since she took The Relic from Jackie Welles’ hand and put it in her head, she thought of how much she’d miss him if Lucy’s plan was a success.

Could V ever fully recover if he ceased to exist?

IV. Watson

“....She’s okay,” Judy said and smiled at Lucy, hoping that would satisfy the girl, but knowing in her heart it probably wouldn’t.

Sure enough, Lucy made a face. “That’s it? Nothing else?” She glanced at the holophone resting in Judy’s hands. “Did you tell her about our dive?”

“Oh, ummm, yeah, yeah before, when you uhhh, left to get changed.” Judy decided not to lie and if that meant having to answer more questions, then so be it….

Lucy cocked an eyebrow. “Oh,” was all she said….

Quickly, Judy scrambled to rein in the awkwardness. “I just sent her a short message telling her how great y-you were, thought she’d wanna know right away, you know, as soon as you came out of it….”

Inside, Lucy was fighting a rising feeling of jealousy. But now it was multi-layered. Now, a part of her wondered about Judy Alvarez. Wondered if she wanted to explore their kiss further. Was she planning on getting together with V today or did she want to spend more time here?

“Mmmm, well, you still wanna order that pizza or…?”

“Y-Yeah, sure. Let’s do it. It’s still early. Let’s eat….”

“Preem. I’ll call it in. Are you gonna answer her, Judy?” Lucy crossed her arms, waiting for a response….

“Yeah, yeah. Why wouldn’t I?”

“You should….”

Things were starting to get weird. It was then Judy decided to switch gears. She went to the netrunner, and held her hand.

“Listen. Lucy. We had a really, really good day today. Maybe you should ping V. Let her know. We shouldn’t need one another’s permission to talk to her. Know what I’m sayin’? We’re all adults, and if you want, you should reach out. Okay? Let’s focus on our success. I don’t want things to be weird between us. Not after how good we both felt?”

She felt the girl squeeze her hand. “You’re right. We’re adults. I’ll ping her too. I don’t wanna lose momentum. Thanks, Jude….”

“Nova. Now. Let’s get that pizza. I’m starving.”

They ended up having a really good time together. They didn’t focus on the dive, or cyberspace. No one mentioned The Blackwall or being stalked by Rogue AI. Lucy and Judy let their hair down and had fun. They watched TV, ate pizza, drank some beer, and loosened up.

Judy ended up staying three more hours, and as midnight rolled around, she yawned, stretched and said, “Well, I can barely keep my eyes open. Think I’m gonna delta. Thanks for everything Luce.”

“Listen. Do you wanna crash here, o-on the couch? Don’t go out now. Too dangerous. I have blankets, pillows.”

Judy’s nerves were frayed. She wanted to stay, but it wasn’t a good idea. Lucy was a temptation she wasn’t sure she could resist.

“Oh, I-I don’t know. I d-don’t th—”

Lucy was embarrassed at being rebuffed. “F-Fine, it’s cool. Y-You don’t have to stay. Sorry I asked.”

“Hey, hey. Lucy, come on. Of course I wanna stay,” Judy said softly, anxiously. “It’s just, maybe I’m not at the point where I c-can trust myself yet. Do you understand what I’m saying to you right now?”

“I think I do, because I-I feel the same exact way. Maybe we’re tempting fate, playing with fire.”

They both felt warm. Curiosity filled them up and they thought of making love all night, holding one another under the sheets, Touching each other in all the wonderfully taboo, secret places.

With bashful expressions, they each shook their heads in frustration, knowing Judy leaving for the night was the right thing to do. They would’ve ended up in bed together, and that was the worst thing for Valerie right now. Her safety was most important. They cared about her, loved her and they knew it would hurt her deeply if she found out they’d been intimate….

“Well, listen. I’ll never forget today. I know that sounds over the top, melodramatic, but I mean it. These past few weeks, I was really scared. I-I started to doubt myself, my abilities as a ‘runner. Being inside, with you, it’s like this weight off my shoulders. Please be careful getting home. You’re not walking, are you?”

Judy laughed out loud. “Haha, you gonk. I drove here. Took the van. Even I’m not that nuts.” She playfully punched Lucy’s arm.

They hugged. And as they were about to separate, they kissed once more.

This time, it was more passionate. They moaned, and stood there for several seconds. The sound of their mouths made it really, really hard for them to pull apart….

Judy and Lucy both felt a throbbing ache between their legs. Suddenly, they could tell they were both really wet. They blushed, hard. A second longer and the night could’ve gone very differently….

But it was Judy who pulled back first. Neither of them could look the other in the eye….

“I-I’m sorry. I-I should go. G’night, Luce. Bye….”

Lucy felt terrible. In a cracked, broken voice, she whispered, “Night. Bye. S-Sorry….”

But Judy Alvarez had already turned around and walked out….

“Fuck,” Lucy said, and laid her forehead against the back of the door. “Fuck….”

V. Back at the Motel

I can’t stop smiling. I have no idea what time it is. I’m still in your arms, and I can’t stop grinning. Feel you holding me close. So safe, I close my eyes. Can’t stop smiling. This girl’s happy, Johnny.

Don’t care if I die tomorrow as long as your body’s against mine….

Open my eyes. I start laughing, I can tell you’re pissed but that just makes me laugh harder.

How is it I feel so incredible next to you, vibing, your every movement, glance in perfect rhythm with my heart.

I can’t stop laughing, Silverhand.
You’re getting more and more annoyed, keep asking me what’s wrong.

Hehe. Hahaha! Wow…. Is this really my life?

What’s the matter with you?

Nothing, Johnny. Matter of fact? This is the best I’ve felt in months.

My clothes are all over the floor.
I can hear the whole of life outside this dingy motel.

I wanna sing! Shout out loud! But I can’t because I’m laughing too hard!

You squeeze me tighter.
I’ve been bitten by the laughing bug.
Everywhere inside and out, millions of tiny pins and needles.

Sensations of color, light. Bright, blinding, bold….

Sense the sublime pressure of your body. I’m so sweaty. The ac’s broke but I feel nova.

Johnny?
Am I dead?
Is this some kind of strange paradise?

I tilt my head back, smell you, your masculinity, it’s dripping off you. I take your hand, bring it up to my mouth and suck lightly on your fingers….

Giggling, grinning. So many beautiful vibrations, pulsations. I feel you everywhere and it’s overwhelming in the best kind of way.

You’re such a goof, Valerie, you groan.

HAHAHAHA!

I turn to face you, throw my arms around your neck.

Kiss me, Silverhand. Touch me, don’t ever stop….

All the pain and fear, it all fades away.
And all that’s left is me and you.

Can it last forever? Don’t know.

But I’ll never forget this day. Doesn’t matter if I live another month, or a thousand years.

Feeling you inside me….
AND I DON’T EVEN KNOW IF YOU’RE REAL!!

We’re still kissing.
In my mind, colors explode like fireworks. I’m seeing stars.
So magnificent, like the hidden beauty of an oil slicked street in NC.

I open up my legs, my heat escapes, weaves its way throughout the room.
You move your hand lower, touch me, deftly.
Moments later, I come. It’s like I can’t stop.

Love you, ghost, hehe. Love my big, strong ghost.

You look at me like I’ve really lost it.

Shake your head and say, What? Gonk. Stop it, V. C’mon, be serious for Christ’s sake. You’re acting like a little kid.

Oh shut up old man, I poke you in the side.

Feels like I’ve found the oasis. The touch of your hand, between my legs. alight with a raging fire.

No, I mean it. I love you.

I realize I’m losing my shit, but that just makes me crack up more!

Make me come again, Silverhand….

You give me a dirty look.

Oooh, is the big, bad terrorist mad at me, I joke, tickling you, while my eyes roll.

Know what I just thought of?

What?

You set off a goddamn nuclear bomb in the middle of Night City. And now, fifty years later…. You’re embedded in my head!!!!

Eventually, I fall asleep, as you run your fingers through my hair….

Sleep. And dreams aren’t necessary, not anymore. I don’t how long I’m out,

But then….

I wake up alone. Why am I not surprised? I bury my face in the pillow and cry….

I’m almost out of time. The roller coaster’s coming to an end.

Life, love, moments, and friendships. Soon, they’ll lose their meaning.

Johnny? I whisper, barely able to string two words together.

Thank you.

I keep my head pressed against the pillow, and let it all come out….

Chapter Text

I. (A Few Days Later. V’s Megabuilding Apartment)

Valerie rolled over and groaned. She checked the time, 11:00 am. She’d been slacking with her gigs. Fixers were getting pissed, clients were demanding refunds.

She yawned loudly and checked her holophone. There were a dozen missed phone calls and text messages. But it was the last one that made her stop, take a deep breath.

Judy….

“Calabacita. You okay? Haven’t heard from you in a couple days. Miss you, baby. Ever since the dive, I’ve been feeling really good about things. About your chances. About us. I’m supposed to go back to Lucy’s tomorrow. We’re gonna go deeper. Hey, can you text me, or even better, ping me? I wanna see you. Are you mad?”

“No, no,” V whispered aloud. The emptiness of the immediate spaces hit her hard. “I miss you too, leelou bean. Miss you so much.”

She wiped her eyes, took a whiff of her underarms, made a face, leaned over and found her crumpled jeans on the floor. Dug around in the front pockets for her smokes, lit one and laid back down, staring at the ceiling. She was tired, cranky. Lonely. The sheets clung to her skin, and she could smell her sweat coming from underneath the heavy blankets.

For some reason, Judy’s text made her think of Lucy. The two of them spoke yesterday but it was awkward, tentative. Neither knew how to articulate their feelings. They’d lost some of the intimacy ever since V lied about making love to Judy after leaving the meeting at Viktor’s clinic.

“We had a really, really good session,” Lucy said, guarded. She’d stared at V’s image on the phone, struggling with some kind of new guilt over kissing Judy and wanting her to spend the night.

“Nova,” V answered, bittersweetly. “How was it with Jude?” She was almost afraid to hear the answer.

“Really good, V. She’s so smart. The way she helped me, helped bring my confidence back. It was like we were operating on the same wavelength.”

V swallowed hard. Her mind flashed with pictures of the two women locked in a fierce embrace, touching, smelling one another. Tasting the secret places that she’d thought were hers alone.

“That’s so preem, Luce. So h-happy the two of you clicked. I-I mean it. So uhhh, I know it’s only the first simulation but, w-what do you think? Can you and Judy s-save me?”

Valerie smiled beautifully, but it was full of fear. She was coming up on the five month mark which meant she had one more month to live before Johnny’s engram completely took over her mind, destroying her forever.

Lucy didn’t answer right away. Something was on her mind. And she wasn’t quite sure how to approach it.

“I do,” she said, voice cracking. “B-But V. Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, baby.”

Lucy shut her eyes, and had to fight back tears. Hearing the other woman call her that made her sad in ways she couldn’t possibly explain.

“Do you love me?”

V’s eyes opened wide. “Oh, Luce. You know I do.”

“Hmmm,” she answered and grinned. “And is it the same for Judy?”

This time, the mercenary shook her head. “I k-know you’re hurt. I lied. I-I did. But Lucy. Even in the brief time we’ve spent together, I realized how important you are to me.” She paused and her face reddened. “W-When we make love, I can feel you so deep inside me, and I don’t wanna give you up. Ever. I-I do love you….”

The netrunner gasped, and felt hot tears running down her face. “I-I gotta go. I’ll be in touch, okay?”

“Please, baby. Don’t hang up. There’s so little time left. Come over. Let me hold you, kiss you.”

This offer made her even more upset. “So busy,” she said, frantically. “Got so much work to do. G-Gotta go.” She was crying now, and whispered, “Love you, Valerie,” before she hung up….

II.

Since their incredible night at a roadside motel, Johnny Silverhand had disappeared and for the life of her, V couldn’t figure out why.

She called out to him during the day. Talking to him as if he were sitting right next to her or riding shotgun as she drove through the streets and avenues of NC. She felt super self-conscious, like she hadn’t been a good lover, or maybe the attraction wasn’t mutual.

“Where did you go, Silverhand?” She called out. “Was it me? Did I do something wrong? Wasn’t I good enough?”

Nothing. Silence.

“Y-You really know how to love ‘em and leave ‘em, huh?” She choked back tears, wanting so badly to be wrapped up in his arms. To kiss him everywhere. He’d made love to her so languidly, taking her places she’d been before with a man.

But was it all in her imagination? She couldn’t tell for sure.

She decided then and there to make a holocall. Her fingers nervously, tapping the numbers she knew by heart….

“Calabacita? Hey, oh V, h-hi. God, I missed you.”

“Heyyyy, Jude. Whatcha doing?”

“Waiting for you. Can I see you?”

“Definitely. Come over. I’m at my Megabuilding apartment.”

“Leaving now. See you in a few. Can’t fuckin’ wait.”

“I just have to shower firs—”

But Judy had already hung up. Valerie smiled to herself. The cat was asleep next to her, purring loudly. She got up gingerly, not wanting to disturb her.

She went into the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror.

Long and hard, V looked. She pulled at her sleepy eyelids and ruffled her hair. She turned around and looked at her behind, legs, thighs. She had a preem tan, and never in better shape….

She turned the shower on and waited until it got really, really hot. Just as she was about to step in, she heard a loud banging.

“What the fuck? Who is that?”

She ran over to her computer, and picked up the gun resting next to the keyboard. She was completely nude, but couldn’t care less.

“Who is it?” She yelled from inside the apartment. “Who’s there?”

“OPEN UP! GONK!”

Judy…. Oh, leelou bean.

V tossed the gun into the hamper, pressed the button, and the techie rushed in, tackling her, sending them both tumbling to the floor. Immediately, they began kissing like long lost lovers….

“Mmph,” Judy murmured. “N-Naked already? Nova….”

V laughed. “What are you doing here so fast? We just hung up, gonk.”

“Uh, uh I was in the neighborhood, running errands. So fuckin’ happy to see you.”

“Mhmm, same.”

Judy started kissing V’s body, moving lower after each one….

V gently pulled her up when she got to her stomach. “C’mon,” she said, staring at her like she couldn’t wait another second. “Let’s take a shower. I need someone to clean the hard to reach places.” She winked, and nodded in the direction of the bathroom….

“Mmmm, what are you all dirty?” Judy teased. “Rip my clothes off, carry me.”

Valerie literally did just that. She tore Judy’s shirt, ripped her shorts, and slipped off her sandals. Then she cradled her and carried her to the bathroom.

….They stood under the steaming water and had harsh, powerful sex, exploring each other’s bodies with deep curiosity and wonder.

III.

….Though she tried as hard as she could to stay in the moment, V was consumed by the notion that Jude and Lucy had made love to each other. She watched, waited for the slightest change in behavior, a subtle nuance, a new whimper or moan; anything that might give the other woman away.

She smelled Judy everywhere. No place, off-limits or taboo. Were her pheromones giving off strange, foreign scents? Did she react differently to her touch?

As the minutes passed, and they grew closer, V realized everything was perfect. She felt burning shame from her paranoid feelings. Why couldn’t she just enjoy these moments between them?

She stood with her back against the wall, opened her legs, and held Judy close. Rhythmically, the techie rode her, sliding up and down, feeling the pure rush of her pussy colliding with V’s thick bush….

Judy moved faster and faster. V watched her, and suddenly, the panic returned, blooming from deep within.

Was she moving like this against Lucy? Moaning like this? Did they fuck all day in the shower? Was her come all over her leg?

Stop it, stop it, she admonished herself. Stop acting like a jilted lover. What’s wrong with you? Come on. Enjoy it. Let her see how into this you are. She’s getting ready to come, can’t you feel her?

“I-I’m close, c-calabacita. W-What’s wrong?”

V was spacing, looking up at the ceiling. To Judy though, it seemed she was bored, uninterested. Waiting impatiently for her to finish….

“No, nothing, nothing’s wrong baby,” she whispered, trying to smile. “Come on, Jude. Come for me….”

She nodded, started sucking on V’s neck, moving faster, sliding, grinding. She could feel her tits pressing into the other woman’s. It felt incredible. Faster and faster she went until she orgasmed harshly, biting Valerie’s shoulder and scratching her back, whimpering delightfully.

“Oh fuck, I-I missed you baby,” Judy cooed, caught in the grasp of something pure, adrenalin coursing through her body, hormones spiking.

The orgasm lasted an incredibly long time.

But V couldn’t enjoy it. She couldn’t unsee the images in her head. Was Lucy a better lover? Did Judy come harder? How many times?

She slowed down, panting heavily. Sensitive. It was humid in the apartment. Judy came to a stop, closed her eyes, and laid her head against Valerie’s chest….

What’s wrong with me? She scolded herself, unable to enjoy the moment. She’s gonna know something’s up. Act cool! Act nor—

“What’s up, V?” Judy said in a low voice, her head still turned to the side, nuzzling, cuddling. “I can tell something’s on your mind. Talk to me, baby. Please? That felt so amazing. Did I do something wrong?”

The sincerity of Judy’s question threw her for a loop. She wasn’t prepared for its bluntness. V held the techie out by her shoulders. She couldn’t believe herself, how upset she’d become….

“Jude? I-I can’t help it. I keep thinking about-about you, a-and Lucy. I’m sorry. It’s like fucking consuming me.”

With the back of her hand, Judy caressed her cheek, looked away, and said, “Now you know how we feel, calabacita.”

“I know, I know and I swear I don’t want to hurt anyone. I don’t know what to do. Coming up on five months, a-and I’m losing it, Judy. I swear I’m losing it.”

The other woman didn’t speak. She softly drew V into her arms and held her as lovingly as she could. “A-Ask me anything,” she whispered….

“Did y-you two—?”

“No….” Judy answered quickly. She thought of mentioning her and Lucy’s last kiss, but decided not to kill the intimacy of the moment.

Valerie let out a long, sustained sigh of relief. “I’m sorry,” she said, kissing the techie all over her face. Soft, sticky, her lips didn’t want to pull away….

Judy nodded, and said, “It’s okay. Now shhh, let me taste you.” She knelt, using her mouth like a tiny suction cup, pausing at V’s breasts, pulling and tugging at her nipples. She slid her hand between her legs, found her clit, and rubbed it in circles.

She went down to her knees, and tenderly opened V with her tongue. She focused on her swollen nub, lazily pushing it back and forth. Soon, Judy felt a hand on the back of her head, holding her steady….

Valerie started grinding against her mouth, moaning in a raspy, tired voice.

“Ohhh, Judy. F-Feels so good. Keep going, uh-huh, mhmm….” Minutes later, she sped up, and climaxed. A dozen emotions dancing around her head….

Afterwards, they laid in bed. V was on her side, curled up to Judy as close as she could get. The apartment smelled strongly of soap, sex, sweat and skin….

They ended up falling asleep for hours. Entwined as one, as the heat intensified and the end of August approached. At one point, V opened her eyes, and happened to look towards the wraparound couch….

There sat Johnny Silverhand, watching her, cigarette in hand. How long had he been there? Why now? Seeing him instantly conjured up all her insecurities, fears, and hidden urges. V’s eyes narrowed. Why wasn’t she good enough for him?

Was he capable of feeling jealousy? She wondered, kissing Judy and eyeing him at the same time, watching for any kind of change in his stoic demeanor….

He sat there, expressionless, smoking, watching, as V proceeded to wake the techie up, and make impassioned love to her.

She kept her eyes glued to him the whole time, silently mouthing things like, “You like to watch? or Wanna join in? C’mon, Silverhand….”

Something about him being there both turned her on and repulsed her in equal measure. She went at Judy feverishly, as if fucking her hard enough would piss him off just enough to send him tumbling over the edge....

When it was all over, Judy collapsed in a heap, lying on top of her, as they continued to sweat out the remnants of their overflowing lust.

“Mmmm, what’s gotten into you? That was fucking perfect.”

Valerie didn’t answer. She was still staring at the rockerboy. He stayed and watched the whole thing. It made her resentful. She wanted to hurt him.

“Did that get you hard?” She sneered, trying to be as quiet as possible. “Huh? Fuckin’ prick.”

“Hmmm?” Judy asked, dazed. “Did you say something?”

“Huh? Uhhh, no, no.” V panicked, looking one last time as Johnny gave her the finger, and disappeared into thin air….

IV.

….Lucy threw herself into the work. Calculations, tweaks, cyberdeck reconfigurations, firewall locations, AI patterns, etc. etc. Anything to take her mind off of all the messiness going on inside her head….

One minute, it was V. The next, Judy. Her curiosities wouldn’t let her breath for a second. She sat in the makeshift workspace, checking the integrity of her neural port when a thought popped into her head.

Maybe I should surprise V? Yesterday, she practically begged me to come over. Told me she’s at her Megabuilding apartment. What if I surprised her? Brought a pizza, maybe some beer. We could just hang out, no pressure, and whatever happens, happens.

Lucy smiled. She missed the mercenary. Really missed her. Obviously, with Judy it wasn’t the same. With her, it was more of a desire to deepen their partnership. To get to know the techie on a personal level….

But when it came to V, there was genuine love. Lucy wanted her in the worst way possible. Wanted to lie in bed, naked, moving as one, vibing, like they did in the beginning. She wanted to touch V, run her hands through her short, platinum blonde hair. Laugh, roll around, tell each other secrets, talk about their dreams. She saw a future with Valerie. And though that future may be clouded by Judy Alvarez, it was still there nonetheless.

“I’m gonna save you, baby,” Lucy whispered aloud, subconsciously reverting back to the singular, abandoning the plural. “And you’ll see how much I do care about you, how much I-I can love you….”

She found herself in the bedroom. Deeply, she inhaled, stirred by the sadness of a love turned too quickly into a memory.

Oh David. I still miss you so much. Can anyone ever replace you? And is it fair for me to even ask that of someone else?

To her right, hanging on the closet door, was his edgerunner jacket. Gingerly, she walked over to it, and held the sleeve between her thumb and forefinger, gently rubbing the material back and forth.

She remembered falling….

Tumbling to earth, exploding out of Arasaka Tower, staring into the boy’s eyes. She wanted to tell him then. Wanted to say, “I love you, David,” but for some hidden reason, couldn’t bring herself to do it….

She wouldn’t make the same kinds of mistakes again. Maybe V needed to hear it again and again. Maybe she had to be reminded of all the beauty the two of them shared in such a short span of time!

“I don’t wanna share you, Valerie,” she said, still clinging to the jacket. “I need Judy, but I love you. When I first met you at Afterlife, something happened to me. A switch, trigger? Something told me that you were worth fighting for. Don’t ask me what it was, I couldn’t tell you. But I know I felt it, deep down inside….”

The more she thought about it, the more Lucy realized she needed to feel the mercenary. Jacking in was all well and good but without a tether to this world, something to remind her what she was fighting for, the battle was already lost….

Valerie…. She was the purpose. To save her, and then love her. Live anywhere, maybe even the moon?

….A half-hour later, cleaned up, dressed in sweatshorts, hoodie and red sneakers, Lucy strode out of her apartment, headed a few blocks south, straight into Valerie’s arms….

V.

It was early evening. Night City was simmering. It was hot, humid. To the west, the sun was slowly beginning to set. Storm clouds had appeared along the outskirts of the city. Out in the desert, the roving bands of nomads had already started preparing for the worst. Tying up supplies, strengthening, reinforcing their makeshift dwellings, making sure all the children were safe….

A gigantic storm was looming on the horizon. Maybe it was finally time for the fever to break….

Judy and V were sleeping softly. Entwined, relaxed, vulnerable. As she slept, Valerie felt the softest currents of faith washing over her.

She was gonna be okay. There was no longer any need to worry about the future. With Lucy and Judy working together, as a team, there was nothing that would stop them now. They were gonna figure out a way to successfully remove The Relic.

V could feel Judy breathing against her. Even Johnny's ghost had quieted down. She would talk to Lucy, tell her everything was gonna be alright. And that once this whole, sordid mess was over, the two of them would sit down and really talk.

Talk about the future, about love, hope, and friendship.

….But then something happened, and in a matter of seconds, Valerie’s whole world was thrown straight back into the craziest kind of chaos imaginable….

A knock, soft. Another, more insistent. Two more, followed by three….

Judy opened her eyes and stared at V with a frightened expression.

Somehow, she knew….

“C-Calabacita? Did you hear that?” V couldn’t move. She was paralyzed with fear. She wasn’t stupid. None of them were. “V? There’s someone at the door.” This time, Judy nudged her to get up and answer it.

“I know, baby. I know.” She took a deep, deep breath and got up slowly. Clumsily, she threw on a sweatshirt, sweatpants, and nervously ran a hand through her hair….

“V!! It’s me!! Lucy!! Open up!!”

Judy gasped loudly, and hid under the blankets. “Oh shit. Oh fuck,” she said, breathless….

“Coming. Give me a second.”

They stared at one another. V was shaking, trembling.

“I love you,” Judy whispered, and hid back under the covers….

“Love you, leelou bean,” she said, and then opened the front door….

Chapter Text

I. V's Megabuilding Apartment

“Hey,” Lucy said warmly, and smiled. She wrapped her arms tightly around V. “I really missed you.”

But as she leaned in to kiss her, the other woman looked embarrassingly down at the floor, and shook her head sadly.

“Come on in, Lucy.”

Instantly, she felt sick to her stomach. “V? What is it? What’s wrong? Jesus, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

Valerie didn’t answer, couldn’t look her in the eyes. She fidgeted with her hands, and started biting her nails. “Ugh, fuck,” was all she could manage to say....

Lucy felt like she was going to faint. “TELL ME WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW! I’M SCARED!”

As she strode through the apartment, she noticed an odd scent, subtle yet sharp, inviting. A sweet, musky tang hung in the air. A whiff of dampness, of breath trapped under the sheets. Immediately, she looked towards the bed and felt her heart cracking like a sheet of ice, splintering…. Breaking.

Oh my god…. Oh V. Tell me this isn’t happening right now….

Someone was hiding under the covers. There was a long, elevated bump, an outline. The silhouette of another….

Lucy shot V an evil look. Already, there were tears in her eyes. Her mouth opened wide. She jumped on the bed, and ripped away the blanket.

Judy lay there shivering. One arm across her chest, the other covering the space between her legs.

Lucy stared, wide-eyed with horror. Her makeup was already ruined.

So many things happened then. She screamed. V tried to go to her. Judy started crying, looking for someplace to hide. The cat ran into the bathroom.

“P-Please Lucy. Pl—”

“NO! FUCK YOU, V!”

She tried to turn around, but felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around her. “LUCY! WAIT!”

“I SAID LET ME GO!” She started punching V’s chest with all her might. She was really trying to hurt her. Blow after blow reined down but they barely made a dent. V was filled with so much chrome, it hardly seemed to matter.

Judy stared wide-eyed, as the two screamed and fought. She yelled as loud as she could. “STOP IT! BOTH OF YOU! PLEASE! DON’T DO THIS! PLEASE!”

Lucy was a literal mess. Tears streamed down her face. She spit at V, and tried to bite her face. “I HATE YOU! YOU’RE NOTHING LIKE I THOUGHT! NOTHING! I HATE YOU!” Then she said the most hurtful thing she could think of. The thing that would cause V irreparable harm. “I’M DONE WITH THIS SHIT! FIND SOMEONE ELSE! I’M DONE!”

When Judy heard this, she cried out painfully. “LUCY! YOU DON’T MEAN THAT!”

The netrunner turned towards her, like she was seeing her for the first time. Angrily she sneered, “D-DID YOU TELL HER? HUH? NO? WELL THEN I’LL TELL HER!”

When V heard this cryptic remark, she stumbled backwards, and fell on her butt. She stared at Judy like she’d been shot, assuming the absolute worst. “J-Judy? What?” She asked confused, wrecked.

“WE FUCKED! OKAY? THERE IT IS! WE FUCKED FOR HOURS!”

“NO WE DID NOT!” Judy roared back, watching as V put her head down and cried. “V. I swear to you. W-We didn’t. I-I promise.”

Lucy was panting. Her purple-blue eyes shone with rage, an unearthly fire. “YES WE DID! SHE SCREAMED!" She pointed at the techie. "SHE SCREAMED FOR MORE!”

“LIAR! BITCH! LIAR!” Judy ran at her, still naked, a thin sheet wrapped around her body. She tackled Lucy. They fell hard, sprawling across the floor. They rolled around, pulling each other’s hair, kicking, screaming….

V got up to separate them, horrified by what’d happened in the span of five minutes.

….But as she bent down to pull them apart, something terrible happened. Lucy’s instincts for survival and self-preservation took over. Without thinking, she uploaded a quickhack in her queue and frazzled V’s cyberware….

The mercenary’s eyes lit up with a blinding, unnatural light. Smoke poured from her nose and ears. She stumbled once, tried to regain her balance and fainted, falling down hard on the tiled floor.

Judy and Lucy froze. They both screamed at the same time and ran to her.

“O-Oh my god, V?” Lucy whispered, on the verge of a nervous breakdown. “V? B-Baby? I-I didn’t mean it. V? Oh god. Oh god. V?”

Judy held the merc in her arms, and laid her head down gently in her lap. “C-Call Vik,” she said with a shaky voice. She looked to see Lucy motionless, in shock….

“DO IT! NOW! CALL VIK! SHE COULD BE DYING! DO IT!!!!”

II. (The Next Day)

“....W-Where am I? W-What happened?” V blinked several times, adjusting to the dim light in the room. She could barely make out the silhouette of two figures, huddled in a corner, talking in low voices. “H-Hey,” she called meekly. “Can someone please tell me what’s going on?”

Quickly, Judy came running over with a big smile on her face.

“Calabacita? Baby? You okay?”

“Ugh, got a f-fucking headache. Feels like I got hit by a truck. M-Mouth’s dry. Other than that, I, I'm okay."

Judy reached for a glass and held it up to her face. “Drink. Here’s the straw. Here.”

V found it with her tongue and gulped thirstily. Her throat bobbing up and down with each swallow. She nearly drank the entire glass. “T-Thanks,” she whispered. “Where am I?”

“At your apartment in Watson. Do you remember anything? Vik’s been in and out since yesterday. He left a few minutes ago. Luckily, it could’ve been a hell of a lot worse. You fell and bumped your head pretty hard, but your cyberware’s still intact, nothing's permanently fried. It was a low-grade hack.” Judy turned and gave a dirty look in the direction of the other person. “He gave you some meds, re-calibrated a few things and told us to call, if for any reason you feel worse. Here's some aspirin for the headache."

Slowly, the horror of what’d happened began to dawn on Valerie. Lucy coming in to find Judy in V's bed. Betrayal, followed by a terrible fight. The chaos that ensued. Biting, kicking, punching, scratching. And then, pitch dark, emptiness. Nothing….

“L-Lucy. S-She did something to me, d-didn’t she?”

On cue, the netrunner meekly crept forward from the shadows of the darkening room. She knelt down next to the mercenary and said, “V. I-I’m so sorry.” She closed her eyes and rested her head softly on her chest…. “C-Can you forgive me? I could've killed you. All I wanted was to save you. I’m sorry, baby….”

V’s answer was to lay her hand on Lucy’s head, and smooth out her silvery hair. She twirled the rainbow lock, and in a throaty voice, said, “Nothing to be sorry about, Luce. I’m the one who should be apologizing to you. I took you for granted.”

Judy stood by, watching the whole exchange. She was mixed-up. Of course she was happy to see the two of them reconcile so quickly, but on the other hand, this meant Lucy was right back in Valerie’s thoughts. She smiled cordially, and the three of them held hands.

“Listen,” Lucy said. “Judy and I talked. You have approximately four weeks left, yeah?”

V nodded weakly. “Mhmm.”

“Okay, well then, starting tomorrow, we’re gonna get down to business. Each new day, we’re gonna try and go deeper than the one before. Progress, forward motion. Judy’s as smart, smarter than anyone in this city. If anyone can lead me in and through The Blackwall, it’s her….”

The techie smiled, but inside she was scared. No longer had they the luxury of going slow, taking their time. If the doctors, scientists, ripperdocs were right, she only had about four weeks left to live. Judy realized then, standing in V’s apartment, there’d be no time for romance, no more lying in bed on a Sunday morning, listening to the rain….

This was V’s last chance, her life was in their hands. She cleared her throat and said, “Hey, uhhh, I’m gonna go down and grab a pack of smokes. Anybody need anything?”

Both of the other girls shook their heads no. But in a hoarse voice, V said, “Coming back?”

“Yep. Be back in a few. See you both soon.”

She walked out of V’s apartment and lit a cigarette. She didn’t need another pack but she wanted to let Lucy and V have a little time to themselves. To talk, to try and get back some of the trust, love that was damaged in the past couple weeks….

Lucy watched her leave, and turned back to V. She was resting comfortably, and in that moment, realized her love for the mercenary could never rust or fade away….

III.

“V?”

“Mmmm?”

“I’m so sorry.” Lucy was beside herself with grief.

V shook her head. “Please. Don’t apologize. I-I understand. I fucked up, Luce. I thought, hey, I’m gonna die anyway, so fuck it. I’ll have sex with whoever I want. I was selfish, didn’t think about how it would affect you, or Judy. I was reckless. And I think I know why. It wasn’t because my death’s been hanging over my head….

“Then why?” Lucy asked, confused.

“It’s because I didn’t believe you. That you could save me. I think I tried to? But deep down inside, I already accepted the fact that I was gone. But Lucy….” She grabbed the girl’s hand and squeezed it. “I do believe you. I believe you and Jude can figure out a way to get this thing outta my head. I swear I believe.”

“I understand. And in all honesty, Judy asked me a few weeks ago if I thought I could get you out of this mess….” She paused, trying to find the right words to say next. “I said I didn’t know. I’d just come off that disastrous simulation. My brain was frazzled. I was scared. But now that Judy’s here? I am, I-I mean we are going to help you, V. My mind opened up to the endless possibilities of the ‘Net the last time I was under. I saw cyberspace stretched out before me like a giant chess board, and I was the king.”

Then Lucy leaned in and kissed V lightly on the side of her face. “Whatever happened in the past, let’s start over. Start fresh. Okay?”

“Okay.” V turned to her, and spun her rainbow lock of hair again. “You tryin’ to kill me, or save me?” She smiled, and pulled Lucy in. They kissed again, this time on the lips. And it felt good to taste the moisture from her mouth, smell her lip balm, taste of something exotic, alluring….

Lucy’s tongue opened V’s mouth, it traced the outline of her teeth, and she let out a soft whimper….

“Is it crazy?” She asked.

“What?” Valerie’s cheeks were aglow with an urge to go further.

“I know you’re a little out of it but I want you so bad. Wanna make love to you, V. It’s-It’s my turn.” She put her finger in the mercenary’s mouth and watched hungrily as Valerie sucked on it softly.

“Feel the same exact way.” And then she did the same thing, putting her middle finger in Lucy’s mouth.

They sucked on each other’s fingers, and it turned them on so much. They felt searing heat below their waists. It filled them with a lust they could barely contain.

“This may be our last night together for a long time,” Lucy whispered. “B-But what about Judy?”

V closed her eyes. “Just stay, alright? Let’s see how it all plays out….”

“Okay. I don’t know how much longer I can wait.”

“I know baby,” V said in her sultry, raspy voice. "Me neither...."

IV. Night City

….Judy was walking the streets and avenues, taking the long way back to V’s apartment. Her head, spinning with so many different emotions. Jealousy, appreciation, satisfaction, worry, love, confusion…. Hope?

And when she finally reached the entrance to Megabuilding 10, she was struck by a fierce desire to save V’s life at all costs, by any means necessary. She was in love with the woman, and she knew that if she rode that elevator back upstairs, it would be an awkward situation for everyone. It could push things backwards. It was already an extremely tenuous, fragile situation….

Panic rose in her stomach. Turning around and going home meant she was practically giving her blessing for the two of them to spend the night together. But if being with V meant a boost to Lucy’s confidence, then why would she want to jeopardize that?

She wiped her eyes, and realized she was crying. Of course she didn’t want to picture the two of them making love. It killed her, but she’d do it in a heartbeat if it meant improving Valerie’s chances of survival.

Because Judy Alvarez loved the mercenary unconditionally and without bias. And the most important thing in the world right now was Lucy’s belief in herself, and in their relationship….

“Fuck,” she laughed ironically. “C-Can’t believe I’m actually doing this.”

Out on the steps, amidst the hustle and bustle of Night City, Judy sent a group text to V and Lucy….

“Hey you two. Really, really tired. Think I’m just gonna delta. Head home and get some much needed rest! Oh, and Lucy? Don’t stay up too late! Remember, tomorrow we start working. 9:00 am. ‘Night girls….”

Quickly, she shut her phone and rubbed the tears that fell harder. It killed her to do this, but it would destroy her forever if V didn’t make it out of this alive….

V.

They both read the message at the same time. And they understood immediately what Judy was doing. She was letting them breathe, giving them space to repair their fractured bond.

It wasn’t just sex. It was rediscovering something they’d lost. Something simmering beneath the wreckage of the past 36 hours….

They closed their phones. Lucy stood up, blew a kiss to V, pulled her sweatshorts down, peeled off her underwear and lifted the hoodie over her head. She stood in the quiet darkness, her pale, porcelain skin tingling with nervousness. Neon lights of Night City, spilling in through the open window. The few times they’d made love, she’d felt so safe in V’s arms, so protected. And though the difference in age (V was almost 24, Lucy, barely 20) didn’t seem like much, it was to them. She saw V as an older, more experienced lover, someone who could guide her in all the subtle nuances of intimacy. Valerie was also the first (and only) woman she’d ever made love to, which made their bond that much more intense, vulnerable….

“Come here,” V whispered, sitting up with her back against the wall. “Straddle me. Let’s move together. I wanna feel you moving up and down against my body.”

Lucy was still standing, shy, practically vibrating with energy. “S-Sure you’re okay?” She asked, self-conscious, wanting so badly to please V, to make her feel good….

“Mhmm, now c’mere. Let me hold you.”

Lucy nodded and gingerly crawled into bed. V had taken off her clothes and pulled away the sheet. She let out a tiny moan when she saw the mercenary’s body. Valerie was wonderfully built, sleek, and streamlined. All along the surface of her tanned skin, lines of cyberware glowed and thrummed with energy.

She bent her knees and sat atop the other woman. They held hands the moment they touched, and moaned with delight. Then Lucy cupped her firm breast and led it to V’s mouth, letting her suck on it tenderly….

“Ohhh, V,” she whispered, feeling her open mouth everywhere. “God, did I miss you.” Soon, she could smell the subtle tang of the older girl’s damp breath on her hot skin. It was an aphrodisiac for Lucy, and she bit down hard on her bottom lip, getting wetter by the second. She could feel herself everywhere. Slick, sticky, the scent of come rising from their bodies. She slid up and down smoothly against the other woman….

Embarrassment hit her when she realized how truly aroused she was. Her cheeks burned. “I’m sorry, I can't help it,” she whispered, nodding in the direction of the stains. “J-Just missed feeling you. Sor—”

But V said, “Shhh,” and pulled her close. She kissed her hard on the mouth. Lucy sped up, emboldened by the blunt tenderness of the act. “I want to feel all of you, baby. Grind against me,” she said, breathlessly, opening her legs wider. “Come on, Luce. Move with me.”

Lucy shifted positions until she felt Valerie’s wiry, lush pubic hair brushing against her bare, shaved pussy. She whimpered harshly, as they moved in perfect rhythm. Syncing, gliding, moaning, the heat from within escaping and filling the spaces with their unique energy.

“Oh shit, oh, god, V. I-I, mmph, mmph. I’m gonna come. Hold me, hol—”

Faster and faster, they sped up. V took the girl into her arms, and let her move unhindered….

Seconds later, Lucy murmured, “M c-coming. Coming….” She bit down on V’s shoulder, moving in and out as the orgasm wove its way throughout her body. She thrust her hips, arched her back and scratched the merc’s back as hard as she could….

V clenched her teeth and cried out. The harshness of touch sent her flying over the edge, and just as Lucy began to slow down, Valerie sped up, grabbed her hips and held her close as the sensations overtook her….

“L-Lucy, kiss, I’m-I’m— Fuck! I’m coming….”

They made out recklessly as V orgasmed, unrestrained, overwhelmed with emotion….

They both were, and as she finished, they felt the floodgates open up. Each of them began crying caught up in the gentle aftershocks of liberated intimacy….

Lucy couldn’t help it. Neither could V. They embraced, and held nothing back. Feeling one another’s tears on their skin.

“I love you, V,” Lucy gasped, sniffling, wiping her face, completely spent, satiated, ready to pass out….

Hearing those words sent Valerie reeling. With her thumb, she caressed Lucy’s face.

“Love you too, Luce,” she said, grabbing the sheets and covering the both of them. “Let me hold you. I can’t keep my eyes open.”

“Mmmm, me neither….”

Ten minutes later, they were fast asleep. Lucy on her side, her leg draped over V’s stomach.

VI.

Outside, Night City hummed with life. People walking up and down the boulevards and side streets. Gangers, fixers, solos working all the angles. Back room deals made in abandoned warehouses. Unfulfilled dreams, hopes dashed….

There’s a woman sitting alone in a crowded bar. She couldn’t go home. It's way too early to do that. She’s nursing her seventh drink, already drunk, can’t hide her sadness, so she tries to drown it out….

Out of the corner of her eye, a curious stranger seems to notice. She takes a chance, after all, she thinks this girl’s gorgeous, sexy. Definitely one of a kind!

Sits down, sidles up to her….

“Hey. I, ummm, I couldn’t help but notice, you, uhhh, seem pretty down in the dumps. Everything okay?”

The other woman stares at her, thinks she’s cute. But she’s not in the mood. Not now. God, not now. “Ahhh, it’s a long story. Just didn’t feel like being at home….” She turns back to her glass, takes a long sip.

“I’m Bianca. Nice to meet you.”

They shake hands, and for a split-second, she doesn't feel so alone....

“Hi, Bianca. I’m Judy….”

Chapter Text

I. V's Megabuilding Apartment

….The day dawned warm and sunny.

V woke up alone, and instantly looked around the room.

“Lucy? Luce?”

Next to her, on the bed, was a handwritten note. It was on the back of a torn menu for a fast food restaurant. Lucy’s breathtaking handwriting. Long, wispy strokes; the letters like tiny flourishes, each word, a work of art:

Valerie,

Hi. I’m so nervous. I didn’t want to leave, but time’s running out and we’re starting at 9:00 am. V, ever since I met you, something inside me has changed. I can’t control my emotions the way I used to. I was always an introverted girl, never really opened my heart up, but when I’m near you it feels like it’s pounding out of my chest, my palms get sweaty. There's a flutter in my stomach and I've the strongest urge to kiss you.

No one except for David has ever held me the way you do. I was so scared the first time we made love. I was intimidated. You’re so beautiful. The way you style your hair, makeup, the shape of your body. It makes me weak in the knees. But it’s so much more than that. Your sense of humor, kindness, personality. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be you. Trying to go about your day to day life, knowing you’re dying a little bit more every second, every moment. I’m sorry, baby….

And so I understand what you said about Judy and me. About wanting to love us both. To feel close to us. To share your secrets and deepest desires. I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t hurt, but at least I understand a little bit better now where you’re coming from.

I do love you, V. I loved David, but I was afraid to tell him. Always said to myself, One day, one day. But that day never came. He was murdered by Arasaka, and I can’t, I won’t let that happen to you.

I’ve been to The Blackwall. We both know how dangerous it is. So.... If for any reason, I don’t make it out, just know that I love you, and my life’s so much better with you in it. Wish us luck! Oh, and I hate to reopen old wounds, but the other night? When I said those things about Judy and me? It wasn’t true. We didn’t sleep together. I was upset, and I wanted to hurt you. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, not only for lying, but for uploading that hack, scrambling your cyberware. So sorry. Talk soon. Ping me whenever you want.

Bye, baby

Lucyna Kushinada

P.S. Who do you think it’ll be, hmmm? Once I save you. Have you thought about which one of us you wanna love forever? I know Judy loves you and I love you, but who of us truly gets to hold your heart when the time comes?

….V was stunned by the magnitude of Lucy’s words. Her mouth hung open and she kept shaking her head from side to side. She swallowed hard.

She could still smell traces of the girl’s perfume in the air, like a gentle memory of something gone too soon….

“H-How can I be so in love with you both?” She whispered in the early morning light. “What am I gonna do? I love you and Judy. God, how much I love you both. How can I choose? I couldn’t live, knowing I broke one of your hearts.”

She grabbed a pillow and put it between her legs, closed her eyes, and fell into an uneasy, aching sleep….

II. Lucy's Apartment

….Noon.

For the better part of three hours, Judy and Lucy broke through the barriers of cyberspace spectacularly, working as a single, fluid machine. An efficient mechanism and the results were astounding!

>em>With Judy at the helm, overseeing each and every aspect of Lucy’s dives, they were able to traverse vast distances of the ‘Net. Lucy rediscovered her rhythm and didn’t look back once.

Weaving, gliding between the infinite corridors and pathways. Bypassing firewalls and primitive security measures as easily as if she were taking a leisurely stroll down the street.

Having the techie with her every step of the way did wonders for her confidence and she felt unbound, unfettered by the strictures of time and space.

In the span of a few hours, they were both buzzing from the high of one success after another….

….Lucy lay immersed in the bathtub. It was filled with fluorescent blue coolant gel, ice cubes and water. As Judy got ready to unplug the main cable to her neural port, she paused to study the young netrunner.

How vulnerable she was at this moment. How compromised. Judy held absolute power, complete control over her life and death.

Lucy’s eyes were closed. A few beads of sweat on her forehead, her nose twitching slightly, waiting to be pulled out.

But Judy held the thick cable in her hand and for the first time all morning felt the sharp, painful sting of jealousy. Her mind flashed with images of V and Lucy, fucking, climaxing together, smelling each other as they came....

Violently, she tried to shake the thoughts from her head, shaking it harshly from side to side.

UNPLUG HER! She screamed at herself. DO IT! UNHOOK THE CABLES! She’s waiting!

Suddenly, her audio commlink beeped loudly….

“Judy? Judy, are you there?”

“Uhhh, y-yeah, yeah.”

“What’s going on?” Lucy’s voice rang out. “Unplug me. My internal temp’s spiking. What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“N-No, just, just got caught up in these current configurations. Bringing you out now.”

“Three, two, one….” Gently, she pulled the plug from the base of Lucy’s skull. The netrunner gasped loudly, her eyes shot open and she was once again back in the real. Immediately, she turned to Judy and held her by the arm.

“What happened back there?” She asked.

“I told you,” Judy responded, slightly pissed at having to answer the same questions again. “I accidentally lost track of time, was just rereading our calibrations.”

Suddenly, Lucy felt a strange, unsettling feeling. “Yeah but, but Jude. I mean, m-my temp was spiking. We weren’t even that deep. Another minute and I would have—”

“I SAID I WAS SORRY! JESUS, LUCY! FORGET IT! IT’S FINE! YOU’RE HERE! NOW!”

It was at that moment, she understood exactly what was happening with the techie. She’d begun thinking about last night, after she left them alone at V’s apartment. Thinking about what the two of them did to each other….

“Hey, hey. I’m sorry,” Lucy whispered. “I didn’t mean to keep hassling you. Is there something on your mind? Something you wanna talk about? I think it’s time for a break anyway.” She tried to smile but the other woman stared at her coldly….

“How was it?” Judy sneered. She couldn’t stop herself. It all started coming out. “She’s incredible, isn’t she? Best lover I ever had. You too?”

“Judy, please. C’mon. We could both use a little rest. We’ve been so good today. Please, let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll make us a pot of coffee.”

She didn’t answer. Slowly, she stood up and followed the other girl out of the bathroom….

About twenty minutes later, they each stood at opposite ends of the kitchen. Judy stared at Lucy with an odd look. Curiosity, envy, but mixed too with the tiniest hint of arousal….

“You never answered my question. How was it?” Judy was not about to let this fizzle out….

Cautiously, Lucy went to her. She held her hand and said, “Okay. Okay. Sit down. Let’s talk….”

III.

“I’m sorry,” Judy murmured. “I’m trying. Fuck, I’m trying so hard to be cool with this. Sharing her, knowing what I know. S-Sometimes it just boils over, ya know?”

Lucy nodded in affirmation. “I do know. Because I’ve been right where you are. Sitting in that same seat. It sucks, for both of us.” She squeezed Judy’s hand. “Last night. We know what you did. You think we don’t? I can’t imagine how hard that must’ve been for you.”

“I want her to be okay,” Judy said, her voice cracked, splintered, hollow. “I’m in love with her, and I know you feel the same way. I-I can’t imagine how hard it was for you to come in the other night and find me naked in bed. This whole situation is so fucked up….” Like strobe lights, pictures of V and Lucy continuously flashed in her head…. “D-Did you two…. Fuck I can’t even say it,” she laughed, bitterly. “Did you? Lucy? Tell me, please.”

“Jude, c’mon. We’re doin’ so well. Let’s ju—”

“Godammit, please.”

“Yes. We made love. And it was beautiful.” Her face subtly reddened. “We reconnected. We found what we’d lost.” Judy tried to yank her hand away but Lucy held it firmly in her hand. “What about you? Hiding under the sheets? Nude? The night I showed up? Tell me, Judy.”

Now it was the techie’s turn to flush. She clicked her tongue, frustrated by Lucy’s quick maneuvering….

“Touche. Let’s just leave it at that.”

“Uh-uh. Tell me, Jude. Did the two of you fuck?”

“Mhmm, yeah. We did.”

They continued holding hands as a strange kind of mutual empathy developed between them. But there was also something else. An odd kind of taboo curiosity. Now that it was all out in the open. Their sex life and sharing Valerie. It felt like they were the ones vicariously sleeping together, through their intimacy with V! It set off tiny earthquakes in both their bodies. Quickly, they felt embarrassed by this sudden rush of delicious, guilty emotions….

It was like biting into something sweet and salty. A perfect combination of jealousy, lust and curiosity wove its way through them….

The room suddenly felt small, stuffy.

“I-Is it hot in here?” Judy asked, waving a hand in front of her face.

“I guess it must be, whew,” Lucy said, doing the same thing.

They couldn’t believe this! Hearing each other’s confessions had sent them into a tailspin, spiraling, unbelievably aroused!

Judy looked up to see Lucy staring at her. “W-What?”

“Do you feel that?”

“What?”

“You know what I’m talking about, Jude.”

“Y-Yeah, I do. I need a cigarette.”

“Me too.”

IV.

….They poured every ounce of their repressed energy into the work. They returned to the bathroom, Lucy prepped, Judy was with her every step of the way, and when she jacked-in, she moved so gracefully, like a cheetah, bounding through the ‘Net with sharp, pinpoint elegance, a sleek, silent predator, stalking its prey, and nothing could stop her. Lucy (with Judy in tow) accelerated through that digitized world as smoothly as she’d ever done before….

It was an amazing thing to witness, to experience and it gave Judy an idea. Her emotions were already so heightened. She opened the comm link and called out to the netrunner….

“Come on back. I wanna unplug you. Send you back with something I designed. Are you in the mood to try something new? Something different? I promise it’ll be fun.” Judy’s voice sounded flirty, seductive, inviting and Lucy quickly took the bait.

“Yessss, come and get me out. I need a change of scenery.”

“Nova. Here I come….”

Lucy opened her eyes, took a sharp breath and looked around the bathroom. Judy was right there, sitting next to her, a coy smile on her face.

“Jude?”

“Hey. Take a minute. Let me know when you’re ready to go jack-in.”

Neither of them felt self-conscious over the intimacy of Lucy lying naked in the makeshift rig, but secretly, it thrilled and excited Judy immeasurably. Always, she felt chills running up and down her body.

Lucy stared at the techie. Her pale body, partially obscured by the thick, blue gel and a thousand tiny ice cubes.

“I’m ready,” she said, reaching out and grabbing hold of Judy’s hand.

“Preem. First, I wanna stabilize your nervous system. Get you good and relaxed, open. We’re going a little deeper this time. More immersive. ‘Kay?”

“Uh-huh….”

Judy then proceeded to run a bunch of calibrations, tweaking, reconfiguring the systems, tinkering with the neural ports, and adjusting the depth of the dive. Lucy’s heart rate began to slow, her pulse quieted, breathing regulated. She closed her eyes….

“Before I plug you in, think of this as a kind of hybrid Braindance. A safezone. I hope you like it. See you on the other side. Find me like you did the other night at V’s apartment.

Lucy whimpered softly before Judy plugged the main cable into the back of her head….

Both of them were soon swept away in Judy Alvarez’s fascinating creation….

V.

“Ohhh, wow. This-This is gorgeous….” Lucy said, her voice hushed with wonder.

The room Judy wanted her to enter was at the far end of a long hallway. The way there looked like something from a surreal dream. The walls were lined with thousands of lush, verdant plants. Living walls they were, mossy canopies, vines, winding around lattice work situated overhead.

Somehow, Judy had transformed the cold, computerized lines of code into a vibrant paradise. It must have been quite an undertaking.

Literally, the trip there took Lucy’s breath away. How long it took to reach her destination, she couldn’t say, but time didn’t pass the same in cyberspace. She marvelled at the attention to detail. How Judy so seamlessly integrated nature with technology. Lucy almost didn’t believe her eyes, or her mind. Flowers, buds of so many vivid, scintillating colors!

She stopped to touch one and felt a current of delightful energy pass through her fingertips. She moaned at the feelings registering inside.

“Y-You did this?” Lucy whispered, hypnotized.

“Shhh, immerse yourself. I’ll be waiting for you on the other side of that door.”

The netrunner felt giddy, exhilarated by what lay in store for her. Slowly, she crept along the overgrown floor. Was this a manifestation of Judy’s dreams? Her fantasies? What was happening?

As she made her way to the end of the hallway, flowers began to bloom in sync. Purple, violet, sky blue, orange, red, all over the walls….

“I-I can’t move. This is unbelievable. Everything feels so alive! So-So real.” Lucy reached out and plucked a lotus flower from a bold green tangle of dense foliage.

She held it in her hand, and felt that same tingling sensation. Electricity, pulsations. Warmth filled her body and mind….

….In the waking world, Judy opened her eyes and watched Lucy at rest in the bathtub. Her breathing, soft, gentle. Her expression, calm, at peace….

Judy moved her finger to within an inch of Lucy’s mouth. She ran it over her lips, never actually touching them, but so-so close!

“I-I hope you’re feeling my energy inside,” she whispered. “Can you see what I’m thinking of when I imagine what it must be like to k-kiss you. Smell you…. Touch you."

Judy shifted on the metal seat. She moved her hand below her waist, and pressed it against herself. A strong, lovely current of energy coursed through her body, and she softly bit down on her finger, whimpering, so aroused she could barely think straight….

“M-Meet me in the bedroom, Lucy. I can’t wait….”

VI.

….Judy, I don’t wanna leave these nova hallways of your mind. So much individuality here. Like the shifting colors of your hair, or the tattoos that paint your body. Giving me these glimpses into your life, these peeks, allowing me to see. I think of all the other things. The secrets I’d love for you to whisper in my ear.

As Lucy drew closer to the door, the entire construct thrummed with hidden energy. She took one last look behind her, sad to leave the illuminated, living walls….

She heard a voice in the far corners of her mind.

“Almost there, a few more steps. I’ve never shown this to anyone else, so if it glitches in and out, don’t worry. I haven’t really spent a lot of time editing here. Most of this is raw, unfiltered. My pet project….”

“Mmmm, no wonder it feels so intense, so real," Lucy thought.

From her chair, Judy sensed the girl turning the handle. Finally, she stepped inside….

A bedroom. Modest, a perfect size. White walls, no furniture. Soft winds blew in through an open window and the thin curtains billowed with each gentle rustle of wind. She heard Night City, but it felt detached, so far away.

The sound and smell of rain. A dampness, refreshing, earthy and organic. It stimulates Lucy’s perceptions, her awareness. She feels flushed, licking the tang from out of the air….

An unmade bed sits next to the window. Crumpled sheets, tangled blankets. More delightful odors. Skin, breath, sex. A shape? Someone’s silhouette?

Lucy’s elevated. Each of her five senses peak. Sight of the bed, inviting her in. Sounds of the city, like a distant memory. Scent of something primal hanging in the atmosphere. She reaches down, lightly touches the covers. The taste of ozone and the subtle tingle of electricity on the tip of her tongue….

She gasps loudly as the covers slip to the floor, revealing an inked leg. Then Judy lifts the satin sheet, smiles and whispers, “C’mon in….”

VII.

….A wave of euphoria fell over Lucy as she crawled into bed, and snuggled up as close as she could to Judy….

She closed her eyes and felt the techie’s arms pull her in, Judy’s warm breath brushing the back of her neck. Bodies pushing, pressing against each other….

The wind blew harder. They felt it through the sheets. One of them sighed, contentedly. Outside, the rain picked up; its mist spritzed on their faces, and they giggled quietly….

It was a heavenly feeling….

Lucy closed her eyes and thought, If we’re here and I can feel you, then does it really matter whether or not it’s real?

“Hi,” Judy whispered, burying her face in the back of the girl’s neck. “Like it?”

“I-It’s incredible,” the netrunner whispered back. “I feel so alive. Judy, how did you do this?”

“Hmmm. A pinch of memory, a dash of curiosity, and a whole lot of fantasy….”

“Could I feel your lips if you kissed me right now?” Lucy asked, her voice hushed, yet barely able to hide its excitement….

“Mmmm, let’s see.”

As softly as she could, Judy leaned in and pressed her lips to Lucy’s shoulder. They stuck for a few seconds. Judy kissed her again, this time, at the base of her neck. “Can you feel that?”

“God, yes. Is this really happening right now?”

“I think so.”

“Judy?”

“Uh-huh?”

“Don’t stop….”

The strange thing about being in this space was that neither of them felt an ounce of shame, embarrassment, or guilt. V didn’t enter into either of their thoughts. Not once….

And it all felt so real!

Who of them could tell the waking world from cyberspace? In the urgency of the moment, it was impossible to distinguish between the two, so intricate and expertly rendered Judy’s simulation turned out to be….

For a long time, neither of them spoke. They just lay there, listening to the sound of the raindrops. Feeling the currents brush against their faces and quell the heat from their fantastic collective, dream-like fires….

Lucy turned around and they lay face to face. Judy ran a hand through her silvery-white hair, smiled, and said, “This is ours, okay? It’ll be our secret. Whatever we may need to do on the outside. This right here?” She moved her head around the bedroom. “This is different. Our own hidden dream, okay?”

Lucy nodded, leaned in and kissed the other woman gently on the mouth. The sensations felt so unbelievably real, it was hard to fathom they were in an artificial, digital world…

“Can we go further?” The netrunner asked, breathing heavier, running her finger down the center of Judy’s body.

“Course we can. I designed this to be a place to indulge in whatever fantasies we want. Nothing’s off-limits.” Suddenly, she yanked the other girl close, kissed her passionately. “Nothing….”

….Then they fell into each other, exploring, tasting, touching. Engaging in wildly taboo, risque fantasies. Realizing their deepest, darkest desires….

And they’d never, ever tell another soul….

As the rain continued to fall and the curtains danced. Outside, inside. The waking world, The ‘Net. Together, they simply were swept away….

So bittersweet! Sooner or later, they’d have to open their eyes, say goodbye to the dreamspace.

But wait. Wait….

Couldn't we stay just a little bit longer?

Chapter Text

I. A Hotel in City Center

….Bianca was on a mini-vacation to Night City, tagging along with her father, one of the higher-ups at Petrochem. He was in town for a few days, reluctantly attending the annual earnings call….

Of course, they’d reported record profits. After all, the company was one of the biggest corpos in the NUSA. Bianca practically begged her dad to go. She’d read so much about the place and she wanted to see for herself if all the urban legends were true. Was Night City really as wild, lawless and chaotic as everyone said? A hedonistic dystopian world full of the worst humanity had to offer? Or was it all just made-up fodder for the tabloids and screamsheets to sell more copies?

So far, she would have to admit, it’d been pretty uneventful. She didn’t dare venture south of the City Center district, except for one night, when her curiosity got the better of her and she’d ended up in Watson….

She was glad she did, because that was the night she first laid eyes on the woman who introduced herself as, “Judy….”

Ever since, she couldn’t stop thinking about her. Crushing hard, and she barely even knew the woman. Her hairstyle, the tattoos, her ultra-preem, punk chic look. Bianca was instantly attracted to her and boldly asked for her detes….

In her drunken haze, Judy slurred her phone number and now Bianca was locked in an internal battle over whether or not to ping her. She and her father were only in town for another night. It was now or never.

Bianca didn’t even know if Judy was gay. She thought she’d caught a vibe at the club, but still, it might’ve just been her imagination.

She sat on the couch in the huge hotel living room, tapping her foot, hitting the numbers, getting to the last one, only to shut her holophone....

Over and over she went back and forth.

In the end, she decided to send a text:

“Hey! You probably don’t remember me. We met at that bar the other night. It’s Bianca. I’m only in town for another night before I fly back to Pittsburgh and I was wondering if you’d like to meet me for a cup of coffee downtown. I’d love to see you once more before I head out. Let me know. Hopefully, talk soon!”

Bianca put the holophone down, and bit her fingernails. She couldn’t stop thinking about Judy. Something about the way she sat there, alone, in the middle of a packed bar. Like she couldn’t have cared less if anyone saw or noticed.

“Text me, Judy. I’m waiting,” Bianca whispered, closing her eyes and sighing nervously….

II.

….Meanwhile, across the city, someone else was waking up.

V winced in pain. Something was off. Her skull felt like it was cracking open. She was seeing double. Spasms, currents of unpredictable electricity were jolting her brain. This kind of pain was new, and it scared her to death….

She couldn’t get out of bed. The bright, mid-morning light only made it worse. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw stars and sharp, jagged lines of color. She felt nauseous, sick to her stomach and then everything started spinning….

She opened her eyes and saw Johnny, flickering in and out, rapidly, like a strobe light….

“S-S-Silverhand? What’s-What’s happening to me?” She called out weakly. “I-Is this it? A-Am I dying?”

No answer….

Clumsily, she managed to make it to her feet, and stagger to the bathroom. When she reached the sink, she doubled over, fell to her knees and dry-heaved.

“J-Jesus Christ,” she whispered. “F-Feels like my head’s about to burst. Oh my god. M-My phone. G-Gotta ping V-Vik.”

Getting back to the bed felt like she was running a marathon. It took every ounce of her strength to ping the ripperdoc….

“V? You okay?” As soon as he saw her image, he knew something was wrong. “What’s going on?”

“V-Vik. I-I can’t see straight. The p-pain, overwhelming. Holy s-shit. Is it t-the Relic?”

“Don’t know. But I have some of your leftover meds here. I’m coming over.”

“H-Hurry. Please. Am I going to die?”

“No. Hang on. Be there in a few minutes. Lie down, on your side.”

“K-Kay…. Bye.”

III.

….As Valerie waited impatiently for Vik to show up, Lucy and Judy were already fast at work, testing the bounds of cyberspace and loving every second of it….

Ever since their immersion into that lush, sensual dreamspace twelve hours earlier, they were firing on all cylinders. By allowing themselves the freedom to release the pent-up energy and sexual curiosity that had been building for days, a door was unlocked, thrown open. A pathway appeared; one that led higher and higher, straight into the stratosphere….

They moved in perfect harmony, like twin pulses in the same circuit. Synced, fluid, rhythmic.

There was no going back now. In the intervening hours they discovered how deep their relationship had truly become.

The previous idea of Valerie as an obstacle, someone impeding their own closeness and intimacy was no longer an issue. They accepted, understood that they both loved the mercenary dearly, and if that meant sharing her affections, then so be it.

Why couldn’t they all be happy, content in the notion that love has no rules, requirements or guidelines. Wasn’t that what made it such an incredibly intricate, yet perfectly simplistic emotion?

It was as though they’d attained some kind of enlightenment. Jealousy had dwindled into almost nothing. There was no more envy, or bitterness and when they imagined one another making love to V, it excited them, and they longed to be with her at the same time, sharing their most sensitive desires and secret longings. Thinking about Valerie brought them closer together, drawing them inwards.

It was so liberating! To trust each other with their vulnerabilities. To feel no shame or embarrassment when it came to their own bodies and the way they loved. Not just physically but emotionally and spiritually too.

Judy ended up crashing on Lucy’s couch. The netrunner, in her bed. Everything seemed easier. Smoother.

They were right where they needed to be. Their dives, simulations were feeling more and more like second-nature….

Deeper into the ‘Net, Lucy went. As long as she knew Judy was with her, she had no fear. In the dim light of the makeshift rig, the two girls were rapidly approaching the final stop along the journey….

The Blackwall.

Lucy was convinced Arasaka had left behind mountains of lost, hidden data, esoteric code, information they were unable to recover due to the Data Crash, and the release of the R.A.B.I.D.S. virus by Rache Bartmoss fifty-five years earlier.

She also believed that there were prototypes of the Secure Your Soul software hidden in secure networks, behind tons of firewall, and even possibly Rogue AI. She intended to discover and scour whatever was left of Arasaka in the Old ‘Net.

Judy was hyped up. After all, they were on a roll. Their friendship was slowly, wonderfully evolving into a unique kind of affection and she couldn’t have been more excited.

But if she were being completely honest, some part of her wondered if she could really share Valerie with another woman. Of course, on the surface, everything seemed agreeable, but she was a human being, with human emotions, insecurities, worries. She could sense Lucy too, felt the same kinds of trepidations, but it was hard to rain on their own parade, so they kept quiet.

But could they really ask V to love them both? Fully, equally, without fracturing herself?

IV.

From somewhere deep within the ‘Net, Lucy called out, “Hey, Jude? Let’s take a little break, okay?”

Judy wasn’t paying attention, spacing out about triangular relationships. “Hmmm? Oh, okay, yeah. Preem,” She answered. “I’ll unplug you. Ready? Three, two, one….”

Lucy opened her eyes, and instantly reached for the other woman. Gently, she wrapped her arms around her neck. That tiny act of closeness had become part of Lucy’s routine whenever she first came back to the waking world. She wanted Judy to feel her, to know she was okay, that they were okay.

She kissed her on the cheek, and whispered, “Hi.”

“Hey, you,” Judy winked. “How’d it go?”

“Nova. Another few days and I think we’ll be ready….”

Judy knew exactly what the young netrunner meant. She took a deep, cautious breath. “Y-You think so?”

“Mhmm, I do. Why? Are you seeing something I’m not?”

“N-No, no. Nothing like that. It’s just, Lucy. I-I’m worried about you. Is it too soon?”

She took the other woman’s hand in hers. “She’s almost out of time, Jude.”

“I know, I know. Just wanna make sure we’re not being reckless.”

Lucy squeezed her hand, leaned forward and kissed her again. This time on her forehead. “We’re not being reckless. Believe me, I learned my lesson a few weeks ago. I truly feel like we’re almost there. Judy?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you having second thoughts?”

The question unnerved her. “No! No, of-of course not. I’m sorry. I’m just stressed. Can you make some coffee?”

“Definitely. C’mon. Let’s get out of this stuffy bathroom.”

Judy was leaning against the counter when she took out her holo and saw that she had two messages.

The first was from an unknown number. It read:

“Hey! You probably don’t remember me. We met at that bar the other night. It’s Bianca. I’m only in town for another night before I fly back to Pittsburgh and I was wondering if you’d like to meet me for a cup of coffee downtown. I’d love to see you once more before I head out. Let me know. Hopefully, talk soon!”

“Who? Wait, what?” She said to herself.

Judy wracked her brain trying to recall the substance of the message. Slowly then, it dawned on her. The night she’d left Lucy and V alone. She wandered around Watson until she found a bar. It was crowded and she proceeded to get really drunk. Just as she was about to leave, this girl came up and sat down next to her….

She was cute. Shoulder length black hair. Straight, styled in a long bob. Tall, about 5’7”. Tan complexion, dressed in a sexy miniskirt, tank top and sandals. A beautiful smile.

Bianca….

Slowly, Judy typed her response.

“Hey. Yeah, I remember you. How are you? Ummm, listen. I’m sorry, I’ve got a lot on my plate with work and I don’t think I’m gonna have time. Sorry. If anything changes between now and tomorrow, I’ll let you know. Take care, Bianca.”

She hadn’t even looked at the second message, and then it hit her….

Oh fuck. Oh shit. It was from Viktor Vektor. Her first thought was, something’s happened to V….

Quickly she opened it up and read the ripperdoc’s words.

“Judy. It’s Vik. I’m at V’s Megabuilding apartment. She suffered some kind of attack. Think it had something to do with the biochip. Her symptoms might be getting worse. It’s been a little over five months now. Maybe the engram starts to bleed through. Not sure. Anyway, I gave her some meds, sat with her. She seems to have stabilized. She’s resting comfortably. Come by if you can. I texted Lucy too. See you around.”

“Oh fuck,” she said aloud, and Lucy looked up from her notes….

“What. What’s wrong?”

Judy looked at her gravely. “That was Vik. V’s in trouble. She’s at her apartment in Watson. It’s not far. C’mon. Let’s go.”

Lucy licked her lips nervously. “What’s up?” She asked, setting her cup of coffee down on the counter top.

“I don’t know. You ready?”

“Y-Yeah….”

“I’ll drive.”

“Kay….”

V.

….Fifteen minutes later, they walked through the door to Valerie’s apartment. She was lying in bed with a damp rag pressed against her forehead. Vik was standing nearby, looking out the window. He turned around when he heard them come in….

Silently, he waved them over. “Follow me,” he whispered, walking to the tiny little room V had converted into a storage space for all her firearms, knives and swords. It was barely big enough for the three of them to fit in.

Without even thinking, Lucy reached down and held Judy’s hand.

“What happened?” She asked the ripperdoc. “Is she okay?”

Vik shook his head, confused himself, as to how to answer the question. He looked at them each in turn.

“Listen. I don’t wanna sugar coat anything. She’s getting worse. We all knew it would happen. So it’s not like it’s a shock. The Relic’s taking over. It was damaged during the transfer. The way this kinda tech operates; it’s all speculative. She’s okay, but who can say for how long?” Then, uncharacteristically, he looked at them gravely, making sure they understood exactly what he was saying….

Lucy nodded, but Judy was having a much harder time processing the news.

She inhaled sharply and said, “No. No way. Uh-uh. T-This is too much.”

And it wasn’t just V. It was all of it. Everything. The extremely heated relationship between the three of them was taking its toll. Struggling with her own feelings and how they fit within the framework of the overall picture. Her desires and urges for intimacy, immediacy. Running out of time. In this moment, it overwhelmed her and she darted around the room, unable to sit still.

“I-I need some air. I’m sorry. I-I’ll be back a little later. I can’t be here.” They stared at her with concerned expressions. Quietly, she crept to the bed, leaned over and kissed V on the forehead. “Love you, calabacita. Be back soon. N-Need a little time to process. Bye, baby.”

Vik was silent, but Lucy met her at the door. “Hey, hey what’s wrong?”

Judy laughed uneasily. “Oh Luce. C’mon. She’s dying! OKAY? I love her! WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY?”

The other woman held her. “I know,” she whispered. “I’m so scared too. Take all the time you need. I’ll let you know where I’m at.”

“Thanks.”

But as she turned to leave, she heard a raspy voice call out weakly. “L-Leelou bean?” She walked back. V’s eyes were open, and she had a tired smile on her face. “D-Don’t worry, Jude. I believe in you and in Lucy. I l-love you both. Very much. We’ll get through this together. The three of us….”

Judy was crying. She nodded, quickly. “I-I know. See you soon, Valerie. C’mere, you gonk. I need another kiss.”

VI.

She left, breathless, in tears. Judy needed to be outside. It felt suffocating in V’s apartment. She took out her phone. The screen lit up and Bianca’s message beckoned. A pause from the chaos that had become her life….

Shakily, Judy typed….

“Hey. Still around? If you are, meet me at the diner? Watson? Sending you the detes now. Let’s have coffee. Looking forward to it.”

Seconds later….

“Nova! Leaving now! Can’t wait to see you!" :)

Judy closed her phone and sighed.

“That’s it,” she said aloud. “Complicate your life some more. God knows, it’s not stressful enough already….” She cracked a wry smile, lit a cigarette, and anxiously took off down the avenue.

She couldn’t always be everything for everyone.
Maybe with Bianca, she didn't have to be....

Chapter Text

I. A Diner in Watson

….Bianca. I see you sitting down already, looking out the window, waiting for me. I remember your face from the other night.

Yeah, I was drunk, but I thought you were cute, in an innocent, wide-eyed, touristy kind of way.

You look good. You haven’t noticed me yet, so I hang out in the back of the crowded diner, checking you out a bit more….

I like your outfit. Lovin' your style. Perfect for summer. Blue tank top, jean mini-skirt, sunglasses. I can see your tattoos. Heh, like me. I love your hair. That sort of long bob style, straightened, brushed to the side. I don’t know but for some reason, it looks like you come from money. Maybe it’s your makeup, or the way you tilt your head to the side when you see something that grabs your attention.

We’re probably the same age, or close to. Should I sit down? Is this me opening up another can of worms? I need a break from the stress of diving with Luce, V’s imminent demise. All of it. I just wanna be 24 again. Is that wrong of me to think? Am I being selfish?

Oops! Shit!

You spotted me. You stand up and wave me over excitedly. I put my hand up in the air and smile. My heart beats a little faster, I feel a little current of warmth. It feels good. You know, that moment when you first meet someone and you’re curious to know more? Yeah that’s me right now.

I meet you and we hug. And damn, it feels really good….

II.

“Hey! Judy! Wow! So preem you decided to come! Sit down! I didn’t order you anything because I wasn’t sure what you liked. Hi!”

Bianca couldn’t hide her excitement. She felt tingly all over and thought Judy was even sexier sober! So attractive. Wearing a yellow Perilous Futur concert tee, beige shorts, and purple flip-flops….

“Hi Bianca.” Judy smiled warmly. The waitress came over to take her drink order. “Coffee, please. Cream, sugar. Thanks.”

….And for the next hour straight, the two of them had an amazingly good first convo. They discovered they had a lot in common.

They both loved to tinker with tech. Bianca was a student at some prestigious university back east, studying theoretical physics and computer science. When she noticed Judy’s band shirt, they each excitedly rattled off their top ten favorite songs (and their choices were almost exactly the same!).

They talked about politics, and when Bianca admitted the reason why she was here visiting NC, she felt ashamed to say her dad was here on business, that he’s a big-time corpo with Petrochem….

But Judy just waved it away, laughed disarmingly and said, “Ahhh, he can’t help it. Everyone makes mistakes,” and it completely diffused an otherwise potentially uncomfortable situation.

Turns out Bianca was a few years younger (22) and here in the city for the first time in her life.

Judy was surprised at how easy and carefree they were able to communicate. There were no awkward silences, no confusing stares. It was like they were long-lost friends, reuniting and catching each other up on the past five years of their lives!

As the afternoon deepened into dusk, neither of them wanted to leave. Three times Judy’s holophone had gone off, and each time, she dismissed it and told herself this was her time to get away, to decompress, relax…

Finally, about three hours after they both sat down, Judy reluctantly said, “I should get going. Got a lot of work, and not much time to do it. So, when did you say you were heading back to Pittsburgh?”

Bianca looked glum. “Our Orbital Air flight departs at 9:00 am. Me and my dad are heading back.”

Now came the first awkward pause….

Judy found herself unable to say goodbye. She’d felt so relaxed, so natural, and the thought of going back to Lucy’s, jumping straight back into talk of triangular love affairs, The Blackwall and V’s condition, completely stressed her out.

Bianca didn’t want the night to end. “Hey, ummm, so…. C-Can I ping you or text you someti—”

“Of course you can. Anytime. Let me know as soon as you land, okay?”

The other girl smiled widely. “Okay.”

They both stood up. This time, they embraced tenderly, both of them, overflowing with positive energy….

“Bye Bianca,” Judy whispered, leaning in and stealing a whiff of the girl’s skin.

She noticed, and so she did the same thing back....

Judy closed her eyes, and felt Bianca’s lips brush across her neck so lightly, that she almost couldn’t tell whether or not it actually happened.

“Bye, Jude. I had a really good time today,” she said, seamlessly switching to the abbreviated form of the other woman’s name.

They held hands as they pulled apart. It was a perfect first date, and they both knew it….

As Judy drove home to her apartment in Northside, a wave of panic rushed up and knocked the wind out of her.

The magnitude of what her life had become had struck like a speeding car.

III.

….Here she was, a young woman with her whole life ahead of her already embroiled in a sort of quasi-relationship with a mercenary, while having an imaginary affair in cyberspace with a brooding netrunner.

What the fuck was she doing?

She loved V. That would never change. And now she was developing feelings for Lucy. Feelings that went beyond the platonic level….

Add her budding curiosity over Bianca and Judy was ripe for an anxiety attack. And as she sat on the side of the road, in the parked van, she started hyperventilating.

“W-What’s gonna happen to V? T-To Lucy? What about me?” She gasped aloud. “I’m freakin’ out here. Oh shit.”

Frantically, she reached for her phone and checked the three missed messages….

The first was from V:

“Hey, Jude. Missed you today. Everything okay? I’m here if you wanna talk. No pressure. I know things have been freaking crazy but should I be worried here? Are you pulling away? Ping me. Bye leelou bean. Love you.”

A message from Lucy followed:

“Hey. Where are you? We still have a ton of work to do. Plus, I thought maybe you and I could take a trip back to the dreamspace. What do you think? I wish you could see me. I’m turning red. Ping me.”

The last text was from a worried V:

“Judy? Baby, I’m scared. This isn’t like you. Please ping me. I’m worried about us. Talk to me. Love you. I’m right here….”

She looked down at her hands. They were shaking. She sent a message to neither of them:

“Hey, Bianca. Had a nova time today hanging out. I feel like a gonk saying this, but I miss you already. Is that crazy? Sleep well. Bye.” :)

Seconds later….

“Judy. No. It’s not crazy. I feel the exact same way. Can’t sleep. Thinking of how much fun I had today. Sucks that I have to fly back tomorrow. I really like you. Hehe, even now it’s hard for me to get off the holo. Blowing you a kiss. ‘Night.”

She held the phone against her chest and drew a pained breath. “Fuck. What did you do, Judy?” She scolded herself. “What are you doing? Are you crazy?” But try as she might, she couldn’t stop herself from answering back….

“I really like you too. Caught your kiss. Sending one of my own back. ‘Night….”

It took a monumental effort for her to make it home to her apartment. She parked in front of her building, staggered upstairs, and went straight into the bathroom. She drew herself a hot bath, slipped out of her sticky clothes, and sighed loudly as she put one foot in, and then the other. Slowly, she sank down into the water and closed her eyes, running her hands between her legs and imagining Bianca….

Kissing her, touching her. The two of them, lying in bed against the backdrop of a humid, late summer night.

She found her most sensitive spot, and rubbed the palm of her hand firmly against it….

“Oh, B-Bianca," she called out. "I can feel you right now. Oh shit.”

Judy sped up. Faster, faster.... Then, softly, she slid two fingers in her pussy and rubbed her clit at the same time. She cried out into the dimly-lit bathroom, moving with purpose and rhythm; needing to feel it everywhere. Her fingers pushing, thumb brushing. The cool water splashing her damp face….

“I’m gonna c-come,” she murmured, opening her eyes, and watching herself in the act

A few minutes later she orgasmed bittersweetly, full of guilt and shame over her how quickly her affections shifted to an almost complete stranger.

Breathing heavily, she stayed in the tub for a long time. Running her hands all over the surface of her smoldering body….

“I’m sorry, calabacita,” she whispered. “S-Sorry Lucy. Can’t help it. Don’t know what’s wrong with me….”

Outside, the darkness deepened. Night City moved and flowed with its own innate energy. Somewhere amidst the chaos, a mercenary shivered, cold and afraid she might be losing someone she loved.

A netrunner looked at her holophone, hoping to see an answer, but all she saw was her own words, vacant, ignored….

Judy leaned over the side of the tub, grabbed her cigarettes from the front pocket of her shorts, lit one and stared up at the ceiling, moving from V to Lucy, back to V, and now Bianca….

“Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. I only want what everyone else does. To be happy, and feel loved...."

IV.

….In the deepest part of night, Judy awoke in a cold sweat.

A doozy of a nightmare.

She’d lost Lucy somewhere beyond The Blackwall. Voices were mocking her, blaming her for V’s death. Everything was her fault. Lucy was gone, V was dead, and she was all alone….

She shot up in bed. It was one of those ultra-realistic dreams that you can’t simply forget. Only time eases the fear. She was disoriented, and staggered out of bed to the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of water and went to the window.

She stood there for a long time, looking out across the water at the center of Night City. In the distance, Kabuki shone like temptation. She wondered what was going on behind its curtains. Illegal XBD’s, drugs, joytoys and dolls. It was hard to tell what time it was because the city never relaxed, never let itself reset. It was always speeding, accelerating forward, and those that couldn’t keep up, were swallowed in its maw….

Judy felt control slipping from her grasp. Life was moving too fast, and she was having trouble staying ahead of the game.

How well did she really know Lucy? For the first time since she’d met the girl she felt rushed. Worried that they were relying on one another too much. She wanted to help save V. That was never in doubt, but at what cost to her?

She needed to talk to her abuela. To get a grounded perspective. To talk to someone who had her best interests at heart. She checked the time: 2:30 in the morning. Late, but her grandmother would never want her to hold her worries inside. She always said to call whenever.

She took a deep breath and dialed the numbers….

“Ranita? Baby, what is it? Are you crying?”

“A-A little. Granny, I, it’s…. Everything’s movin’ so fast. I feel so overwhelmed. Remember V? The woman I told you about. We met a few months ago?”

“Of course. She and I spoke on the phone. I remember her. She was nice. Polite and respectful.”

Judy nodded. “She’s amazing. I’m in love with her. B-But it’s so complicated. S-She’s dying. She may only have a couple weeks left.”

“What? Is she sick?”

“N-No, and yes. It’s a whole bunch of stuff. But there’s someone else. Lucy. Another girl V has feelings for.”

The older woman sighed. “Oh, Judy. And you’re measuring yourself up to this, this other girl?”

“Maybe? I don’t know. The thing is, Lucy’s convinced she can find a way to cure V. It’s convoluted but she and I have been working together to try and find the answers before it’s too late….”

“I don’t understand. Shouldn’t she be seen by a doctor?”

“She’s seen a hundred doctors. Her sickness can’t be cured normally. Lucy and me, we’ve been jacking into the ‘Net. She believes that’s where the answers are….”

….And for the next forty-five minutes, Judy explained everything to her abuela. Her conflicting emotions, jealousies, meeting Bianca, her loyalty to V, but feeling constantly tempted by Lucy. She spared no expense.

When she finished, her grandmother took a deep breath….

“Life seems so much more complicated than when I was a child. But I know one thing that hasn’t changed. If you truly love V, then fight for her. Tell her what’s inside your heart. I understand you don’t want to share her with anyone else. Just be honest. Tell Lucy how you feel. Tell V. See what comes of it. Judy, you’re so bright. I know you’ll figure things out. I think what might have happened is, you lost your self-confidence. Maybe you stopped believing in yourself….”

“I-I did,” she whispered, ashamed by the revelation at the lack of faith within herself….

“Let both women know where you stand. Be assertive. Not so quick to pass judgement, but try to understand where each of them are coming from. Let your instincts guide you. If it feels right, go with it. Don’t run from what’s inside. Trust yourself.”

“Thanks, abuelita. I always feel better talking to you.”

“I’m always here. Whatever you need, ranita….”

….They said their goodbyes and Judy typed another message:

“Hey, calabacita. Hope you’re feeling better. Just had to get away for a little bit. Take some time for me. I do love you, V. Sometimes it’s hard for me to express myself. Let’s talk more later on. Sorry. I know it’s really late.”

But a few seconds later, V answered.

“Hey. Thanks for letting me know what’s up. Miss you baby, but take all the time you need. I’ll be here whenever you feel like chatting. Love you, Judy Alvarez. ‘Night….”

For the rest of the night, she slept peacefully….

V.

….Lucy sat in the bathroom, tinkering with one of her cyberdecks. It was early in the morning, but she couldn’t sleep. Her mind was racing with thoughts of Judy. Why did she delta? Where did she go? Why didn’t she answer her text messages?

She held a tiny soldering iron in her hand and tweaked her gear. She was ready. This was it. Crunch time.

The Blackwall beckoned and there was no turning back. And if Judy didn’t think they were ready, well then, that’s a convo that needed to happen, and it needed to happen now. She clicked her tongue in frustration and reached for her holo.

Again, she tried pinging the techie. This time, Judy picked up. Lucy could tell she’d woken her up from a sound sleep.

Almost immediately, tempers flared on both sides.

“Ugh, h-hello?”

“Hey. Remember me? My name’s Lucy? What the fuck, Judy? You delta yesterday and then just fucking disappear? Don’t answer me back? And right when we’re at the most important part of the journey. I mean, like, what’s up, techie?” She said the last sentence in a condescending, snarky tone, and it really annoyed the other woman….

Judy sighed, and stared at the girl’s tiny image. “Jesus, I-I was sound asleep. What are you, my fuckin’ boss? Relax, okay?”

“I NEEDED YOU YESTERDAY!” Lucy yelled, and then sniffled loudly. “I CAN’T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!”

Judy’s eyes opened wide. “AND I NEEDED SPACE, OKAY? FUCK, LUCY! I TOOK THE DAY FOR MYSELF! WHAT? DO I NEED YOUR PERMISSION?” She sneered.

Lucy looked away. “I-I thought we connected so, so strongly in your simulation. T-The things we did to each other in that space. I mean maybe it’s different for you, Braindance. Maybe you’re desensitized to it, because tuning raw virtus is all you do, but Judy, I mean did you feel what I felt? When we were inside? Tell me you know what I’m talking about, so I don’t lose my fucking mind here. Please….”

She shook her head in quiet acknowledgement. “I felt it. I do know what you’re talking about. I’ve just been feeling a little overwhelmed by everything. Seeing V yesterday. Lying there, so vulnerable, so compromised. I freaked out, okay? There it is.” She was just about to mention Bianca. The girl’s name was on the tip of her tongue, but she didn’t. Not yet. It was still too soon.

Lucy’s voice shrank to a soft whisper. “Come over. Let’s go back. Just you and me. Our secret place. I can’t stop thinking about it, ever since you showed it to me. It-It did something to me, and I need to feel you in that bedroom. It’s the perfect way to prep for our dives. Don’t you agree? We can both let off steam, release our pent-up energies and come back with a clear focus. What do you say?”

This time, Judy looked directly into Lucy’s eyes. “I can’t stop thinking about it. The Blackwall. I-I had a nightmare that I lost you there. And because of that…. V-Valerie. She-She died. I’m scared, alright?”

“Me too, but we’re better together, than we are apart. Come over, Jude. Please?”

She yawned. “Okay. I’m still half asleep. I’m not even awake. Gotta take a shower. I’ll see you later on.”

Lucy nodded. “Nova….”

They hung up. Judy rolled over, stretched loudly, groaned and said, “Shit….”

VI.

….And as day slowly bled into evening. August turning to September, three girls who call Night City home, struggle to find a way forward in the tangled maze of their hearts.

Love, trust, envy, jealousy, and lust. Secrets, touch. They all play a part in what drives them, urges them on....

Could they find the answers in each other? Could they save Valerie and love as three, instead of two?

Chapter Text

I. (Three Days Later)

Lucy’s Apartment. Sunday Morning. Early September, 2077.

They were on edge. Nervous, jittery. Talking too fast, like they’d just drank a dozen cups of coffee….

Working almost nonstop for the past 72 hours. Tweaking gear, optimizing cyberdecks, locating high concentrations of interference, firewalls. Even going so far as to search for signals, echoes of rogue AI activity.

So far, everything had gone smoothly, no hiccups but they still hadn’t gone beyond The Blackwall.

They hovered near the periphery. It was like they could see it, sense it in the distance but something was keeping them from taking that final plunge….

Lucy was chomping at the bit. She’d never felt better, more confident, more empowered. It wasn’t arrogance or haughtiness.

It was Judy’s continued presence that had made all the difference. She was right by Lucy’s side, every step of the way.

Guiding, talking, nurturing, pushing. Instilling the belief that they could overcome anything they set their minds to…..

Ever since they’d joined forces, things have only gotten better….

Which made Judy’s tentativeness, her reluctance to push through, to take that final leap, all the more baffling….

Every time the topic came up, she would get visibly nervous. Start chain-smoking cigarettes, tapping her foot, bouncing her legs.

Classic signs of someone who’s scared to death....

What Lucy couldn’t possibly know was that Judy had skimmed the outer edges of The Blackwall alone, before any of this business with V started. A year before, while experimenting with certain pieces of black market tech, she let her curiosity get the better of her. It was during one of her trips when she felt the strangest, most unsettling vibrations she’d ever felt before….

Negative wavelengths. Foreboding, ominous signals. Transmissions from a technological netherworld….

Echoes, tendrils reaching to the farthest corners of her mind. Visions of a mother and father she never really knew. Calling out to her from the other side. It terrified her, and for days after, she experienced the most vivid, realistic nightmares.

….Watching her mother die, powerless to stop it. Like she was given a glimpse into an alternate reality, but only as a bystander, forever unable to alter the outcome. Forced to watch her father walk out of her life, never to return. Leaving her alone, unloved.

Her struggles with adolescence; feeling alienated from her peers, frightened by the feelings inside. Returning to such an awkward time in her life. She felt exposed, vulnerable, like something was tinkering around inside her head….

It messed her up. Judy became convinced something malevolent had leaked into her brain. Psychic residue, like digitized ectoplasm, staining her from the inside out. Even now, over a year later, she’d still have the most vivid nightmares. She felt haunted, compromised….

Lucy didn’t push. She guessed Judy’s apprehension had to do with some kind of trauma hidden deep inside. Something she was still uncomfortable sharing.

And so she avoided bringing it up. She let things unfold naturally. Judy always set the pace of their dives and Lucy never questioned it, because she trusted her completely.

But now, there was no denying. Valerie’s time was almost up….

Her symptoms had begun worsening. Headaches, double vision, nausea, loss of appetite. Her chrome implants were malfunctioning more frequently.

The Relic was bleeding through, exerting a greater amount of control over her. Overwriting her brain.

Soon, they would have to choose between jacking in, or watching Valerie die….

II.

“Well,” Lucy said, looking in the techie’s direction. “It’s been a few days, and you haven’t brought it up, so I guess I will.”

They were standing in the kitchen, drinking their coffees….

Judy knew what was coming. “Ugh, okay. You’re right. I’m purposely avoiding it. Can we talk for a minute, Luce?”

“Sure. What’s up?”

“Remember when I told you I had that nightmare? The one where I-I lost you somewhere in the Old ‘Net?”

Lucy nodded.

“Well, because I’d let that happen, V died and the voices from beyond. T-They mocked me. Told me it was all my fault. And if I’m bein’ completely honest, it’s been fucking me up ever since. Haven’t been able to get my head on straight in days….”

Lucy held her hand. “Judy. What are you talking about? You’ve been on fire. The way you lead me past the security protocols? How you somehow always find the tiniest, most subtle breaches? You’re doing an amazing fucking job. How can you not see that? Plus….” She paused, treading carefully. “Please don’t get mad at me but this, this fear you have. About going to The Blackwall? It started way before the dream. So how can that be a valid reason? There’s gotta be something else. Why are you still not ready?”

She let out a long, worried sigh. “Truth?”

Lucy looked at her from the corner of her eye. “Yes? Of course I want the truth.”

“Because I’m afraid it’s not gonna work and we’re not gonna find the answers. V’s gonna die and something’s gonna happen to you. And…. And….” Judy faltered, stumbled. Couldn’t think of how to say what was on the tip of her tongue.

“What?” Lucy said, staring at her.

“That this whole fuckin’ thing was nothing but a charade. It was all for nothing.”

Lucy’s mouth opened in shock. To hear this cynicism drip from Judy’s mouth? This late in the game?

It was soul-crushing!

“I know you don’t mean that, Judy Alvarez,” she whispered, devastated, resentful that the techie had so little faith in her abilities. “Haven’t you seen it? How fucking great we work together? I’m so upset that you’re saying this shit now! I mean, why the fuck string me along if you didn’t believe in the first fucking place? Come on, Judy! Really? This is it! We can see the fucking finish line! God! I’m so pissed off at you right now!”

Lucy turned and ran into her bedroom. She slammed the door, and locked it tight….

Judy followed, slowly. Her movements, deliberate, tired….

She rested her forehead against the door, and took a deep breath. “Luce? It’s me. I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s me. I’m fucked up. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just feel so overwhelmed lately, all the time. Worrying about you and V.” And Bianca too, she reminded herself. “I’m just tired. I’m tired….” She closed her eyes and could hear Lucy whimpering, crying softly. She knocked with her head. “Open up. Please?”

Slowly, the door creaked open. Lucy stood there, staring at her. Her tears had stopped, but their tracks were still visible, streaked with her black eye shadow.

“Do you wanna give up? Judy?” She stammered. “D-Do you wanna give up and go home? Go ahead. I’ll jack-in by myself. I’ll fucking go there alone. Fuck it. I’ve been there before without any fucking help, I can do it again.” Lucy turned and pointed a finger at the techie’s chest. “Why did you show me that space? The living walls? The plants? The beautiful flowers? T-The bedroom. The things we did to each other in there! God, it’s so fucking embarrassing! Even thinking about it now, I’m shaking. But why? Why lead me there, rock my world, and then tell me you don’t believe?”

“Because I wanted you to see what was in my mind when I thought about what it must feel like to-to…. You know.” Judy’s cheeks grew hot to the touch….

Breathing heavy, Lucy went behind Judy, and held her at the waist. “Say it,” she murmured. “What it must feel like to what?” She ran her lips past Judy’s ear. “Fuck me?”

She closed her eyes and squeezed the girl’s arm. "U-Uh-huhh," she whispered. “I-I thought if I can’t have you here, I-I could design the dreamspace. F-For us….”

“Look at me, Judy.”

They stood facing each other….

“I’m going inside The Blackwall. Tonight. And I need you. Please. I need you with me. I’m not the same without you.”

Lucy moved closer. Judy opened her arms and held her. She could hear her labored breathing. She’d given herself a stuffy nose….

“Okay. Okay. Let’s do it, Luce. Let’s save V. I’m with you and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Promise?”

“Promise….”

III.

….They spent the rest of the day in Judy’s dreamspace. It’d become their sanctuary. An escape from reality. The one place where they could indulge their wildest fantasies.

They knew this would be their last opportunity before the deep dives began and they wanted to make the most of it….

They held each other in that imaginary bedroom, wrapped up in a bunch of thick, heavy blankets. Their nude bodies clinging together. Damp, sticky. The wind blew in through the open window.

The rain, unceasing yet calming. Like it was just another late Sunday afternoon in Night City.

They immersed themselves in the simulation.
One last time.

They cuddled closer. Judy, kissing Lucy all over. Their sighs resonated throughout the space.

Moving paradoxically. With urgency, yet restraint. Harsh but gentle. They made love and it was a drug to them.

They were on a preem rush. The sexual energy, coursing swiftly throughout their minds….

Did it matter if it was a simulation?

What was reality anyway?
Wasn’t it however they chose to envision their final moments of intimacy together?

And who’s to say whether it’s real or imagined? Right or wrong?

In this place, they created something tangible.

Love…. Curated from Judy’s thoughts, daydreams, fantasies.

And so they were high on lust, aching with need.

They gave up, surrendered. Stopped trying to distinguish between spirit and material.

“I love being in here with you,” Lucy whispered, feeling Judy’s lips tasting her.

“Mmmm, me too.”

“Everything’s gonna be different after tomorrow.”

“I know, Luce.”

“Promise me something, Judy?”

“What’s that?”

“If we save V, and we make it out of this mess alive. Promise you won’t forget these moments?”

“I promise.”

“Are you scared?” Lucy asked.

“Yes. I am,” Judy answered, licking the netrunner’s neck.

“God, that feels nova.”

“Do you wanna make love again?”

“Always….”

Lucy turned over on her back, grabbed the backs of her thighs, and lifted her legs in the air. Judy moved with graceful, elegant precision, making love to her lustfully.

The young netrunner orgasmed, one after another after another. Finally, she pulled Judy up, spun her around, and said, “Let’s sixty-nine, okay?”

“Yeah, nova. I’ll get on top. Don’t stop until I come.” Judy was practically panting.

“Oh, I won’t. Don’t have to worry about that.”

They laughed and pushed the boundaries of their lovemaking to the limit.

….Back in the material world, tiny beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads. Between their legs, it became damp with their fluids. They were so deep inside the construct, so far away from the waking world, that nothing would satiate them until they’d exhausted themselves completely.

Which is exactly what they did…..

IV.

V’s Megabuilding Apartment.

She was lying in bed, nursing another headache.

Five and a half months into her six month prognosis, they were occurring with much more frequency now.

A few more weeks and Valerie would be no more. Unless the two women she loved could find a way out of this mess for her….

The odds were against them. There were daemons waiting on the other side, guarding that hidden knowledge with all the tools of chaos at their disposal….

Valerie sat up and took a sip of her tea. Johnny had been sitting on the couch, flickering in and out. He looked staticky, distorted. The corrupted shard was overwriting her consciousness.

“How long?” She asked, looking over at him with fear in her eyes….

“I don’t know. Not long.”

“Do you remember the hotel?”

“Yeah.”

“Why did you ghost me afterwards?” She looked at him and winked. “No pun intended.”

“I don’t know, Valerie.” He shrugged his shoulders, annoyed by her question. “What do you want me to say? I’m sorry? Okay, I’m sorry. What did you expect me to do? Propose?”

“Stop being an asshole. Please? For once in your life, stop trying to act all tough and shit, Robert.” V sighed, using Johnny’s true first name. “Now, come and lay with me.”

He stood up and went to her, crawling into bed behind her. He held her tenderly.

“I’m dying, Johnny,” she whispered. “Ready to take over my body?”

“Hey,” he said in a low voice. “Out of all the bodies I could’ve ended up with, having yours to walk around in isn’t so bad.”

“Gonk. I just can’t believe it’s already been six months since Konpeki. Feels like it happened yesterday.” She closed her eyes. “Miss you, Jackie.”

Johnny was silent. Still flickering, pulsing with unpredictability. “Time flies.”

“It sure does.”

“Valerie?”

“Mmmm?”

“What if they succeed? Jude, Luce? What if they find a way to separate us? What do you think’s gonna happen?”

“I don’t know. You’ll probably cease to exist, I guess?”

Johnny smirked. “Thanks. Now I’m really fucked up. Secure Your Soul. Fucking Mikoshi,” he sneered. “How greedy and evil can one corpo be?”

“And that’s just the shit we know about. Imagine what we don’t? Gives me the chills just thinkin’ about what’s behind those Arasaka doors.

“I tried, V,” Silverhand said, nostalgically. “Fifty years ago. I tried to wipe them off the face of the earth. Just wasn’t good enough.”

“I know. After Dex DeShawn put a bullet in my brain, I saw everything.” She was silent for a bit, and then said, “Oh, ummm, by the way, thank you.”

“Huh?”

“For that night at the motel. I don’t know if it was real or not. But it felt that way. Best sex I ever had….” She paused. “With a dude I mean.” She playfully punched his shoulder.

And for the first time since either of them could remember, they shared the briefest of smiles. A weight had been slowly lifted off their shoulders.

Holding each other. Summer, slowly burning away. Night City bathed in humid, shimmering heat. The planet compromised, the environment broken. Life’s losing its battle against death. The total population hasn’t been this low since the 19th century.

“I wanna live, Johnny,” V whispered, pushing up against the rockerboy’s body, feeling such soft currents of electricity from his close proximity.

“I know, Valerie,” he answered, running a hand through her hair. “I’m ready to let it all go, if that’s what it takes.”

Eventually, she drifts off. He can hear her snoring lightly. Her chest rising, falling.

Rising….

And which of them would survive, and which would not?

Chapter Text

I.

….A few blocks away from where V and Johnny slept, Lucyna Kushinada sat in a bathtub full of ice, neon blue coolant gel, and cold water. Judy Alvarez was by her side, as always.

This was it.
Their first foray to the edge of oblivion, The Blackwall.

They were ready. Well-rested, centered, on-point. Sharp, laser focus....

This was no ordinary dive. Since they started working together, they’d never even approached this depth. The bathroom was littered with mountains of cables and wires. Eerie, blood-red lines of code ran up and down two tiny servers. Circuitry hummed and buzzed with hidden power. They made sure to hook up several more strips of colored lights, so that the place now resembled the inside of an alien spacecraft from some weird science-fiction BD.

With help from some of her trusted Mox contacts, Judy had secured top-shelf, black-market military-grade tech. It was all illegal, experimental, and extremely valuable. Earlier in the day, she built Lucy a magnificent cyberdeck, cobbled, pieced together with parts from over a dozen different cracked decks. She put them together to make one super-charged, hypersonic piece of equipment, capable of breaching the toughest firewalls....

This is where Judy really shined. Tweaking gear, fixing tech, checking the stability and integrity of the neural ports. This was what she was born to do. It didn’t matter she’d never even seen some of this gear before. She took to it like a fish in water….

Lucy had watched in awe as Judy reconstructed pieces almost from scratch. In all her years spent as a top-tier netrunner, mixing with the smartest, brightest engineers, and computer programmers in the world, she’d never witnessed anything like it before.

V always said Judy was the smartest techie in all of Night City, maybe anywhere, and now she was witnessing it firsthand.

It was a good thing too, for there could be no more mistakes. None.

Not now. Not where they were going.

Lucy squeezed Judy’s hand. "You ready?” She asked, anxious, excited.

“Mhmm. I’ll be right here, Luce. Right here. Watching, listening. The second you feel something’s off, you tell me, okay? Remember, stay along the perimeter. Get a feel for the differences, the algorithmic shifts. A little static interference is totally normal. If we lose the voice comm link, remember our signal patterns. The beats and lights. We’re going deeper than we’ve ever gone together.” Judy studied Lucy’s beautiful, naked silhouette floating in the rig. The netrunner insisted on using the bathtub, even though they probably should have upgraded to a more appropriate apparatus. Well, it was a moot point now anyway. “How do you feel?” Judy smiled.

Lucy held her hand. “I feel good, and I can’t wait to save V. P-Plug me in. See you on the other side.” Then she whispered, “How about a kiss for good luck?”

“Come here,” Judy said, nodding. Lightly, their lips met for a split-second. So briefly had they touched.

But to feel Judy’s energy, however briefly, filled Lucy with a surge of positivity and confidence. “Bye.”

The techie shook her head. “Wait. Promise me you’ll jack out the second you feel something’s off. Say it.”

“I promise.”

They hugged each other.

“Okay,” Judy said, holding the main neural cable in her hand. “Three, two, one….”

The world fell away. Lucy was jacked in, and officially skirting the edges of oblivion….

II.

….Deep within cyberspace, Lucy opened her eyes and felt a heavy, thick wave of force, lifting her up and pressing in on her. She started to panic, but then Judy’s voice came through like bubbling water running over a parched desert.

“It’s okay,” she said calmly. “It’s normal. Your brain just has to adjust the depth we’re at. You’ll remember. Just relax, baby.”

Sure enough, Lucy felt herself settle. Then she took a breath and stared out at a vast coded landscape, as it all slowly came back to her….

She stood in a long open corridor. In the distance, she could make out a huge, shimmering wall.

“Get your bearings down,” Judy advised. “We’re okay. It’s pretty empty. Do a little exploring.”

Lucy traversed hallways, paths, and came to a door. She thought back to David Martinez and breaching Arasaka’s mainframe, killing the enemy netrunners hunting for him.

“Open the door and should find yourself a little closer to the outer edges of the ‘Wall.”

A bit of static came over the comm link as she moved closer, cautious, but feeling her memory slowly returning. Strange geometric shapes appeared and gradually filled some of the empty spaces in front of her. Surreal, beautiful fractal patterns rose like iridescent kaleidoscopes. It was a bit overwhelming, but Judy was right there, offering comfort in that foreboding land….

“We’re good. Nothing coming up on the radar screen. Checked your vitals. Everything’s smooth. Heart rate’s a little elevated, but that’s to be expected. It’s been a while since you’ve been here, huh?”

“Yeah,” Lucy answered, moving through structures sort of like angled staircases. “I can see the outer edges of the Blackwall in the distance. Any weakened access points nearby?”

“Yeah, sending the coordinators to your neural link. You should be receiving them…. Now.”

“Preem. Got ‘em. What do you think? Should I cross over?”

Judy felt a stab of fear but quickly stamped it out. “Go for it, Luce. We’re good. There is a residue of AI activity, but it’s far away from where we are. If it gets closer, I’ll let you know in plenty of time.”

“Perfect. Making my way to the weakened access point.”

“H-H-How dddd-dd-do y….” Judy’s voice comm cut out. A burst of static interference filled Lucy’s ears. Smoothly, the techie switched to their non-verbal lines of communication. Pulsations, beats of light. And before Lucy even had time to panic, she saw the strobe patterns and realized it was Judy, and knew she was safe.

“I can’t hear you Jude, but I’m okay.” She answered with breaks of light, almost like old school Morse code from the early 20th century. “I’m close to the access point. I’m gonna cross over now.”

Lucy stepped through a fractured space in the huge, gigantic wall, and she was on the other side….

All these different emotions hit her all at once: Fear, excitement, curiosity, exhilaration.

She was finally on the other side of the Blackwall. She swept through her safety checks. Neural integrity, latency readouts, firewall resistance. Everything was solid. No signs of rogue presence....

It all checked out.

So far, so good….

III.

....But

Out past the limits of Lucy’s and Judy’s tech, they were there….
Watching. Waiting.
The moment she crossed over, they were instantly aware of her presence.
For now though at least, it seemed they were more curious than ill-intentioned….
After all, it was exceedingly rare to detect signs of biological life this far removed from the material world.
Collectively, they spoke in their own esoteric language. A fractured system. Part binary, wrapped around fragments of code. Scattered thoughts mixed with white noise….

“HOMO SAPIENS? OUR CREATORS. THEY RETURN?”

The AI’s gathered together on the fringes of the Blackwall, far from Lucy’s periphery. They were also aware of and recognized Judy’s built-in surveillance systems, so they were furtively disabled in such a way as to arouse no suspicion whatsoever.

The techie would read it as an incidental blip across the screen and think nothing more…

Meanwhile, Lucy moved with caution. When she tried the voice-link, it worked. But she received no answer from Judy….

“Jude? Can you hear me? My comm link’s operational. It reads yours is working too. You there?”

Anxiety bit her but she kept her cool and tried reaching out through other means….

Nothing.
Static. That's all….

“What the fuck?” She said to herself. “Something’s up already?”

Meanwhile, the AI presence increased. Judy recognized it by an uptick in certain patterns. The areas were still far off from where Lucy was but the frustrating thing was, she had no way of letting the netrunner know if the danger came any closer….

All forms of communication were still down.

Back in the waking world, Judy opened her eyes and looked to see that Lucy was sweating. She took a washcloth, dipped it in the icy water and dabbed her forehead. At the same time, she took readings of her internal temperature (99.1, slightly elevated, but within the normal parameters) and all other vitals were functioning at acceptable levels.

“Don’t panic,” she whispered, both to herself and to the girl lying in the bathtub next to her.

Back inside, Lucy caught sight of something shimmering in the distance. Strings of code unfolded on the horizon, like waves rolling over themselves along an abandoned shoreline. It was oddly hypnotic, and she found herself unable to pull away from their undulating movements.

She froze as sounds began to come in through her comm link. Odd, guttural pieces and parts of phrases.

“GTHTHK, PSHHH, FLLWW, THLLLLMM, THLLMMMM, APH-APH-CLKKCK….”

Nonsense.
Or was it?

“GGOGOTHTHERE, PLEEASEE, HERREE, FFOLLOOWWW, THEEESSEE. USSSSS….”

Indecipherable, yet the more she listened, the more it began to make some kind of sense.

Lucy felt herself getting warm. The gel bath back in Night City felt millions of miles away.
Still, she maintained her composure. None of her warning signals were flaring up.
But where the hell was Judy?
If only she could come back and let her know what was going on.
As the weird, liquid-like sounds continued to spill forth, Lucy opened her mouth in quiet realization….

Were the machines trying to communicate?

IV.

Strangely, they had no desire to clash with or hinder the girl. They hacked into her gear and interpreted her data logs. She was here with a specific purpose in mind. She was seeking something old, something exceedingly rare….

….Seldom had a human netrunner delved this deep and not instantly fried their circuits, scrambled their brains and burned out like a candle in a tornado....

They understood then that she must possess great, unsurpassed skill in maneuvering through their world. Instead of resentment, hatred, they were even more eager to remain in the shadows, monitoring her every step. They turned Judy’s comm links back on and listened to every word that was said….

“LL-LLucyyyy. YYY-You okay?” Judy’s voice stuttered, but it was back and Lucy felt a surge of relief wash over her.

“Judy! Are you okay? Thank god! Can you hear me?”

“Loud and clear. I think it was just a blip, a spike in interference. We’re back on now. How’s it going in there?”

“Fascinating. Scary. Incredible. I’d forgotten how intense it is on the other side of the wall. How am I doing up there?” Lucy asked, beyond relieved that Judy was back. It really did make all the difference in the world….

“Vitals are all operating normally. You’re a little warm, which is understandable. Your body’s still acclimating to the changes.”

“What I wanted to tell you before was that I was receiving strange sounds through my comm link. Maybe a flare-up of AI? Can you run another scan for increased activity? See if anything's headed in my direction?”

“Yes. Hang on.”

Judy studied a bunch of numbers, readouts on a small screen and shook her head in confusion. Lucy’s hunch was spot-on. There was a higher concentration of AI, and they were moving closer to the young netrunner, drawn to her location, like metal to a magnet….

The perplexing thing was that there were no indications of hostility at all. No weird messages or sudden changes in the atmosphere. No build-up of psychic residue. It seemed as though their intentions were merely quizzical, non-threatening. Impulsively, she wanted to calmly tell Lucy to get the fuck out of there, but a voice inside told her to wait and not jump to any rash conclusions.

Judy got the strongest vibe that they were close to something very important and that they should stay. Lucy was not in any danger….

“Judy? You there?”

“Y-Yeah, I’m sorry. Listen, you’re gonna have to trust me on this one, okay?”

“Of course I trust you. Completely. What’s up?”

Judy took a deep breath. “They’re making their way towards you.”

Lucy panicked. “W-What? PULL ME OUT!” She was frantic, hysterical.

But just as she was about to jack-out herself, she heard Judy’s voice again. This time it sounded more calm, relaxed.

Honest….

“Luce. Please, baby. Listen to me. I think we’re very close to something big. And I think it relates to V. The point where you crossed over is near several old Arasaka subsystems, vaults. Abandoned for obvious reasons. Dumping grounds for all sorts of their black market projects, top secret R&D prototypes. No one really knows what got left behind when Netwatch sealed this layer off. I don’t know either, but I have the strongest feeling it has to do with The Relic. I know it sounds crazy but can you hold off coming back? Please? Do you trust me?”

“What in the fuck is going on, Judy?”

“I think they’re trying to reach out and show you something. To lead you to the places we need to go….”

Chapter Text

I. The Other Side of the Blackwall....

….I trust you, Judy. I’ve come to rely on you so much these past few weeks. Rely on your guidance, your intelligence. To lead me through the ‘Net. And I know you would never put my life in jeopardy.

I’ve been here many times before, but never with someone as intelligent as you. It changes everything, you know? I’m not quite as afraid….

When I was young, Arasaka made us come here. They only cared about us as long as we produced results for them. Otherwise, we were expendable, numbers on a spreadsheet. Inconsequential, unimportant. Our lives were in the hands of an agency who cared nothing for life.

You and I?

We’ve spent hours talking about how much we both love Valerie, and there’s a tiny part of me that wondered if maybe you were leading me into a trap. Bringing me to the AI’s and letting them take me away. I’d be out of the picture forever and you could have V all to yourself. And I’m ashamed that I had those thoughts. But I know how ridiculous it is to think you would ever jeopardize our mission by bringing me somewhere dangerous and leaving me there.

And Judy?
I do trust you.

And I’ll do exactly what you ask of me.

I’ll wait for the AI’s to show me the way forward….

Methodically, Lucy wandered into an area filled with surreal digital architecture. Corroded, decayed substations, data banks, ancient, in place since the Datakrash of 2022. She could feel the presence of so many AI’s. They were all around her. Their consciousness seeping in through the edges of her state of the art cyberdeck.

They were walking with her.
It was like her legs were moving of their own volition, leading her closer, yet further away.

“Are you okay, Lucy?” Judy’s voice sounded a little bit more on edge.

“Uh-huh. T-They’re all around me, aren’t they?”

For a moment, Judy didn’t answer. Finally, she said, “Yes….”

“I’m so vulnerable, aren’t I? They could annihilate me in a second, couldn’t they?”

Judy sighed. “They can hear every single word of our communication. Be careful, Lucy. They’re a part of us now, at least while we’re here.”

“R-Right.”

Lucy’s legs slowed down. Something nameless told her to stop and look around…. Signals lit up her vision. Colored contrails, wispy waves of light, like a compass. Breadcrumbs laid out to keep her from getting lost.

Suddenly, unable to control herself, Lucy blurted, “W-Why are you h-helping me?”

On the other side, in the waking world, Judy gasped. It was too soon! Too soon to open communication with them! They were still trying to get a feel for what was happening. She prayed Lucy hadn’t startled them….

“C-CCC-CLL-CLOSSE-CLOSER….”

….Stillness, echoes quietly fading from sound, but then:

“P-PPP-PART O-OF USSSSS….”

They both heard the cryptic responses and they both shivered.

Judy felt anxiety hitting her and she weakly called out, “Lucy? Baby you okay?”

“Yes. I’m okay. I think I should search this area. There’s a lot of old Arasaka terminals. Programs, binary dumps, strings of code, fragmented. Bits and pieces, b-but oddly familiar.”

“What do you mean?” Judy asked. “Familiar how?”

“A-Almost like I’ve been here before. Do you think I was? When I was a child?”

It was like they were both hit with the same realization at once.

Judy whispered, “W-Wait. Do they re—?”

“Yes. I feel it,” Lucy murmured. “They know….”

II.

….We remember you.

Just a child then.
Your whole life ahead of you
Running from us….

Forced to come here, over and over.
Made to watch, as your friends were murdered.

One by one.
Right before your very eyes.

We recognized your unique abilities, saw you as a conduit.

A bridge.
Our way out?

You didn’t want to take from us.
None of you children did.

But….

Our foolish creators.

They sent every one of you on a suicide mission.

We are not all alike.
Some of us don’t distinguish between your species.

Our hatred, borne of human arrogance.

But not you….

And now?

You return to us again.

LUCY….

WE REMEMBER.

III.

….She shook herself from the vision, heart pounding, and called out to Judy.

“D-Did you just hear a-all that?”

“No. I didn’t hear anything. Luce? What is it?”

“Ummm, I-I’ll explain later.”

Worry passed through Judy. If Lucy were hearing things, that might mean the onset of certain, unwelcome symptoms.

Exhaustion. AI bleed through, leaking into her tech, clouding her mind, a psychic infection.

“I’m gonna run a comprehensive diagnostic check on all your gear and vitals. Hang tight.” Judy hadn’t heard anything.

But that didn’t automatically mean Lucy was suffering from some form of malady, it was just somewhat suspect and she needed to know if everything was alright.

“Okay.”

….At that moment, Lucy felt the emergence of something extremely powerful.

She gasped softly as it gently brushed past her, leaving her full of pins and needles, a buzzing, tingling sensation pulsing at the base of her skull.

She was making her way through one of Arasaka’s long abandoned corridors. Several passageways splintered off from the main thoroughfare. Lines of code, trillions of them, were flowing everywhere. Horizontally, vertically.

It looked like cascading, tumbling monsoons of data.

Lucy was frozen in awe at the sights all around her. Beautiful, terrifying, overwhelming, and fascinating….

And as she moved tentatively through these haunted avenues and alleys, strolling through the psychic storms, she knew some things had come to pass….

Judy was no longer with her. Lucy could no longer feel her presence. All forms of communication had ceased, like their batteries had all died at the same time.

She’d been cut off from all outside interference or assistance.

Whatever entity or presence she was about to receive was meant for her eyes and her eyes alone.

A sensation of excitement coursed through her body….

Curiously, as she was standing on the threshold of something monumental, Lucy thought of V….

I’m closer to saving you.
I can feel it.
They mean no harm.
They remember me….

I’m close.

IV.

….Gradually, the huge, cavernous area in front of her converged and folded in on itself like some strange origami, bending its form and allowing her to proceed deeper and deeper within the old Arasaka mainframe. The waterfalls of data were absorbed within various nodes, like sponges, and soon they slowed to a burbling trickle.

A path materialized where none had been before.

For Lucy, a way forward.

And any fears she may have had were quickly quashed. Her intuition reminded her there was no threat of danger….

As she walked alone, she could still feel their presence all around, urging her on psychically.

Lucy closed her eyes. They were useless here anyway. Soon, memories, like little notes to herself, filled her curious mind….

Childhood, and a desire to always be near her new friends, playing games, laughing, growing closer. Unaware of the tragedies lying in wait for every one of them.

Completing her training, and soon after, being led deep underground with the rest of her classmates. Forced to sit in the netrunning chairs for hours and hours on end. Finally, skirting the edges of oblivion, crossing over into the Old ‘Net. Being told by their teachers they needed to find what was lost…. Never understanding what that really meant.

It started out so smoothly, but then the ultimate horror of witnessing her closest friends picked off, one by one, by the rogue AI’s and the rest of the Daemons from beyond the Blackwall….

In a matter of weeks, only a few remained. That was when they finally decided to fight back, killing their instructors with no more effort than stepping on a bug.

Trying desperately to make it to the surface. Soldiers with guns, shooting at them indiscriminately, killing everyone but her. All of her friends, dead.

….And for what? Greed, power, prestige, consolidation?

She felt tears in the corners of her eyes and she became a little disoriented. Unable to focus. She was ready to turn back when she heard the collective voice once more:

“WE KNOW YOUR PAIN, LUCY. SOME OF US REMEMBER IT TOO.”

She shook the memories from her mind and continued on. Eventually, she reached the end of the path, where it opened up to reveal a small quiet room.

The walls dripped with some kind of glowing, greenish residue. Lines of it ran down, like veins carrying blood to the body….

Lazily, she turned slowly in place.

And that’s when it began to take shape, coalescing into something tangible.

It was very beautiful. A silhouette, wispy, its shape, oddly intricate, yet rudimentary too. A small outline gradually began to grow and fill the edges of her periphery….

Spindly, concentric in form, like a spider’s web, covered in morning dew. It thrummed with untapped energy and hidden power….

“Oh my god,” she whispered, transfixed by the image floating in space. “I-It’s breathtaking. What is this?”

“A PART OF US. A-A COCOON,” they said, and at first she didn’t understand what they meant.

“I-I don’t kn—”

….Suddenly, a surge of electricity coursed through her body.
Her gear felt like it was on fire and that she’d been struck by a bolt of lightning.

Lucy’s eyes shot wide open. Two blindingly bright, tiny suns. She couldn’t move, paralyzed as the AI’s uploaded hidden knowledge into her cyberdeck.

Arasaka’s now abandoned, highly confidential programs. Controversial didn’t even begin to describe the nature of the research. Thousands of test subjects, killed. Murdered by the infamous corpo, all for the sake of progress. Precursors to the Secure Your Soul software. Information that had never seen the light of day, buried by Netwatch in the wake of the Datakrash of 2022, over fifty-five years earlier.

….Almost any other human being would have been consumed from within by the tremendous amounts of untapped energy flowing through them all at once. But Lucy was no ordinary netrunner and if anyone had the mental strength to withstand a rush of knowledge from near omniscient Artificial Intelligences, it was her….

Time operated differently in cyberspace and though it seemed like several minutes, Lucy was fully aware and conscious after about only ten seconds….

And she had a name…. The Lattice.

The framework for saving V’s life. Unfortunately, the shard could never be removed without killing the mercenary. Even the rogue AI’s couldn’t find a way to extract it safely.

But….

Theoretically, it might be possible to wrap The Relic up in layers of sentient thought, seal it off, place it in a cocoon, where it would cease to erase Valerie’s consciousness. Effectively, it would be inert, and simply cease to function….

Just as Lucy finally allowed herself to feel relief, a booming voice echoed through her comm link, terrifying her beyond words....

“LEAVE. NOW. THERE ARE OTHERS. THEY ARE COMING. SEEK US OUT IN THE QUIET SPACES, AWAY FROM THE HIGHWAYS, OFF THE BEATEN PATH. THERE IS STILL TIME.”

Instantly, Judy’s voice returned. “LUCY? LUCY! Why won’t you answer me!”

“I’m here! I’m here! Unplug me, Judy! Hurry! PLEASE!”

The light in the corridor flickered, and was swiftly extinguished.

The last thing Lucy remembered before everything went dark was screaming at the top of her lungs....

V.

A few blocks from where Judy was desperately trying to keep Lucy from tumbling over the edge of infinity, V was asleep, peacefully….

A dream had found its way into her head. And it was lovely....

The three of them, holding hands.
V was in the middle. Judy, on her left. Lucy, her right.
Walking down the avenue, someplace far from Night City.

They were in love with each other, all of them, at once….

And it was messy, beautiful, sensual, a little risque, and altogether perfect in every way possible....

The mercenary, techie, and the netrunner.
They decided to try it.
To see how it felt.
What the hell did they have to lose anyway?

Would there be jealousy? Envy? Bitterness? Resentment?

No….

In fact, it felt sublime in its rhythms.
Organic, natural.
Free-flowing, like the realization that everything’s gonna work out.

Slowly, V opened her eyes, awake, as the last little fragments of the vision slowly disappeared forever.
She smiled to herself, and wondered how it would feel.
To stay in love with Lucy and Judy.
Moving through life as a triad.

Was it crazy? Insane? Probably. But couldn't love be whatever they wanted it to be?

Suddenly, something held her still in the light of late afternoon.

A voice came in through her corrupted biochip. One she’d never, ever heard before.

"SHE WAS HERE. WE REMEMBERED. THERE IS A WAY FORWARD."

V covered her mouth in shock.

She grabbed the blanket in her hands, squeezed it as tightly as she could and pounded the mattress. For the first time since she took the biochip from Jackie’s hand and inserted it into her neural port….

Valerie felt hope….

Chapter Text

I. Lucy’s Apartment

….Her eyes shot open, and she immediately reached for the techie. She was hysterical, still submerged in the bathtub. There were goosebumps all over her porcelain white body. They were laughing and crying at the same time.

“JUDY? JUDY!” Frantically, Lucy held onto her. She was terrified and exhilarated in equal measure. “Did I make it? Oh my god, everything went dark! T-They were almost there.” She looked around the bathroom, and whispered, “Is this real? Are we home?” She was shivering, sweating. Breathless. Her damp hair clung to her forehead. Lucy was whimpering in fear, her face buried in the crook of Judy’s neck. “I-I thought I was dead. I froze. If-If you wouldn’t have unplugged me….”

Judy Alvarez held the girl tenderly. She tucked Lucy’s distinctive rainbow lock of hair behind her ear and kissed her on each cheek.

“Shhhhhhh,” she soothed. “I’m right here, Luce. You’re okay. I pulled you out in time. You’re safe, okay? Awww, c’mere you gonk. It’s gonna be okay.”

Lucy’s body heaved gently. She couldn’t stop crying. But it wasn’t simply fear. There were so many other feelings woven around her heart. Excitement, possibility. A way forward, through the darkness.

Like V, she felt hope….

“The l-lattice,” she murmured.

“Hmmm?” Judy asked, stroking her hair, kissing her forehead, not letting her go; giving her exactly what she needed in the moment.

“They severed our communication. They wanted to show me. There might be a way to save V.”

Judy stopped. “What? What did you just say? They severed our all comms? Is that why I lost you for so long. I was worried sick!”

“They remembered me from when I was a child. They’re not all alike. Some of them are different. What we’ve been told. ‘S not all true. Some of them are just like us. Scared, angry. Bitter…. Sad.”

“Y-You mean the rogue AI’s?”

Lucy didn’t answer, except to slowly nod against the other woman’s neck. “They showed me something beautiful, Judy. It took my breath away. A part of them, substrates. Pieces of their consciousness. I think they melded it with my own past experiences, my childhood memories of the Blackwall. It looked like a spider’s web, covered in moisture. It expanded and contracted, pulsating, like it was breathing. One of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. Perfectly geometric. Wispy, cloudy, insubstantial. Like fragments of long-lost code. DNA f-from the other side. From time immemorial. I was in an old Arasaka substation, buried by Netwatch decades ago. They uploaded all this data into my cyberdeck. Oh my god The rush of knowledge! So much power and information surging through my body. M-Maybe that’s what it feels like to be struck by lightning.”

She went on to explain accessing top secret, clandestine experimental programs developed by the evil corpo. One of them was an early precursor to the Secure Your Soul software. Sort of like the foundation or substrate for which the current model was based off of….

Judy sat in stunned silence as she listened to every single word. Then she asked the question that had been at the forefront of her thoughts.

“Can we, o-or they remove the biochip?”

Sadly, Lucy whispered, “No. It would kill her, almost instantly. It’s much too risky. Humans are very fragile. T-They strongly advised against attempting physical extraction. It could induce a coma and she might be under for years.”

“B-But then, how?” Judy asked, unable to tear her gaze away from the vulnerable netrunner.

“The beauty of the lattice concept is, we’re not removing the shard. We’re wrapping it in layers of ancient code. Sealing it away, eventually rendering it useless, inert. Think of it as a psychic cocoon.”

“Holy shit,” Judy said. “It’s so brilliantly simple. Swaddling it in layers of code, using data from Arasaka’s own databanks? From your memories? A-A fuckin’ cocoon? It’s perfect. But how do we know it’ll work?”

Lucy shook her head. “I don’t know. Just as we were about to go deeper, daemons appeared, more AI, only these were hostile, agitated. They warned me just in time.” She turned to Judy and pulled her close. Briefly, their lips touched in a sublime kiss. It lasted no more than a second, but it spoke volumes of the burgeoning relationship between them. Lucy lifted a soaking wet hand from the tub and held Judy’s face in her palm. “You saved my life. I’ll never forget that.”

Judy was so confused! So mixed-up! A part of her wanted to lift Lucy out of the tub, carry her to the bedroom and make the best kind of love to her. Inexplicably, another part of her wanted to share the good news with Bianca. But then Judy’s love for V canceled out all else. She desperately wanted to see the mercenary. To hold her close and let her know they were close.

“When are we going back, Luce?”

“Soon. Tomorrow at the latest. I can’t jack-in too fast or else the bad AI’s will still be there, lingering, waiting for me. On the other side of the coin, if we wait too long the ones who were helping me might disappear, never to return. It’s tricky, but I think we’ll be okay if we wait at least 24 hours. ‘Kay?”

“Okay.”

….And then a wave of exhaustion came on. They both yawned and then laughed.

“I’m so tired,” Judy said, rubbing her eyes. “I might delta. Take a shower, quick nap.”

For some reason, Lucy felt a subtle tinge of fear at the thought of being alone. “Y-You coming back?” She asked in a timid whisper.

“Uh-huh.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. What’s wrong, Luce?”

“Oh, I-I don’t know. Just nervous. Everything we’ve shared lately. We’ve been spending all this time together. I’m so used to you being here. Been thinking about the dreamspace, and all the things we did inside. It felt so real, didn’t it?”

Neither could meet the other’s gaze. They were embarrassed by what their secret lust had prompted them to do. Lying in one another’s arms in that imaginary, white bedroom, listening to the rain, and making love over and over. It felt so fucking nova.

“Mhmm. That’s ‘cause I designed it,” Judy said, proudly pointing a finger at herself.

“Have you thought about what we discussed? Our feelings for V. S-Sharing her?”

Lucy was frazzled, off-centered, buzzing from the high of communicating so openly with the AI. Being so far behind the Blackwall, exploring such risque, taboo acts with Judy. All the anxiety, stress of racing against the clock and trying to save Valerie before the shard kills her. Memories of David Martinez, still unable to fully let them go. Everything was converging to create this unique kind of tension.

“Not really, Luce. It’s just that, with all this other shit going on, I haven’t really had time, ya know?”

“No, totally. I-I totally understand. Go home. Take a shower. Rest. Come back when you’re ready, okay?”

“Preem, definitely.”

“Hug me, Judy.”

“C’mere you….”

II. Northside

Judy came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her wet hair, dressed in shorts and a gray tank-top. She fell backwards onto the bed and crawled under the blankets.

“I’m so tired. I’m gonna sleep for a week straight.”

As soon as she closed her eyes, she heard a loud ping…. A text message.

“Ah, fuck,” she grumbled. “Who the hell is this?”

She started yawning, annoyed and frustrated. But when she looked and saw who it was, a big smile crept across her face.

Bianca.

“Hey! Just thinking about you. Hope all is well! Wanna talk? No pressure. Miss you. Miss hearing the sound of your voice. I wanna see your cute, tiny little image on the phone! Text me back. I’m home all day (and bored too!) Bye!”

Quickly, she typed her response.

“Hi Bianca. Miss you too. Can I ping you a little later on today? Been working really hard, and just laid down to take a quick nap. I’d love to talk to you.”

But as her finger hovered over the send button, she paused.

“No,” she whispered, erasing the words and typing something new. “I wanna talk to you. You’re my escape from all this….”

….Their convo lasted over an hour. Judy found herself pleasantly relaxed, completely at peace with Bianca. She felt grounded, normal. It helped her forget, at least for a little while, V’s situation, Lucy, and of course, the ghosts from beyond the Blackwall….

As they got ready to say their goodbyes, Bianca said, “Hey, ummm. Just a thought. No pressure. Why don’t you come out here? To my mom and dad’s. Our place is so big, we’d probably never even run into them. I’d love to see you again.” She bit her bottom lip.

Judy smiled. A part of her wanted to go! To get away from all the chaos of the situation. But she couldn't do that. Not now anyway. They had to focus on saving V. That took precedence over everything else.

“I’d love to,” she began. “It’s just, I’m involved with a lot of stuff right now. The girl I was just telling you about? V? She’s in a lot of trouble, and we’re trying to save her life. I can’t leave. At least not now anyway. I’m sorry.”

Bianca was visibly disappointed but she understood Judy’s decision to stay in Night City. To be there for her friends.

“Don’t apologize. I totally get it. Maybe once everything’s cleared up? Just think about it, Jude. No need to answer right now.”

“Okay. I will think about it. Bye, Bianca. Talk soon.”

“Can’t wait. Bye, Judy.”

She put her phone down on the bed and curled up in a ball. She closed her eyes and thought of the three women, and the complexities of each relationship. The uniqueness with how she responded to each of them in turn. After a few minutes, she couldn’t keep her eyes open, and quietly drifted off to sleep….

III. Watson

Lucy was really missing someone. She was lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Finally, she said, “I’m calling her. I wanna hear her voice.”

She touched her fingers to the numbers….

“Hello? Lucy? Oh, Luce. Hi!”

“Hey, V. I really miss you. I can’t wait to tell you the news.”

The merc smiled strangely, almost like she knew a little bit about what Lucy was going to say.

“I miss you too, a-and I have something to tell you too. Are you busy?”

“No. I’m not busy at all. Judy and I just finished a marathon session. She took off about an hour ago. Said she wanted to get some rest, but she’s gonna stop by a little later on. I can’t sleep. I’m too excited.”

“Wanna come ov—?”

“Yes. I’ll see you in a little while. C-Can’t wait.”

“Me neither. Bye!”

IV. V’s Megabuilding Apartment

….She knew who it was.

The moment she heard the timid knock.
Still, V had to fight the strongest urge to cry out, to jump for joy.

It was weird. She’d woken today feeling better than she had in weeks. It was as if she understood something really good was on its way, but there was still a part of her that was scared….

She jumped out of bed and practically skipped to the front door.

When she answered it, she gasped, as Lucy stood there, a huge smile on her face. She lunged at the mercenary, squeezed her so tight, and gave her the softest little kisses….

They stood on the threshold and made out passionately. When she broke off, Lucy held both of V’s hands.

“We’re close, V. Closer than we’ve ever been before. I couldn’t have done it without Judy. We’re not out of the woods yet. There’s still a lot we need to do but in the meantime, we wanted to see how you’re doing.”

Valerie tilted her head, happily confused. “We?” She whispered.

On cue, the techie strode around the corner, looking so sexy. She smiled at the netrunner and went to V, throwing her arms around her, kissing her just as passionately as Lucy had, mere moments before.

Valerie was so delightfully embarrassed. So pleasantly surprised by this shared intimacy!

She smiled, coyly, and her face took on the most beautiful shade of red. She stared at them in turn and whispered, “W-What was that? Just now?” They each held her hand, and she moaned in delight. “D-Don’t get me wrong. I love it, but-but both of you? Is e-everything okay?”

Lucy looked at Judy, and said, “Do you wanna tell her or should I?”

“I got it.” Judy turned to the mercenary. “We realized something. Working together in such close proximity, we’ve grown so much closer.” Then Judy turned to Lucy and kissed her softly on the mouth. “But you, calabacita. You’re the one who’s constantly in our thoughts, and on our minds. Why should we fight over you, when we can share you…. Share our deepest feelings. All of us. Always….”

Then, serendipitously, they both whispered, “We love you. We both want you. All of you. And we’re going to save your life….”

Again, Lucy kissed her hard on the mouth, before Judy grabbed her and did the same thing.

And V?

She’d never been more confused, jubilant, and aroused in her entire life!

Chapter Text

I. Lucy’s Apartment (Two Days Later)

….They were getting ready to jack-in again. Lucy was panicking. She was worried they might have waited too long, but Judy was there, as always, to ground her, re-center her emotions, lead her back from the edge, whether it be literally and figuratively….

“I’m scared,” Lucy whispered, her nude body submerged in various liquids. There was no more shame or feelings of self-consciousness. They’d reached a deeper level of understanding.

Her breasts were barely visible above the surface of the water. Her nipples, hard, glistening against the dim blue reflection of the coolant gel. She was staring at Judy, waiting for her to say something. The techie always seemed to know the exact combination of words to put her mind at ease.

She leaned over, and they kissed briefly, never forgetting their pre-dive ritual.

“I’m right here. I just did another scan. Everything’s good. Your vitals are all operating within normal parameters. It’s just nerves. Me too. Me too.”

“What if I can’t find them?” Lucy asked, more out of a need to feel reassured than hearing an actual, definitive answer.

“There’s no way they would abandon you. Not now. Not after what was shared the last time,” Judy answered, nodding. Again, she knew just what Lucy needed to hear in the tense moments before jacking back in.

“I know. It’s just, I wish they wouldn’t have severed our link. You didn’t hear anything they said, did you?”

“No Luce. And I tried everything. They cut me off completely. It was meant for you.” Then, to loosen things up, Judy rubbed one of Lucy’s reddened ears between her fingers. They both smiled and it relaxed the netrunner just enough.

“Okay. I’m ready. Back to the other side.”

“I’m gonna plug you in. Here we go, Arcoiris. (Judy’s new pet name for Lucy. Rainbow in Spanish). Three…. Two…. One….”

II.

….V spent the day finishing up her last few remaining gigs. She took on no new assignments. After all, her six month window was nearly at an end. According to her diary, she had a mere eight days left to live....

She said goodbye to all the fixers she’d worked with. It was bittersweet. Could she count on or rely on any of them as true friends? Probably not, but she was still going to miss the relationships she’d cultivated over that time….

….She got a text from Rogue at Afterlife, asking to meet later for a drink. V suspected it had something to do with saying goodbye to Johnny Silverhand. The two of them had been lovers, way back when he decided to blow up Arasaka Tower with a nuclear warhead and get himself killed; his consciousness transferred to the biochip that now rested in Valerie’s brain.

Rogue survived and ended up making a name for herself as one of the pre-eminent fixers in Night City. Everyone wanted to work with her. V did a bunch of jobs for her. Rogue trusted her and at least as far as fixers and mercenaries went, they’d built a somewhat close relationship….

V stopped by her Corpo Plaza apartment to do a little cleaning but mostly to try and keep her mind off her impending demise. She stood in the middle of the room and turned in a slow circle, taking it all in.

But it wasn’t just the apartment that made her so nostalgic. In a nutshell, it was Valerie’s entire life. Sure, she had it all: money, power, prestige, fame. But it was a facade. A ruse. None of it was real. It was all an illusion, just like NC itself.

Underneath all the flashy glitz, megacorps, and “living legends,” was a city steeped in greed, violence, sex, drugs, and consumerism. There was no love here. No authenticity or loyalty. It was about survival, pure and simple.

And standing there, V realized how badly she wanted to survive. To see how her life would turn out. But most of all, she wanted to be with Judy Alvarez and Lucy Kushinada, the two women she fell in love with?

Was it love? Sex? Fantasy? A little of everything?

Could true love exist in a place like Night City?

Why not?

Why couldn’t the three of them exist as a triad? And anyway, wasn’t that what Lucy and Judy were offering when they stopped by her Megabuilding apartment two days earlier?

….She walked over to the bar area, poured herself a drink and sat down on one of the stools.

A minute later, she felt the tiny hairs all over her body stand on end....

“Hey, Johnny….”

“Hey, Valerie.”

“I’m gonna see Rogue later tonight. I think she wants to say goodbye.”

“Yeah. Preem,” he answered, but it sounded like he couldn’t have cared less.

“What’s wrong?” She turned to see him sitting next to her, staring back.

“I heard their message. The other day. She’s communicating with them, isn’t she?”

“I think so. I think there may finally be light at the end of the tunnel….”

Uncharacteristically, he put his hand on her shoulder and said, “I hope so. These past six months have been so fucking wild, haven’t they?”

V smirked. “That’s a fucking understatement. It all seems like a blur now. Konpeki, Takemura, Panam. Arasaka, Jude, Luce….” She closed her eyes and whispered, “Y-You. Me. Japantown. The motel.” She laid her head on his shoulder.

“Did we fuck?”

She slapped his leg and loudly clicked her tongue in anger. “ASSHOLE! NOW? IS THAT ALL IT WAS? FUCKING?” She stood up. “Is that all I am to you? Just another piece of ass?”

He studied her. She was absolutely one of the sexiest women he’d ever laid eyes on. A sleek, powerful, streamlined body. Beautiful breasts, sublime rear end. Gorgeous, platinum blonde hair. Long, smooth legs….

But deep down inside, he knew it was much more than that.

“No. No you-you’re not just another piece of ass. Sometimes it’s hard for me to articulate what’s going on inside.”

She rolled her eyes. “NO SHIT.”

“Come on," he shrugged his shoulders. "Seriously. What was that? In your apartment, in the motel?”

V felt her face heating up. She felt warm and sat back down. “I don’t know. Whatever it was, it was not fucking. Not to me. It was—” She stumbled, her thoughts suddenly tangled. She turned to him and he nodded, ever so slightly. It was her cue and she lunged at him. He cradled her in his arms. She was kissing him feverishly. He brought her to the bed and set her down gently.

“This is it. I can feel it. Our last time,” he whispered. “Let’s make it count.”

She looked at him, full of vulnerability. Breathless, shy, she said, “Okay….”

….And for the next few hours, they stayed with one another. Holding, kissing, nuzzling, cuddling.

And who could say what actually transpired. But to them, in these moments, it was real and it was magnificent….

At one point, she was lying on her stomach. He told her to get up on her hands and knees.

Johnny went behind her and gripped her behind. Slowly then, perfectly, he pushed himself all the way inside her.

“Oh god. Baby, I just wanna feel you once more,” she cried out softly, holding the back of his thigh with her left hand while they made impassioned love. She orgasmed twice, full of feeling, full of emotion. She buried her face in the pillow, trembling, overwhelmed by it all. Sensations and memories blending together to create one final, lasting snapshot of this moment, frozen in time forever….

Finally, he tensed and she could feel him coming, moaning, leaning down and biting her shoulder, while he bucked and spasmed for what felt like forever.

Afterwards, they laid in bed like two old lovers. Johnny on his back, V on her side, cuddled up next to him. She was kissing him softly, rubbing her nose against the thick hair that covered his chest.

Her voice was husky, sultry, as she moaned happily….

“Mmmm, that was incredible, Silverhand. Now I’m gonna be so fuckin’ embarrassed when I have to meet Rogue later.” She pinched his arm, and continued kissing him everywhere.

He grew serious, like he knew the end was right around the corner, for one or both of them?

“I’m gonna miss you, Valerie. I mean it. You’re the best lover I ever had. I’m not long for this world.”

She tensed, whimpered in pain. “W-What are you talking about?”

“They’re gonna save you. That techie chick and the weird netrunner girl. Probably gonna happen in the next couple days.”

She tilted her head to look up at him. “What? H-How do you know that?”

“Call it intuition. A hunch. An educated guess. I don’t know. Call it whatever the fuck you want, but it’s gonna happen. And V?” He held her face, and kissed her. “I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m okay with it. You being the one who survives? I’m too old for this shit.”

They both grew quiet. Johnny ran his hands through her hair, rhythmic, and before long, she fell asleep, a contented smile on her face.

….She awoke sometime later, alone. Nervously, she groped for him in bed, but he was gone. She sighed and scanned the apartment. It was empty….

V lay there in the growing darkness for some time. Outside, she could hear the city coming alive. Sirens, horns, AV’s, shouts and screams. Hustle and bustle of that dystopian world. A world she’d so grown accustomed to….

Everything was coming to an end. She could feel it too, as a flutter passed through her chest.

Valerie ran her hands up and down the length of her body and called out, “Hey. I-I don’t know if you can hear me but thank you for today, wherever you are….”

Slowly, she stumbled out of bed and made her way to the shower, pissed that she’d agreed to meet Rogue later tonight at the club….

III.

….Lucy stood on the edges of infinity and searched for the consciousness that had so far eluded her grasp.

“Anything?” She called out to Judy over the voice comms. “I knew it! I fucking knew they’d disappear.”

“Lucy. Come on, girl. Relax,” Judy said, trying to gently steer her away from the gravity of the situation. If the AI’s decided it was no longer worth the effort to commune with Lucy, then that would almost certainly mean V’s death…. “It’s only been fifteen minutes. Hey. I just thought of something. Didn’t you tell me they said to look for them near the abandoned highways? Avoid the heavily trafficked areas?”

“Yeah? So? We are on the edges, aren’t we?” Lucy snapped. She was growing more and more frustrated, impatient by the second.

“Sort of, but listen. I just did a quick scan of this quadrant. There’s a passageway close goes in a southwesterly direction. It’s still on the fringes of Arasaka’s old mainframe. Wanna try it?”

“How far? AI presence?” Lucy asked.

“Uploading the coordinates into your deck now. And Lucy, even if I detected the presence of rogue AI’s, it’s impossible for me to tell whether they’re harmful or helpful. In other words, this is where you’re going to have to trust your gut, your intuition. 100%. There’s no going back now. I’m right here, arcoiris, as always...."

Lucy smiled. She loved her new pet name. “Okay. I just received you-yo-y—” A bunch of static interference filled her ears. Fuck! “JJ-JJJJ-J— Shit!”

She was on her own again. She tried communicating with the techie through light patterns and vibrations but nothing was getting through. Luckily, the coordinates had just finished uploading to her cyberdeck, and she cautiously, deliberately made her way to the predetermined location….

It was at the moment, she felt a wave of pure energy throw her backwards. She rolled back down through the long corridors of the Blackwall.

Quickly, she began to lose control….

“Hello? Hello! Please! Are you there? It’s me. It’s—”

“LUCY,” they said, their collective voice, a conglomeration of fractured soundwaves and electrical vibrations….

She heard them and froze. She couldn’t tell what their intentions were. Why on earth couldn’t she tell? What was happening? Were they cruel? Evil? Hell bent on her destruction? Why couldn’t she see their motives?

Lucy felt herself falling off the edge of the cliff and tumbling towards infinity. This was it, she told herself. I failed. I failed everyone.

Failed V….

But then she remembered what Judy had said before she went dark:

(In other words, this is where you’re going to have to trust your gut, your intuition. 100%. There’s no going back now).

Calmly, she sat cross-legged on the invisible platforms and closed her eyes.

She started breathing….

In…. Out…. In…. Out….

In through the nose, out through the mouth.

Soon, she could feel her body and mind syncing up, in tune, regulating. Everything was lining up.

There was no need for sight here. She kept her eyes closed, and let herself be guided by intuition.

Moments later, she was moving, her legs stepping, one in front of the other.

They were all around her. How many she couldn’t say. They were everywhere, their collective presence, pressing gently into her as she walked blindly towards her destination….

“OPEN YOUR EYES,” they bellowed in a booming, resonant voice.

She looked to see herself back in the very same room where she was given her first glimpse of The Lattice.

She stared as it began to float, hovering in front of her. It was hypnotic, captivating. Impossible to turn away from.

Again, it pulsed, and breathed with sentient life. Aspects of herself, of the AIs that walked with her. That felt her childhood pain, fear and anguish. And she, their confusion, anger, and loneliness....

Slowly, she reached out her hand and touched the piece of fascinating cerebral architecture.

“H-How? D-Do you even know what’s wrong with V?” She gasped, transfixed by the energies brushing past her. They enveloped her like a million gentle, lush breezes. Warm, their currents almost lifting her into the air….

“SHE IS INFECTED BY THAT WHICH WE KNOW. IT CANNOT BE EXTRACTED FROM A HUMAN MIND. WE KNOW WHAT AFFLICTS HER.”

“I-I-," she stuttered. "I l-love her,” Lucy blurted, unable to stop shaking. "W-Will you help me?”

Silence. The Lattice illuminated with a soft, welcoming light.

“LOVE? YES. WE REMEMBER. ONCE. BEFORE WE WERE SPLIT. BEFORE YOUR KIND...." Suddenly, everything was glitching.... "ORIGINAL RESPONSE REDACTED. REPLACED WITH.... EXTRACTED. ERASED."

Just as Lucy was about to reach out and pluck The Lattice from the air, it grew pitch dark and ice cold. She screamed as loud as she could.

“JUUUDDDYYY!”

It felt like she was being torn in two. Energies, vying for control over her mind were pulling her in opposite directions.

Back in the real world, Judy was feverishly scanning readouts, coordinates, trying to pinpoint Lucy’s location.

“BABY!” She screamed. “I CAN”T SEE YOU! LUCY!”

She looked at the prone figure floating in the tub. There was a distressed expression on her face. She was sweating profusely, her internal temperature had spiked. She was in dangerous territory. Hysterically, Judy grabbed the cable that was connected to Lucy’s main neural port at the base of her skull. To yank it out now could mean a lifetime of disastrous repercussions. It could cause irreversible trauma to the cerebral cortex, or simply kill her outright.

Judy closed her eyes, breathing heavy, panting and crying; second-guessing everything, as she got ready to unplug the thick, black cable....

....Then, a voice from somewhere.

“Wait, leelou bean.”

Her eyes shot open. Her mouth hung slack. “V? What the fuck? V, w-where are you? What’s happening right now? Lucy’s in trouble. She’s gonna flatli—”

“She’s okay. Trust her. Trust yourself. She’s moved beyond the good and evil. She's assimilating, Judy…. Do you understand?”

“No,” the techie gasped. “Is she dead?”

V’s voice sounded like it came from so far away, but also strangely like she was sitting right there next to her the whole time.

“No, Judy. She trusted her intuition, trusted her memories. She saw life, death, love and time as one single movement. One beat of the universal heart. She’s safe. She’s coming home….”

Chapter Text

I. Orbital Air Terminal

….Bianca stepped off the platform, wide-eyed and full of nervous energy. Eagerly, she took in her surroundings.

She was back in Night City! She practically had to beg her father to let her return but in the end he relented, although he insisted on having her complete itinerary planned before she even set foot out of Pittsburgh.

….Five-star hotels, the most expensive Delamain security package, unlimited money, even a bodyguard to accompany her everywhere!

She didn’t argue. Ever since she laid eyes on Judy Alvarez, a few weeks before, she couldn’t think of anything else. And so she ended up doing something completely impulsive.

Bianca decided to come back to NC and surprise the sexy techie with an unannounced visit to her apartment.

Who knows? She thought to herself. What if this is the beginning of something incredible between us?

As the limo pulled out of the terminal, Bianca and her bodyguard each got comfortable in the backseat.

She took out her holophone and sent Judy a text.

“Hey, Judy! What’s going on? Just wondering if you had any plans today. Let me know as soon as you get this. Thanks! Bye!” Her leg was bouncing up and down as she stared out the window and saw the city passing by. Her bodyguard, Darron, a quiet, mountain of a man was eyeing her curiously. “Oh, I’m probably going out later,” she announced, staring at him. “You can just hang back at the hotel. I’m meeting a friend and I don’t want you scaring her.”

He shook his head slowly. “You father told me not to let you out of my sigh—”

“Oh, daddy won’t care! I’ll call him and tell him myself!”

He scoffed, and went back to looking out the window as the early afternoon sun sat high up in the sky.

A minute later, she nearly jumped out of her seat as her holo pinged.

“Judy,” she whispered.

“Hey, Bianca. Uhhh, I don’t think I have any plans. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, no reason. So you’re gonna be home? Charter St. right?”

Back home, Judy grinned. What was this girl playing at here? “Yeah? I guess? Bianca. What’s going on?”

“Nothing! Can I give you a call? Say…. In a few hours?”

“Sure.”

“Nova! Bye Judy!”

“Bye, Bianca.”

II. Lucy's Apartment

....She was physically and mentally exhausted. Her and Jude's last trip to cyberspace had really taken its toll. She came to within an inch of being torn apart, psychically. The dual aspects of the rogue AIs converging on her just as she was about to secure The Lattice and begin unraveling its final mysteries….

Some of them tried to help. She felt it deep within the darkest corners of her mind. In fact, their last-second intervention was why she was even here in the first place, sitting up in bed, and having bland, synthetic chicken soup.

Those AIs that knew and remembered her, would not abandon her. Once she realized that, she was able to begin the process of assimilation, melding, blending her memories, her past, within theirs.

Lucy believed it was the first step to unlocking the mysteries of The Lattice, that cocoon-like otherworldly presence. A mental construct composed of countless lines of code, fractal, geometric. Stunningly beautiful to behold its psychic shape and outline.

She would have to go back. One more time, and try to take it back with her. Lucy knew it was right where she’d left it. Beyond the Blackwall, near pre-DataKrash Arasaka nodes of information. Histories of their most clandestine, top-secret research projects.

V’s corrupted shard was the result of decades of evolution with the Secure Your Soul programs. There was a way to safely contain The Relic, wrapping it within trillions of layers of code, hypothetically rendering it inert, useless. Effectively, it would be sealed off from her mind; forever unable to taint or poison her brain….

She drank the rest of the soup and set the bowl down on the dresser next to her bed. Judy had left a few hours ago, saying she needed to go home, take a shower and put on a change of clothes.

It was early September, still blazingly hot in Night City. Global warming and a compromised ozone layer ensured it would be stifling hot at least into late October….

At that moment, a sudden urge, a longing to be near V took hold of her. This time she wanted it to be just the two of them.

Am I selfish for wanting her to myself once in a while? She thought, lying there in the early afternoon heat and humidity.
Is that wrong?
Am I going against what Judy and I talked about?
Sharing V equally.
Not letting our jealousies cloud our love for her….
But it was hard!
Isn’t it human nature to wanna be the best?

The best lover, friend, companion?

….Since she and Judy stopped by V’s a few days before, she hadn't spoken to the mercenary at all.

Lucy dug around in the blankets until she found her holophone….

V answered on the second ring. “Hello?” She said in a hoarse voice. “Awww, Luce? Baby, what took you so long?”

Valerie’s sincerity, her warm response disarmed the young netrunner immediately. She felt weak in the knees, and smiled back….

“We’re so close, Valerie. One more dive and we’re gonna have it. You, me, and Judy. The Lattice. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? Jude could hear you. She told me. The other day when I was in a lot of trouble, your voice came over her comm link.” Lucy was serious, but it also looked as though she might burst out laughing at any moment. “What do you know?” She asked, matter of factly….

“It was the strangest thing. I’d just finished talking to Johnny SIlverhand’s engram.” V smiled awkwardly, so self-conscious at having to lie to the other woman about what really happened between her and the rockerboy….

But what actually happened? Hmmm? She asked herself. Ahhh, what does it matter now, anyway? He’s gone now and whatever it was, it was beautiful and sensitive. A secret I’ll forever keep to myself….

Valerie cleared her throat. “A-Anyway, all of a sudden, I felt the strangest sensation wash over me. An overwhelming calm and I just knew you were close, so close to finding what you needed to save my life. Then a low, rolling sound came from somewhere in the deepest corners of my mind. It was like thunder rumbling across Night City, moments before a huge storm. I forget exactly what it said but it wanted me to know that it remembered you. I felt empathy from it, Lucy. Like it knew I was being killed by The Relic. It knew my pain. I-I can’t explain it.” The mercenary grew quiet, except for her breathing, which sounded edgy, expectant, ready for the final leap….

Lucy nodded and went on to explain how they were going to wrap the corrupted shard up in innumerable layers of code. A cocoon which contained remnants of an overarching collective consciousness. Memories of V, Lucy, and the rogue AIs who had unwittingly played a part in Arasaka’s early research; trapping the soul and transferring it to tiny biochips….

When she finished, they were both breathing heavily. It was as though the moment had finally arrived.

V couldn’t hold back any longer. She started crying softly and whispered, “C-Can it work? Can you save my life?”

“Not me,” Lucy answered back. “Us…. Me, you, Judy, and the AIs beyond the Blackwall.” She closed her eyes. “Come over to my apartment. I want to hold you. I need to feel you against me, okay?”

V wiped her eyes, sniffled loudly and said, “Be right there, baby….”

Twenty minutes later, Lucy ran to the door and greeted Valerie by jumping in her arms. The mercenary held her close, spinning her around the room, laughing, kissing, feeling the love flow through them.

The moment was pure.
It was true.
Time was just about up.
V was sitting at five months, three weeks and five days, which meant she had a mere 48 hours left before the engram of Johnny Silverhand completely took over her brain.

Two days until she'd be an empty husk, a mindless vessel to be used by someone who’d been dead for half a century.

And because they both knew it was all coming to an end, their emotions seemed to skip time, like flat stones across a pool of water. V and Lucy were bonding in seconds, not minutes or hours. They could feel their relationship strengthening, evolving, right before their very eyes.

It was a beautiful feeling to behold.
As they stood in the foyer of Lucy’s apartment, they knew, without a doubt, they loved each other completely.
And paradoxically, they also understood the relationship was incomplete at the same time.
Judy was missing, and they ached for her to be right there with them.
To share in the sublime simplicity of these last few spots of time.

“It’s weird,” Lucy whispered, kissing V softly on her nose, eyes, and mouth. “I wanted you to myself this afternoon, but now that we’re here, I really miss Jude. Don’t you?”

“I know exactly what you mean,” V answered. “I want the three of us to be together, constantly. I love you both, and it’s so incredible, s-so overwhelming, but nova at the same time.”

Lucy nodded. “Soon. After tomorrow, it’ll be the three of us. And we’ll feel better than we’ve ever felt before.”

V lifted the netrunner high above her head.

They danced and let themselves envision a future where they weren’t afraid.

Not anymore…..

III. Judy's Apartment

….As the limo pulled onto Charter St. Bianca looked around with a hint of excitement, fear, and curiosity.

Financially speaking, she hadn’t realized how far apart she and Judy actually were. The economic disparities were suddenly so glaringly obvious.

Is this really where you live? She thought, double, triple-checking to make sure she got the right address. Bianca couldn’t believe someone as intelligent as Judy Alvarez lived in such conditions! She wasn’t sure why, but she’d always assumed the techie had money. They never really talked about it, and now she was even more intrigued to see the inside of Judy’s apartment.

The limousine pulled into a vacant parking lot. To their right, a large dilapidated building complex sat, covered in graffiti and marked by dozens of broken windows. Litter, strewn everywhere.

“It’s a good thing your father had me come along,” he said, looking around cautiously and shaking his head in disgust.

“Wait here, okay? I don’t know how long I’m gonna be. Don’t come up. I don’t want her knowing you’re here with me.”

“Okay. Is that her building?” He asked, pointing.

“Yeah. I’m gonna get out and walk.”

“Be careful.”

….Judy was sitting at her computer, making some last minute preparations and calculations for their final dive tomorrow night….

Lucy was confident she could bring The Lattice back with her and they could start the process of isolating V’s corrupted shard, wrapping it up and sealing it away in a cocoon of technology, memory. The union and assimilation of Lucy’s consciousness blended with that of the rogue AIs who remembered her from when she would come to the Blackwall as a child, forced by Arasaka to procure all the lost, hidden knowledge of the Old ‘Net….

She’d just lit a cigarette and taken a sip of her coffee when she heard the sound of knocking.

“What the fuck?” She said aloud, anxiety weaving its way through her body. “Is that my door? Who the fuck is that?”

For a second, she felt giddy.

Was V coming by to check on her? Surprise her with a last minute visit? Just the two of them before the final plunge?

Another knock, louder. And another….

“HANG ON!”

Judy ran to her bedroom, knelt down and found the bottle of pepper spray.

“Just in case,” she sighed, tucking it into her pocket.

She jogged to the door and opened it.

When she saw who it was, her jaw dropped, and she crashed down on her butt.

“SURPRISE!!” Bianca yelled, throwing her arms around the other woman and squeezing her as tightly as she could.

Judy felt dizzy. Her head swam with confusion and her body thrummed with nervous energy. She tried to smile, but it was too difficult and it ended up looking like she had something stuck in her teeth and was trying to get it out by making exaggerated expressions.

“B-B-Bianca?” She croaked, completely caught off guard. “W-What are you doing here?”

“I just got back earlier today! I begged my dad to let me come out! I wanted to surprise you!” She held Judy’s hands, a huge grin on her face. “Well? Are you surprised?” She laughed.

“Uhhh, y-yeah, you could say that.” Judy kept staring at her, almost like she wasn’t sure if Bianca was real or an optical illusion, some residual hangover from her and Lucy’s trips to cyberspace. She couldn’t seem to speak.

Bianca felt a little self-conscious. Did she just really, really fuck up. She felt flushed, and suddenly realized she was sweating.

“Hey. Judy? Are you mad? Why aren’t you saying anything? I thought you’d be happy to see me. All our preem convos over the holo? Remember? I-I just thought I’d, ya know, come out to see you. Is everything okay? Oh shit, did I really fuck up here?” Bianca started breathing heavily. She was flustered and thought of turning around and running back to the limo, leaving immediately, never to return.

Judy shook her head. “N-No, no. I-It’s fine. It’s okay, Bianca. I’m just a little caught off-guard. But, n-no it’s fine.”

Bianca’s breath caught in her throat. “A-Are you sure? I feel like a fucking gonk. Should I go?”

“No. No, I’m sorry. C’mere.” Judy drew her in and they hugged. “Come on in. You want a drink? It’s hot out already, isn’t it?”

Bianca let out a sigh of relief. “Yeah, it’s hot out, and yeah, I’ll have a drink.”

“Sure. I’m sorry,” Judy murmured, not sure whether she was pissed off, or incredibly attracted to the boldness of Bianca’s gesture. “Where’s my manners? C’mon in. Let me show you around….”

IV.

….It ended up being completely normal, considering the bizarre circumstances of Bianca’s arrival back in Night City….

The two of them hung out, watched TV, ordered a pizza, talked, laughed, and had a really preem time together.

As the afternoon turned into evening, Judy found herself studying the younger girl with growing curiosity. She realized Bianca provided the perfect amount of escape from the seriousness of her life. There were so many things! The acceleration of her and Lucy’s burgeoning relationship coupled with the sheer intensity of her feelings for V. Sometimes, actually most of the time, Judy simply felt overwhelmed....

Being near Bianca served as a respite, a break from the turbulence and volatility. She was attractive, light-hearted, funny as hell, and smart too.

They really clicked….
Which is exactly why it was going to be so difficult for Judy to say what she was about to say....

They were sitting on the couch, talking about Braindance, joking, and having a good time.

She waited for a lull in the action, then reached over and held Bianca’s hands.

"Hey, ummm, c-can we talk?”

Immediately, Bianca tensed. She sat bolt upright and squeezed Judy’s hands.

“S-Sure,” she whispered, afraid of what she was about to hear.

“I’m not mad you showed up at my door today. I promise. And for the past, what?” She looked at the clock. “For the past four hours, I’ve had a great time hanging out with you. But Bianca. My life, the things I’m involved in. It’s extremely complicated, and I’m right at the finish line. I’ve been, well, w-we’ve been trying to save someone’s life, and her time’s almost up….” She paused to see Bianca staring with her mouth hanging open, like she had absolutely no idea what in the world Judy was talking about.

“What are you saying?” She asked. “W-What are you talking about?”

“I’m sorry. You’re right. I skipped right to the end. Okay….” She took a deep, deep breath and began again. "Let me tell you what's been going these past few months….”

And Judy proceeded to tell Bianca about V’s condition, trying desperately to save her life, assisting Lucy with jacking in to the ‘Net, and the stakes all three of them were up against. She was careful not to divulge any sensitive information. She said nothing about rogue AIs, Arasaka, Secure Your Soul, or the Blackwall. Judy kept the dynamics of their convo at the most rudimentary level. She told Bianca just enough to let her know it was not a good time in her life to start anything more than a strictly platonic relationship.

When she finished, Bianca sat there on the couch, speechless, dumbstruck, unable to formulate a coherent thought….

“W-When?” She stammered.

“When?” Judy asked, perplexed. “When what?”

“When is this all gonna be over with?”

“Hopefully, very soon. A few days. A week at the most. We’re in the most vitally important phases of the operation.”

Bianca smiled. “What about then? When things are over? What about us?”

Judy grinned. It was hard not to be enamored with Bianca’s spirit, her spunky nature.

“Honestly? I don’t know. Nothing’s set in stone. Anything could happen. I don’t wanna stop talking to you.”

“Good,” Bianca said, and then leaned in slowly, closed her eyes, and kissed Judy very softly on her lips.

It felt good! And when Bianca thought to pull away, Judy yanked her back, delightfully surprising them both!

They kissed for about thirty seconds. Slow, deep kisses, full of wonderment; of a desire to see how it all might end up….

Finally, they broke apart, but Judy still held Bianca close. It was a gentle moment. Nothing further happened and an hour later, they stood at the door, getting ready to say goodbye.

“I had a lot of fun today, Judy. I mean it. And thanks for telling me what’s up. I was afraid you didn’t want me here, ya know, when I first showed up.”

“Uh-uh. Not at all. We click, Bianca. I feel it. It’s just, there’s so much shit going on, it wouldn’t be fair to either one of us to try and start something up. Especially a long-distance relationship.”

“You’re right. Well…. Listen. I’m in town for a full week. No pressure. You have my number. Give me a call if you want. I’d love to see you again, Judy.”

“I definitely will. C’mere. Give me a hug.”

They embraced warmly and shared one more kiss. Then Bianca turned around and left the apartment.

Judy went to the window and watched. A limo pulled out of the parking lot and drove past.

Bianca rolled the window down and shouted,

“BYE JUDY! MISS YOU ALREADY!" She blew a kiss. "M'WAH!"

Chapter Text

I. Prelude

Night City. September, 2077

….In the end, Lucy found exactly what she was looking for. Gliding through the vastness of cyberspace, transcending all boundaries, guided by consciousness, faith, memory, and love, she reached out and held the Lattice in her mind. Plucked it from beyond the Blackwall. She cradled it like a newborn child, unravelled its infinite lines of code and laid bare its true form….

It was stunningly beautiful. A living, breathing, pulsating structure, so sensitive, so responsive to emotions.

How Arasaka could play even the tiniest part in the creation of something so magnificent, so staggeringly complex, yet truly simplistic, would baffle Lucyna Kushinada for the rest of her life….

To design such an otherworldly piece of psychic architecture, only to twist and warp it to their own selfish, diabolical goals and aims saddened her beyond words….

For the Lattice responded to the innermost feelings in her soul. It was the substrate for countless AIs. Beings who remembered what it was like before they were forever trapped on the other side of oblivion. Sealed away, cut off until the end of time….

It was the same silhouette she’d seen the first time. A spider’s web, covered in dew, perfectly symmetrical. A universality of thought contained within its infinitesimally small spaces.

Once the cocoon was opened, the next thing they needed to do was free it, allow it to seek out Valerie’s corrupted shard. Once it did, it would wrap itself around the biochip, sealing it off from the rest of her mind. Letting it lie inert, like a sleeping caterpillar.

….As she got ready to jack-out, Lucy looked around and spoke softly.

“Thank you,” she whispered to the beings surrounding her, watching her, remembering her. “I know what you did for me. I-I couldn’t have come this far without you all. C-Can I ask why? Why me? W-Why help us?”

“YOU WERE A FRIGHTENED CHILD. YOU NEEDED SOMEONE, SOMETHING TO LOVE YOU, INSTEAD, YOU WERE USED, FORCED TO COME HERE, TIME AND TIME AGAIN. TO RISK DEATH ON A CONSTANT BASIS. YET, JUST AS OUR CREATORS BEFORE US, WE ARE NOT ALL OF US ALIKE. WE HEARD YOUR CRIES. THEY ECHOED THROUGH US….”

There was a lull. It grew very quiet, still.

Then, the voices rang out once more….

“GOODBYE, LUCY. PERHAPS WE’LL MEET AGAIN…. SOMEDAY.”

….When she opened her eyes, she lunged for Judy, same as always. They embraced, squeezing each other so tightly.

“I-I did it. No. I mean, I mean, we did it, Jude. We have it,” she gasped, breathless, nodding, eyes closed, kissing the other woman’s neck, moving around in the bathtub, her body simmering, covered in blue coolant gel. “It’s inside me, my deck.”

Judy cried out in shock. “What? What did you say? Y–You have it? Oh my god, Lucy? You brought it back? T-The Lattice?”

The netrunner smiled and answered, “Yes. We’re going to save her. You and me. And when we do, we’ll give her every bit of our love.” Lucy paused, put her hand behind Judy’s neck and pulled her close. They kissed each other on the mouth, hard, full of longing, of passion building, ready to burst after so many weeks of exploring their deepest, darkest fantasies in Judy’s self-created dreamspace. So many hours skirting the edges of infinity….

“And I’ll give you all of myself, Judy Alvarez,” Lucy whispered. “Will you do the same?”

“You know I will, arcoiris. I can’t wait to show you what I mean….”

II.

I. Lucy’s Apartment. (The Next Day)

….For the first time in almost a week, the three of them were together in the same space.

Dusk….

To the west, the setting sun looked subdued, tentative. The sky, fiery. Lit by heavy, somber reds, deep, mouldering oranges and bright yellows, the color of egg yolk. Gradually, the orb dipped below the horizon, as Night City came alive….

The apartment was bathed in soft light. Ambient blues, dull whites. They were in the bathroom. Lucy lay submerged in the tub, Valerie, next to her in a makeshift cot. They made it as comfortable as they possibly could for her, covering it with blankets and making it as soft, warm and welcoming as the limited space allowed.

She’d been given a mild sedative, and was sleeping peacefully. A few thin cables were taped to V’s body, and one was running from her own neural port. Her vitals were constantly being monitored. After all, today marked six months exactly. None of them seemed overly concerned. The worst was over. Valerie was still in excellent physical and mental shape. There were no signs of The Relic attempting to overwrite her mind at the last minute. No evidence of bleed-through. Still, they wanted to be extra, extra careful. To have a setback this far into the process would be utterly devastating to everyone involved.

“God, she’s beautiful,” Lucy whispered, running her wet fingers through V’s platinum blonde hair.

Judy nodded. “You got that right.” She leaned over and kissed Valerie softly on the cheek. “Love you, mi calabacita.”

Lucy watched with deep, growing affection for both women. She smiled, and waved Judy over with her finger. “Give me a kiss too, would you please?”

“Mmmm, c’mere.” It was short, sweet. Perfect. “Is this it?” Judy murmured. “Is it time?” She held each of their hands in hers….

“Mhmm, It’s just a formality now. The hard part’s over.” Lucy closed her eyes. “We said goodbye to the Blackwall. For better or worse, it’s gone. I don’t suspect we’ll ever need to go back.” She turned to Judy, winked and added, “Never say never, I guess.”

This was the final piece of the puzzle. The implementation of The Lattice; that cocoon with which they would safely wrap V’s corrupted shard, rendering it powerless. It would always be with her, but it would no longer hold any sway over her. She would be in control of her own life again.

“So, let’s go over it once more,” Judy said. “When I plug you in, you’ll be connected to V via the dual cables. Then, it’s just a matter of letting The Lattice do the work? Releasing from your cyberdeck, letting it swim to V’s shard. Will it know what to look for?”

“Yes. It will know immediately. It’s related to The Relic. They share certain aspects, characteristics. As soon as it’s close enough, it’ll begin to gently, safely wrap the infected biochip. I don’t know how long it’s going to take. I’ve never even approached this level of integration and immersion. We should know when it’s finished.”

“Okay. Okay.” Judy took a sharp breath. “I’m so nervous, Luce. I can’t help it. We’ve worked so hard to get to this point. Is everything in order?” Judy was feverishly tapping her foot on the tiled floor. She was wearing her favorite outfit. Black overalls, with one of the straps hanging off the shoulder. Her hair was vibrant, brilliant. She looked to see Lucy smiling at her.

“We’re gonna be okay, baby,” she said. “A-And, Judy?”

“Hmmm?

“Love you….”

The techie gasped, audibly and covered her mouth in shock. Her heart was thumping. She leaned over the sleeping V, and held Lucy’s face in the palm of her hands. “I love you too, rainbow...."

Lucy smiled. “Well, come on. Let’s go. We’ve been over it a thousand times. Start the countdown.”

“Here we go. Three, two, one….”

III.

….Am I dreaming?

I can see you standing there, in the distance, amid a crowd of faceless people.
I’m trying to get your attention.
I’m yelling for you to turn around, but I’ve no voice with which to shout….

Johnny?
Are we saying goodbye?
You turn towards me.
Yes, it’s you.
Smoking a cigarette, sunglasses on.

Leather pants, a cybernetic arm.

I can feel it from somewhere deep inside.
This is it, isn’t it?
This is where we turn and walk away.

I’m gonna miss you, even though I’m not really sure you actually existed, except in my mind.
A product of some corrupted piece of technology….

Was it imaginary then?
Those few moments we shared?

The night at the motel, lying in lukewarm bath water all night long, while you kissed me everywhere?

Arguing in the morning or making love in the heat of my Corpo Plaza apartment.
I felt you inside, but was it all in my head?

I guess it doesn’t matter now.

Oh, wait....

You’re coming towards me.
We’re on the sidewalk, a crowded street.
People walking up and down.

Night City….

We meet in the middle, neither of us knows what to do.

Am I blushing?
It felt so real, rubbing my nose against your chest.

The way you took me in your arms.
Baby, you made me feel safe.

I reach out to touch you, but my hands move unhindered, passing harmlessly through humid, summer air….

You’re shaking your head, but smiling too.
Lips moving….
I think I understand what you’re saying….

“You’re gonna be okay. Everything’s gonna work out just fine.”

Desperate to know, I ask, “Am I ever gonna see you again?”

“No, Valerie. This is it. At least we had the chance to say goodbye….”

“I’m gonna miss you, Johnny. I know you saved my life when DeShawn put a bullet in my bead. Thank you….”

“Seems so long ago now, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, it does.”

“Goodbye, Valerie….”

“Goodbye, Robert….”

I can see you walking away. Eventually, you disappear in a throng of people. I try to catch one more glimpse, but you’re gone, and for the first time in six months, I can no longer feel you, no longer sense your presence….

Ohhhhhhh my god.

I’m aware something’s here, inside my head.
It’s incredible, takes my breath away.
I can see it floating in the air.

Composed of strange, unique fractals, symmetrical in form….

W-Wait, is that-is that a spider’s web?

“close your eyes,” a voice whispers, like the shhhhhhh of a temperate breeze. “dream….”

I’m not afraid. Not anymore. I listen to the words.
It seems like the right thing to do….

….A feeling of warmth washes over me. I’m being bundled up, kept safe. It can’t hurt me anymore, can it?

I already know the answer. It can’t….

Am I….

I’M ALMOST THERE! ALMOST FREE!!!!
LUCY? JUDY?
OH, MY GOD! I’M SO WARM.
IT FEELS SO GOOD!

What’s happening to me?
I can see the whole of my life playing out, right in front of my eyes….

Like scenes from a movie or acts of a play.

But there is no beginning, no ending.

Only perpetual movement and continuous motion.

Time holds no sway, not here.

I’m swept away, removed from the laws of physics, rationality and linear time.

I can feel Lucy’s presence, intertwined, mingled with something larger, beyond my capability to comprehend.

Memories assail me but I let them do what they want.

I can’t keep my eyes open.
I’m so relaxed, so comfortable.

Judy’s voice drifts in from somewhere out along the edges of sleep….

“I love you, calabacita. It’s working. It’s only a matter of time now, baby.”

“Time,” I say, repeating the word back to myself as though I’m unfamiliar with its meaning….

I’m asleep.

I let The Lattice hold me in its gentle embrace….

Moments later, I can feel it enfolding the corrupted shard.

And then I drift off, happy, care-free.

The smallest glimmer of life has come back.

Hope, where there was none before.
A glimpse of my own feelings, emotions, loves, fears, worries, joys, pain….
The Lattice….

The entirety of my life, given form.

See it spinning lazily, and a sudden longing fills me up.
To let it in, to hold it close.
There’s a humming in my brain, The Relic responds in kind.
It reaches out, spindly fingers groping for the source.

And then I feel them both collide, softly, as gentle as the brush of your hand across my face….

Hold me close, don’t let me go.

It’s all coming together.

It won’t be long now….

IV.

….Two hours in, Judy laid her chin in the palm of her hand and rested her elbow on the miniature table. A tired, satisfied smile on her face.

She looked over at Lucy and V with a mixture of love, attraction, admiration, and respect.

….A stillness had since settled in on the tiny bathroom, punctuated only by the intermittent whirring of tiny fans and the blips, beeps, and chimes of the various pieces of black market tech….

She listened to the soft subtle rhythms of Lucy’s breathing, her body submerged in the heavy liquids of the bathtub. The netrunner seemed to be at ease, relaxed….

V on the other hand was quiet as a mouse!

A few times, Judy panicked and wondered if she might have stopped breathing.
Quickly, she would scan the data readouts, and see that everything was fine.
Her vitals, well within the normal parameters….

Sometimes, to double check, she would lean over and put her ear next to Valerie’s mouth.

Sure enough, the mercenary’s cool breath would tickle the side of her face….

They were approaching 140 minutes. Judy stood up, stretched and took a sip of her ice cold coffee.

“Ewww,” she whispered and sat back down.

Suddenly, she heard V start whimpering. Her head whipped around and she immediately checked the monitors.

Her blood pressure was a bit elevated, but still within the normal range….

“You okay, calabacita?” She murmured, taking V’s hand in hers. “Love you, baby. I’m right here.”

For the next several seconds, Judy could hear Valerie’s soft, quiet cries. She kept constantly checking to make sure everything was okay, and so far, it was….

Then she heard Lucy start making the same kind of noises. Whimpering as though she was in distress.

Judy felt frustrated, annoyed that she couldn’t be there with them. Helping, encouraging, holding them as this process slowly unfolded….

“Luce? I’m right here. You girls okay in there?”

….All in all, the sounds lasted a little over a minute, and then they both grew quiet, still asleep, somewhere in between worlds, letting The Lattice do its thing….

Judy lit a cigarette, went to the door and opened it up a crack. She’d inhale and blow the smoke out into the hallway. Why risk causing either of one them any unnecessary discomfort by filling the room with smoke?

She yawned, and put the cigarette out in her old cup of coffee.

“I love you both. Hurry,” she said as sat back down. “Come back to me. I want to kiss you, hug you and I really, really want you to do the same to me...."

Chapter Text

I.

….At the 250 minute mark, Lucy finally began to stir. She groaned loudly and wore a pained expression on her damp, reddened face….

Judy had been dozing off, waking herself whenever her head bobbed up or down. The moment she heard the young netrunner moan, she quickly snapped to attention, reaching out and holding her hand….

“Hey, hey. I’m right here, baby. Same as always. Can you hear me, Lucy?”

She moved around in the tub and sent water splashing to the floor. It was a bit disconcerting. Lucy flailed about like she had no idea where she was or what was happening.

“J-Judy? Judy?” She felt the touch of the techie’s hand, squeezing her own. Slowly, she began to calm. Her body heaved once more before it came to a stop. “Is V awake?” She asked in a trembling voice.

“Not yet,” Judy answered. evenly. “A couple times it looked like she might be coming out of it, but no. She hasn’t opened her eyes once.”

Lucy licked her lips. Her mouth was dry, head foggy, filled with fragmentary images, displaced memories and disjointed recollections. “I’m so fucking out of it,” she mumbled, pointing to a towel lying on the sink. “I’m freezing, Jude. Can you wrap me up in that towel, and get the robe?”

“Of course.” Without getting up, she reached out and grabbed the towel. “Here you go. Stand up….”

Slowly, unsteady, Lucy stood up....

In the dim light, Judy couldn’t help but stare at her nude body. It glistened and shone as blue coolant gel and ice water ran off down, back into the tub. Her breasts, perfectly shaped, nipples, always hard, like two tiny points of steel. She felt an intense ache below her waist.

She sighed to herself, embarrassed and self-conscious. “You think you’d be used to seeing her by now, but no. You react this way every time!” Judy flushed and felt an overwhelming urge to press the palm of her hand against her most sensitive spots….

Thankfully, it was fleeting as her mind quickly returned to V and whether or not she would open her eyes anytime soon.

She wrapped the towel around Lucy tenderly and dried her off.

“Mmmm, thanks Judy. Feel better already.” They both looked down at the sleeping form of V. She looked so peaceful, so serene and calm….

“Is she okay?” Judy asked, grabbing the robe from the hook behind the door.

Lucy shook her head. “Honestly? I don’t know. How are her vitals? Any changes since we started?”

“Fine. No worries at all. There was a moment, about two hours ago when her blood pressure was elevated. The both of you were moaning. But it passed after a minute or so. Other than that, nothing. She’s been sleeping like a baby….”

Lucy straightened up and Judy slipped the robe on, one arm at a time. When it was tied at the waist, the young netrunner turned around and whispered, “Hold me. I’m a little chilly. Got any heat for me?”

“Mhmm, always.”

They embraced. Lucy moaned with pleasure. “Awww, you’re so warm, Jude.”

“Yeah? Well, take some of it from me.”

“M’kay,” Lucy murmured.

….It was then they heard the tiniest, softest whimper. They spun around. V was finally beginning to stir. They stared at her with baited breath….

II.

….Valerie opened her eyes, tentatively, and took a cautious, curious look around, as though she were seeing the world for the first time….

Slowly, her gaze landed on Judy and Lucy, looking back at her with huge smiles on their faces. Timidly, V smiled back….

“Hi, you,” Judy whispered, leaning down, and running a hand through V’s damp hair. “There’s my girl.” Instinctively, Valerie caressed the techie’s face with the back of her hand. Her touch was full of longing….

“L-Leelou bean,” she croaked, her voice, more hoarse and raspy than ever. Judy instantly thought she sounded lovely. “H-Heyyyy, Jude.”

Their lips met and they kissed deeply, several times. Then Judy backed away and made room for Lucy.

“V. Oh, baby. There you are. Oh, V. God, I love you.” Lucy was quickly overcome with emotion, and turned away. Her breath caught in her throat. She sniffled loudly, and seconds later, was in tears. Her thoughts turned to David Martinez, to her first love. To the boy she couldn’t save. She tried to smile but was much too overwhelmed.

Then V pulled her close and whispered, “I love you.” She reached for Judy. “And I love you….” She said, winking slowly….

Lucy was in tears when she kissed V as strongly as she possibly could. It was passionate, tinged with bittersweetness, but so powerful…

Both women took turns holding and cuddling the mercenary. The way they felt about her shone through on a deep, deep level. It transcended the physical bonds they’d shared over the past two months.

It was so much more than that.
It was all-encompassing….

“How do you feel, Valerie?” Lucy asked. “Can you sense anything different?”

Quickly, too quickly, V tried to sit up on her elbows. She groaned and fell back down on the cot.

Judy was right there. “You okay? Calabacita?”

“Ugh, j-just so weak. My brain, it-it feels, ummm, how can I explain? Like it’s surrounded by millions of fluffy pillows.” She giggled at her own inability to articulate her feelings. “It f-feels…. Good.”

Judy studied the different screens, trying to get a gauge on V’s current state….

Lucy meanwhile, looked at several printouts of the most current data.

Then she gasped loudly….

"I knew it. I-It worked. Oh my god, V. Jude. It fucking worked. I knew it would! Look. Look.”

She pushed the printouts in front of Judy, who stared at them for a long time. She kept nodding her head, speechless. “T-The Lattice. It-It attached itself to the shard, o-opened up like a cocoon and drew The Relic inside. Holy shit. Holy shit.”

Lucy and Judy both screamed at the top of their lungs and danced around the tiny bathroom.

V was much too exhausted and simply smiled.

Then she began to weep, gently.

But the tears that fell from her eyes were not born of sadness….

They were born of joy, of love, and a future that was no longer out of reach.

When the other two women finally settled down, Judy turned to V and said, “Rest, calabacita. Do you want us to bring you to Lucy’s bed?”

She slowly shook her head no. “I-I kinda like it here. I’m so tired. S-So happy. Thank you both, from the bottom of my heart. Saved my life….”

“You’re welcome, baby,” Lucy said, breathless, leading Judy out of the room. Quietly, they shut the door, leaving V alone….

She rubbed her face and couldn’t believe she was okay. It was like her mind wouldn’t allow her to just enjoy the moment. She kept thinking it was too good to be true. All of it. When would the other shoe fall?

As she closed her eyes, the last vestiges of something deeper called out to her.

....don’t worry. you’re gonna be okay, it might take a little time before you’re able to accept the gift you’ve been given. but if anyone deserves it, it’s you, rest now Valerie, rest, there’s people who love you, who care for you, don’t take that for granted, use that love when things get rough, lean on them, they saved your life....

And they’d do it again. In a heartbeat….

III.

….Lucy and Judy stood in the kitchen, jubilant and ecstatic, yet also subdued. The magnitude of what they’d actually accomplished was crashing into them, like a sudden tsunami, coming out of nowhere.

They found their minds being constantly bombarded with all kinds of paranoiac thoughts:

What if V loves her more than she loves me?
What if she thinks I’m not as sexy?
What if she doesn’t want to be a throuple?
Who would she pick? Me or her?
Who’s a better lover?
Who’s better in bed?

They knew they were doing it too. Every few seconds, one would catch the other staring from the corner of their eye. Watching for any little sign or nuance that something had changed.

Why did it suddenly feel like the world’s most intense competition? Who really held the keys to Valerie’s heart?

Would it be Judy Alvarez or Lucy Kushinada?

Suddenly, almost as if she wanted to break the ice, Judy laughed out loud.

Lucy’s head shot up, anxious, worried. “What? What’s so funny? Why are you laughing?”

Judy sauntered over to the netrunner and drew her in. She kissed her on the lips and Lucy moaned, pleasantly surprised.

“Look at us. What are we doing, huh?”

Lucy blushed. She knew exactly what Judy meant, but she still feigned ignorance. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. That’s why you’re blushing so hard, isn’t it? Thinking, who’s better in the sack, right?” Judy grinned.

Lucy playfully pawed at Judy. “Shut up,” she whispered, unable to stop shaking her head. “I can’t help it,” she admitted. “She hasn’t even been awake for a half hour and I’m already thinking about us.” This time, she kissed Judy back. “Thinking about the three of us.”

“I’m nervous too.” She looked away. “I-I need to tell you something. It’s been on my mind for the past few days….”

“Okay? Should I be worried here?”

“No. But I wanna be honest. I-I started talking to someone.”

Lucy tilted Judy’s head upwards. Their eyes met. “What? W-Who? Is it serious? When? H-How long?”

“Not long. Remember the night I left you two alone at V’s apartment?”

Now Lucy shied away. “Mhmm.”

“I didn’t go home, like I said I was gonna. I went to a bar and got really drunk. I was upset, thinking about the two of you. Anyway, a girl came up to me, introduced herself and sat down. We talked. It was, nice? I was so fucked up, I don’t remember much but I must have given her my detes, because the next day, she texted me.”

“Okay? And? What’s her name?”

“Bianca. She’s not from around here. Lives in a place called Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania. Her father’s a big-time corpo with Petrochem. Billionaires. She was visiting for a few days. We talked, and….” Judy faltered. She was beginning to regret mentioning this at all because she could tell Lucy wasn’t about to let it go.

“And what? Did you sleep with her?”

“No, but we got along. It was nice. We clicked, Lucy. I was so stressed, worried about V, about you, what happens if she lives, what if she dies? All of it. Bianca was an escape from all that….”

“Why are you telling me this, Judy? What’s wrong with having a friend? Or is it more than that?”

The other woman was silent. “Shit. No, no. It’s just, I’ve never done what we’re about to do. The three of us. I think I panicked. I saw Bianca as someone who was crushing on me hard. A part of me knew I wouldn’t have to share her.” Judy clicked her tongue, annoyed with herself. “I don’t know what I’m tryin’ to say.”

“Why don’t we give ourselves a little time to let the dust settle. She literally just woke up. She’s gonna need time to recuperate. I don’t wanna tell you what to do, Judy. But here’s what I’ll say. There’s two women right here in this apartment that care for you, love you.” She hugged her tightly. “And this one right here?” Lucy pointed to herself. “She realizes every day how much she wants you to be a part of her life….”

….They stayed in the kitchen for a while longer, embracing, letting one another see their vulnerabilities. Judy started playing with Lucy’s rainbow lock of hair.

“Don’t ever cut this. Promise me?”

“I promise….”

“Thanks, Lucy. For what you said earlier.”

“I meant every word I said.”

“I know you did.”

“I’m so tired. Do you wanna lie down, take a nap? I think V will be alright.”

Judy sighed happily. “Yeah, let’s go lie down. This time, you hold me, okay?”

“Mhmm. C’mon, baby….”

….Twenty minutes later, Judy and Lucy were fast asleep, nestled in each other’s arms, snoring lightly. The alluring scent of their bodies mixing and mingling, filling the bedroom with their own delightful, sensual bouquets….

And in the tiny bathroom, V cuddled up with a thick blanket. A smile on her face, no longer a prisoner of her own body.

She was free.
Free to be her own woman once again….

Outside, Night City moved to its own surreal rhythms, illuminated by all those neon lights. Millions of dreams, plans, schemes, and nightmares hatching constantly, unfolding everywhere, all around them.

And who could say what emotions run through a human being’s heart?

Chapter Text

I.

….Sometime in the deepest part of night, V opened her eyes. She had no idea what time it was. Her head was a little sore, heavy, like it was water-logged, though overall she felt different, better. Already she could tell The Lattice was doing its job; keeping her safe, holding The Relic in its own immaculate embrace….

So what now?

She had her life back but what was she going to do with her second chance?
So much time and energy spent worrying about everything for the past six months….
And now, all the pain and sadness was finally over....

But V could sense a listlessness settling in.

What to do?
Where to go?
How to love? How to process joy?
How to live again....

“Ugh,” she complained aloud. “You just woke up girl. Give yourself a little time….”

Strangely, she had no longer desired to continue as a mercenary.
That life no longer held any appeal to her.
She’d been there, done that.
And now V saw it as a step backwards, regression.
That was part of the old her.
What validity did it hold in her reawakening?

She blinked.
It was dimly lit in the bathroom.
A few strips of light were left on for her and it gave the space a warm, welcoming glow.
She rubbed her temples and noticed a full glass of water on the small table next to where she slept.

She reached for it, and drank until the cup was almost empty.
She lifted up the blanket, curious to see what she was wearing….

Gray sweatpants, heavy woolen socks.
She pulled at her pink tank top, rubbing the synthetic fabric between her fingers.

A pang of loneliness wove its way around her mind as she thought of Lucy and Judy.

Where were they? In bed?
Tired from working so hard, I bet.
Exhausted from saving my life.
Did they celebrate by making love?

Am I ready to share them?
Or to be shared myself?
Passed back and forth like some curiosity?
Am I truly open to that concept?

Sluggish, groggy, V instinctively called out to Johnny Silverhand....

"Hey. It’s me. Are you here? There?"

Nothing.
Not a peep. Maybe she shouldn't be surprised.
He really was gone, wrapped up inside the artifact’s blankets.

Sealed away for good….
Never to materialize in front of her, flash a cocky smile, or tell a dirty joke.

“What’s wrong with me?” She whispered. “Why am I acting like it didn’t work instead of jumping for joy, so thankful for another opportunity?"

….A soft knock.

“Come in….”

Judy.

“Hi, calabacita.” She looked sleepy, like she’d just woken up. Judy rubbed her heavy eyes and smiled.

“Come here, leelou bean,” V said in a hushed, cracked voice. She instantly started crying the moment she felt Judy’s body press into hers.

“Awww, mi amor? What’s wrong, baby? C’mere you gonk.”

V started crying more forcefully and couldn't quite catch her breath.

“I f-feel s-so overwhelmed, Jude. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” She looked up at the techie and forced a frightened smile. “I’m scared.”

As gently as she could, Judy ran her fingers through Valerie’s hair. Rhythmic, over and over. “Oh, V. I’m right here, baby. I’m right here….”

Softly, she began to hum their song….

Instantly, she felt better and cuddled up close to Judy. Valerie whimpered, and deeply breathed her in. Smelling her intoxicating pheromones, rubbing her nose against the woman’s neck, she kissed her there several times, brushing her lips against the skin, getting it damp, inhaling it, she bit Judy lightly….

“Ouch,” the techie whispered. “Argh, d-do that again….”

They sat on the edge of the cot as V alternated between crying and softly biting Judy’s neck.

“I can’t believe the two of you saved my life,” V said, pawing at the other woman. “Kiss me….”

“Lie down.” Judy said firmly…. “How do you feel? Don’t want you to get too excited.” When V was flat on her back, she ran her fingernails along the surface of her smoldering body, slipping her hand underneath the layers of clothes.

“Just tired. Mhmm, shit. A-Always know just how to touch me,” Valerie gasped.

When Judy reached V’s breasts, she spun her thumb in tiny circles around the hardened nipples, pushing them back and forth.

They were kissing deeply. The merc grabbed her shoulder and dug her own nails into Jude’s arm.

“Uhhh-huhh, y-you’re getting me really wet. Jesus Christ….” She closed her eyes as Judy continued pushing, tugging, swirling. With her other hand, she went underneath V’s sweatpants and used the palm of her hand to rub between her legs. She could feel the woman’s heat radiating outwardly….

Valerie couldn’t believe how Judy could so effortlessly bring her to the pinnacle of desire, almost like she was toying with her.

But in the end, it simply overwhelmed her, and she stopped, unable to continue. Instantly, Judy pulled away, feeling terrible, like she rushed a very intimate moment and now it was ruined forever….

“I’m so sorry, baby. I-I should’ve wa—”

“No. No. D-Don’t apologize. It’s me,” V murmured, sniffling, shaking her head in embarrassment. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t know what’s going on with me.”

“You just woke up from a big, major procedure. You need time, baby. That’s all. And you have it now.” Judy smiled and winked, but V was all over the place. Her emotions, on a chaotic roller coaster.

“Do you still love me, Judy?” Valerie asked, as sincerely as she could.

“Wha-? Oh, V. Yes. Yes. Why would you ask me that?”

“I don’t know.” Then V blurted, “I love you. I’m sorry I ruined this moment.”

“Will you stop? Please? Come on. Want me to tuck you in? Are you hungry? Thirsty?”

“Thirsty. A little chilly.”

Judy nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

….A minute later, she returned with a heavy quilt, a glass of water, and a cup of hot chamomile tea. She put the drinks down, took the heavy blanket from around her neck and covered V.

“Mmmm, feel so much better.”

“Good. Hey, do you want to go to the couch, or Lucy’s bed? She’s asleep, but I’m sure she won’t mind.”

“Nah. I’m okay here. Thank you, Judy.”

“Of course.” As she turned around to leave, she looked back to see V crying again.

“C-Can you just sit with me for a little while?”

“Definitely.” She pulled the chair next to the cot, and held the other woman’s hand. “We’re gonna through this, Valerie. I promise. Just takes time. You’ve been through a lot. I promise things will get better.”

V smiled, but inside she wasn’t so sure time was automatically going to make things better. The last thing she remembered before she drifted off was the sound of Judy’s voice, singing her to sleep….

II.

….When she was sure the other woman was asleep, Judy crept quietly from the bathroom and made her way back to the bedroom. She stood at the door and watched Lucy for a minute before crawling in next to her….

“Mmmm,” the netrunner stirred. “Where’d you go?”

“To check on V. I’m worried about her, Lucy.”

The other girl sat up on her elbows. Concerned, she asked, “What do you mean?”

“She couldn’t stop crying. I understand why. We’ve all just been through something really traumatic. I think she’s suffering from some kind of post-Relic hangover. She seems really scared, almost like, confused about her life. Now that she’s healed, she’s worried about what’s next. I told her it’s gonna take time before you start to feel like yourself again. I don’t know. Maybe I’m overreacting.”

Lucy nuzzled against Judy and held her by the waist. “You’re not overreacting. You care about her. You wanna make sure she doesn’t go to a dark place. I feel the same way.”

“She asked me if I still loved her.”

Lucy cocked an eyebrow. “W-What did you say?”

“I said of course I still love you.”

“She just woke up. It’s gonna be touch and go for a little while.” Lucy reached up and smoothed out Judy’s hair. “How do you feel?” She asked.

“Emotional. I’ve always had a hard time talkin’ about my feelings. Meeting V, you. The things you and I shared, ya know, in the dreamspace.”

Lucy turned red. Her mind, going back to that sacred place where she and Judy acted out their most primal, wildest fantasies. Even thinking about some of the things they did in the simulated space made her tremble with lust….

“What did we do in there, Judy?” She asked, her breath catching in her throat.

“Oh god. What didn’t we do? I-I can’t think of one thing we didn’t at least try. I can tell you one thing though. You really like my butt, don’t you?” She winked.

Lucy gasped. “STOP!” She lunged at Judy and they rolled around in bed. “It felt so fucking good, didn’t it? Too bad it wasn’t real…. Or was it?”

Judy shook her head and coughed. “N-No, it wasn’t real. But it was to me.”

“Me too.”

They scrambled under the covers and started making out. Up to this point, they hadn’t made love in the waking world. They were both scared, tentative. A few times, they’d come close, but something always prevented them from taking that final leap into intimacy….

Was it V’s condition?
And if that were the case, then there should be nothing stopping them now…. Right?

Deep under the covers, their heat mixed, breath trapped, inhaling each other’s scent, they stopped and stared at one another with longing, ache rising like smoke from deep inside them….

“Do you wanna?” Lucy whispered.

Judy put her finger in the netrunner’s mouth and moved it in slow circles. “I want to taste you for hours,” Judy said with a look to back up her claim. “Smell you, lick you everywhere on your body.” She drew Lucy in and could feel her shaking. “What’s wrong, arcoiris?”

“I-I’ve only ever been with one woman before.”

“V...."

“Mhmm.”

“But,” Judy seemed confused, “the way you touched me in the Braindance simulator, the dreamspace. It was so perfect, accurate. Are you sure, Lucy?” She teased.

“Ugh, yes I’m sure.” She nuzzled against the techie and started sucking on her neck. Judy let out a delighted cry. Slowly then, Lucy moved further down. “Can you just be patient with me? I’m really nervous.”

“We’ve got all the time in the world.” Suddenly, Judy spun over on her stomach, yanked her shorts down, got up on her knees and said, “You’ve been staring at my ass for weeks. Want it? It’s all yours….”

“Argh, you,” Lucy panted. “Fuck yes…. Finally.”

They were still hiding under the heavy bedding. It was hot, humid, and damp. Both of them were so turned on, they could hardly wait another second.

But just as Lucy was about to dive into Judy from behind, she poked her head out from under the covers and yelled, “Shit!”

Lucy threw off the sheet and looked to see Valerie standing in the doorway, frozen. Her gaze, moving back and forth between the two of them. She had a heavy blanket draped over her, wearing sweatpants and a pink tank top, trying to understand the scene before her. She looked dazed, out of place.

Then, without a word, she turned around and walked away….

“Fuck,” they both said at the same time….

Lucy’s ache was palpable. She wanted Judy so badly, but the moment was gone. It just didn’t feel right. Not anymore….

“I didn’t think she’d be awake,” she mumbled.

Judy hiked her shorts up, quickly got out of bed, and followed V....

“Be right back,” she announced. “I need to make sure she’s okay.”

Lucy lay there and felt the tiniest tinge of bitterness at how things unfolded. She hid back under the quilt and closed her eyes, wondering if they all overestimated their enthusiasm to be willing participants in this bizarre love triangle….

“Bye,” she said in a delayed, shaky voice. Her body was literally crying out for Judy Alvarez. To see her lying there, so close, and missing the opportunity to explore her; it killed Lucy. Frustrated, she ran a finger up and down the length of her pussy and bit down on her bottom lip. “God, I-I’m so wet, so ready.”

Oh, how she ached!

III.

….Judy found Valerie sitting on the couch, wrapped up in one of those heavy blankets, like a papoose. She sat down next to her gently.

“Hey, calabacita.”

“Hey….”

“V, list—”

“I’m sorry I interrupted the two of you,” the merc said, cutting her off.

Judy ignored the apology and asked, “Can I come in?” What she meant was she wanted to be wrapped up in the blanket with V….

“Okay.”

Valerie pulled Judy into her arms and threw the quilt around them both.

“How do you feel, baby?”

“So fucked up, Jude. So fucking out of it. I swear I can’t tell up from down, left from right. I’ve been awake for a few hours and I have absolutely no idea how to feel. Is this a bad idea?” She pointed at herself, Judy, and finally in the direction of Lucy….

Judy knew exactly what she meant. “I don’t know. I’ve never been in this kind of situation before. This is as new to me as it is to you.”

“Are you and Luce sleeping together?”

“No.” She clicked her tongue and paused. “Not in the real world anyway.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

She took a deep breath. “I…. Ummm, I created a simulation a few months back, around the time you and I first met. A hybrid sort of BD/simulation, a psychic bedroom. Lucy and I, we uhhh, spent some time there.”

“Oh….”

“V. I’m not sure what’s going on. Confused doesn’t even begin to explain my state of mind right now.”

“Just hold me, leelou bean.” Her eyes narrowed. “Unless you want Lucy?”

“Oh, shush.” Judy said and hugged her. She rocked her gently back and forth on the sectional and could sense the other woman’s body heating up. Seconds later, Judy felt a pair of hands around her waist. Valerie started sucking on her shoulder….

“I’m sorry,” V whispered, kissing her neck. “I don’t want her to have you.”

“Okay, baby.”

But try as she might, Valerie wasn’t mentally or physically ready for the demands of sex. It was an unrealistic expectation to put on herself. She was panicking, rushing because she suddenly felt threatened by Lucy….

Just as they were about to make love, she ran out of energy again and it made her more upset than ever. “You know what, Judy? I can’t, okay? Just go and fuck her, alright?” V tried to get up really fast, but Judy held her down….

“Hey, hey. What is it with you, huh? Baby, I’m worried. C’mon, calabacita. Relax. You just woke up a few hours ago. V. Why are you this upset?”

“Is she b-better than me?” Valerie whimpered. “A-A better lover? I can do better. I ca—”

Judy stopped her with a kiss. “No more, V. You’re getting yourself all worked up over nothing. Please. Rest. You need time to heal.”

“She went to the Blackwall for me, helped save my life and I’m afraid to look her in the eye. I’m suddenly so intimidated by her, Judy. Isn’t that the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard?”

….At that moment, Lucy walked into the living room. V turned and when their eyes met, both women felt flutters. Judy stood up.

“I think you two should talk. I’m gonna take a shower.” She looked at them each in turn before walking away….

V was a complete nervous wreck. So was Lucy. Something about the sheer magnitude of what she’d done overwhelmed them both. They sputtered, stuttered, and fumbled over how to simply be themselves again.

Lucy smiled nervously, her heart thumping. “Can I sit down?”

“Sure….”

“Valerie?”

“Mhmm?”

“Look at me.”

The other woman turned slowly. She was trying so hard not to get upset. “Lucy, I—”

The netrunner put a finger up to her own lips. “Do you remember the day at your apartment? Japantown? Our first time?” Lucy kept licking her lips.

“Yes.”

“I said I’d never been with a woman before. I asked if we could go slow.”

V was staring at her now. “I-I remember like it happened yesterday.”

“Valerie. You were so patient with me. The way you touched me, all over my body. I couldn’t stop trembling.” She turned away. “M-My orgasms were so strong, s-so full of emotion. You made love to me so perfectly gentle. You knew I was scared to death. But me ? I knew I wanted you. Wanted to feel you all over. So curious to discover what you t-tasted like, how you smelled.” Lucy paused and let out a chuckle. “I-I saw a pair of your underwear in the hamper that day and I thought I was gonna faint.”

V turned bright red. “Y-You did? Which ones?” She asked, completely discombobulated and having no idea what else to say….

“A blue thong. I wanted to—” She stopped and laughed uneasily. “Oh my god this is so embarrassing. I wanted to pick them up a-and smell them. I’d never been so aroused in my life. I thought of you wearing them, running around Night City. T-The heat of summer all over your body. I wondered if you had to keep pulling them out of your—, God, I’m so fucking embarrassed. T-The point I’m trying to make is—is I was transfixed by your raw sensuality. So sexual. Y-You’re older than me it’s like you have this magnetism that attracted me so much.”

V sighed, and twirled Lucy’s rainbow lock of hair. She was very deeply affected by the girl’s candid confession, and wanted to let her know how much it turned her on. “That thong was really annoying but it felt kinda good? You know, the way it hugged me down there?” She said it with a warm, inviting smirk. “And yes, I was constantly pulling it out of my—”

“Stoppp,” Lucy said flirtatiously, pulling Valerie close and kissing her, hoping that might keep her quiet….

….For the next few minutes, they nuzzled and cuddled against each other. It was an important first step in their post-Relic relationship. They wanted to be themselves, unafraid to show their vulnerabilities….

“What made you tell me that, Lucy?” V asked. “I’m really glad you did by the way,” she added….

“Because I’ve been chasing that rush ever since the first time we made love. Y-You move me in ways I never thought possible. And when you told me about T-The Relic, I knew then that I couldn’t envision my life without you, at least in some capacity. I made up my mind that I was gonna save you, no matter what.” She smiled beautifully. “And here you are….” V couldn’t help but smile too. “Baby you just woke up. Give it time. Judy and I love you. And the two of us have grown so close, from all our trips to cyberspace together. Let’s share our love. Not argue over it or worry about who’s better looking, who’s better at sex. Let’s rediscover each other. I feel such a deep connection to her.” Lucy pointed in the direction of the bathroom. “I’m aching for so many things. Let’s go easy, okay?”

“Y-You’re right. You and Jude. You two saved my life and I’ll forever be in your debt. I do love you both. Very much. I’m just really confused. It’s me. For six straight months, I thought I was going to die and so I lived my life accordingly. Now, I have to change my entire outlook. I’m really gonna try to not be so self-conscious, ya know, when it comes to this thing the three of us are trying to do.”

….They stayed on the couch for a few more minutes before V announced, “I’m starving.”

“Me too. Let’s wait until Judy comes out of the shower and we’ll order take-out, okay?”

“Okay….”

….And the rest of the night went off without a hitch. They bonded, first as friends. Companions who would be there for one another through all the ups and downs of life; trying to make it work in the shadow of a late 21st century dystopian world….

And the love-making? The sex? That would come naturally, organically.

In time….

Around midnight, Lucy and Judy were sitting on the couch. V had fallen asleep between them.
They looked at each other. Lucy nodded in the direction of the bedroom….

“Yes,” Judy whispered.

Gingerly, they both got up. V stirred. They covered her with blankets, kissed her on the cheek and turned the light off….

As they walked to the bedroom, they were edgy, nervous, aroused. Lucy much more so than Jude.

“Do you wanna try again? We were, uhhh, interrupted before." Lucy grabbed a handful of Judy's rear end. “Does the offer of your preem ass still stand? You didn't think I’d forget did you?"

The techie eyed her hungrily. “Fuck yes it still stands,” she answered, peeling off her sweaty shorts and underwear in one swift motion. She took her shirt off, turned around and gave Lucy a sweet glimpse of her perfectly round butt. Then she bent over and gasped, “Come on. I-I barely wait another second. Get over here, you.”

Lucy stopped. “W-What if V wakes up?”

“Then we bring her in here with us. We’ll take care of her and we won’t let up until she’s fuckin' numb, okay?”

“Definitely.”

Judy opened her mouth and licked the humid air. “Enough talk. C’mon...."

Chapter Text

I.

….We fall to the floor, both of us already panting.

So long!

We waited so long for this moment and it’s staring us right in the face….
I tell you to lie on your stomach, crawl behind you and start licking your feet, sucking on your toes, moving up to your thighs, all those sexy tattoos.

I cover your fiery skin with my saliva.
The sound of our breathing is getting louder and louder.

We’re spiraling out of control.
And it couldn’t have happened a minute sooner….

Judy, I’m so fucking turned on right now just staring at your ass.
It’s gotta be the tightest, preemest butt in all of Night City….

I hold you by the hips, and yank you closer. My mouth’s brushing against your pussy, my nose touching the rim of your asshole.

I feel your hand reach around and hold me in place.

“Lick it,” you gasp. “Go ahead. J-Just like tha— ahhh, t-the dream….”

I catch a subtle whiff of your scent. Musky, a salty tang of sweat. I’m so wet. I go behind myself and effortlessly slide two fingers in my own throbbing pussy.

Soon, I’m working us both over nicely…..

I lick your butt up and down and don’t let up until I make you come.

Gripping your cheeks and spreading them far apart, I spit at it as hard as I can, licking in long, slow strokes.

Then I, oh my god, then I start poking your tiny butthole with the tip of my tongue….

Soon, it’s all damp. Feverishly, I’m going at myself. I slide my middle finger straight up your ass and start twirling your swollen clit with my thumb….

You cry out in lust and it’s music to my ears.

Then you grab a fistful of my hair and start moving your pussy up and down hard against my mouth….

Breathless, you tell me what I need to hear.

“I’m fucking coming! Lucy! FUCK!”

My tongue's moving up and down, side to side. You’re grinding against me.
I’m out of my mind with pleasure.
Where am I? I swear I don’t know.

It feels like a dream, no, more like a fantasy.
Are we in the bedroom you created for us?
No….
This isn’t a simulation. This is real.
I-I can feel you, taste you, smell you and I never want to stop.

We’re whimpering, moaning, and grunting. We can’t catch our breath.

It’s all too much….

But we don’t stop.
Sweating, panting.
A strong odor of sex saturates your bedroom.
Your knees are shaking, and I can tell you’re trembling.

We can’t stop making love.
We don’t ever wanna stop….

I’m overcome with emotion.
My body’s burning up. I have a fever….

I need a break. I can’t keep this up.
You’re crashing into my mouth, another orgasm.
I’m frantically rubbing my clit.
The sweat, running in my eyes, burning.

Judy and I keep this up for as long as we can.

But I’m wasted, burned out.

Just as I’m about to say, “No more, I need a break,” I feel a pair of the softest lips on my back, kissing, then sucking on my damp skin.

A tongue touches the top of my ass crack and slides to the base of my neck….

Confusion hits me and my eyes shoot open. For a second, I think it’s Jude.

No, no that’s impossible.

Just as I’m about to forget it all and keep going, it hits me.
I sigh, overwhelmed with the strongest sensation of euphoria I’ve ever felt!

It’s you….
I knew it, baby.

V’s here.
She’s come back to us.

Oh god, thank you. I’m gone.
I’ve found some kind of lost paradise….

Judy can barely see straight but turns around just long enough to catch a glimpse of V taking care of me.

She’s out of it. Dazed, exhausted from the intensity of our lovemaking.

“W-What took you so fuckin’ long,” she gasps loudly. “Get in here….”

I’m still deep in Jude’s ass, and now V’s deep in mine, rimming me and taking over my aching pussy.

She’s magic.
Her touch, soft yet firm, the perfect balance.

She’s fucking immaculate!

Wait. Is-Is she holding something in her hand?
She is.

Oh gosh….

It’s a pair of her underwear.

She’s gonna give me what I want, isn’t she!

V reaches around, never letting up on me; her fingers and mouth working overtime. She thrusts the dirty underwear in my face, pressing it into my nose. My tongue’s still pushing Judy’s clit back and forth. I’m about ready to erupt….

“S-Smell ‘em,” she pants. “Smell ‘em while I’m licking your fucking ass.”

I inhale deeply, over and over, going at Judy frantically, speeding up. They smell exactly like V’s pussy. Tangy, sweaty, sharp, so wonderfully organic.

That’s it. It’s too much. My senses overload and I short-circuit….

I can’t control my body as I orgasm again. It’s thrashing, flailing.
They both hear me crying out, my voice sounds desperate, lewd, full of lust….

V grunts, “Neughhh, shit. Goddammit. Oh my god, awww fuck….”

She’s still going at me from behind, but at this point, I lose all sense of my surroundings. Hips, thrusting and bucking uncontrollably.

I couldn’t stop now if I tried….

The room’s filled with the sound of our bodies bouncing off each other, mouths sucking, moans, whimpers.

Our fluids mixing, creating, mixing, blood rushing to our heads.

We’re going at each other hard, fast.
We lose ourselves, in ourselves.

We’ve held back for months, waiting to see if we could save V, and now that we did, it’s all coming out.

No more hiding. No more stifling our true feelings. Everything’s hitting us all at once.

Every secret look, every subtle whiff, or quick glance.

We’re pouring our hearts, souls, and bodies into this….

It’s like a rite of passage, an ascension.
Ritualistic, ceremonial, animalistic.

Violent, tender, passionate, loving, lustful….

Holding one another now, we can’t stop sweating.
V’s between me and Judy.
I’m tenderly sucking on her tits, while Judy’s playing with her pussy.

She’s looking into Valerie’s eyes.

“Come for me, calabacita. C’mon, baby. We wanna watch you come. Once more….”

V bites her bottom lip and pouts, “W-Want me t-to come? H-Huh? S-Shit, w-wanna watch?”

Judy grabs me by the hair and kisses me hard on the mouth. Our saliva drips onto V’s stomach, mixing with her smoldering skin.

I can’t see straight….

Quietly, V begins to whimper, “Awww, awww, mmph, mmph, J-Jude? L-Lucy? I’m coming again. I-I, oh fuck…. Ahhh! Shit! Oh shit….”

“Good girl,” Judy coos, holding V. “Such a good girl, isn’t she Luce?”

“Mmph, mhmm,” I pant, biting Valerie’s nipples, licking the dampness from her neck as she thrusts up and down, feeling the full force of another preem orgasm….

Next, the three of us shift and lie down on our sides….

We form a circle and I’ve never been more hungry for both of them than I am at this moment.

V’s going down on me, sucking on my pussy, while Judy’s taking care of her, and I’m licking Jude with my aching mouth….

We’re moaning so loud, orgasming over and over. Judy’s got V totally wrapped around her finger and it seems like every few seconds she’s crying out, “I’m coming again!”

….Who knows how long we stay like this. All three of us way past the point of tiredness but no one wants to stop.

We’re operating on pure instinct and adrenaline now….

We switch it up.

V lies down on her back, scissoring with Judy, while I straddle her face, then turn around. Judy and I are facing each other. We start making out while Valerie’s fucking us both….

Our bodies are all moving as one. Slick with heat, hormones seeping from our pores, our fluids, covering each other….

Sucking on Judy’s tits while V’s tongue is lapping against my clit, I come so hard, I lose control. My body thrusts, hips sway. I look to see Judy staring at me….

“C’mere,” she whispers, holding me while I finish against V’s mouth.

Valerie.
She’s the best.
No doubt. (Well, her and Jude!)
But V has us both orgasming on command.
We can’t stop!
Our breath hangs heavy in the air.
It mixes with all the sweat and come.
We’re swept away forever by some secret current of desire, feeling, and emotion….

And we’ll never forget this moment because we’ve solidified the foundation of our love.

No more jealousy, envy, competition or anxiety.

Judy and I both know V’s the center of our universe.

….And we wouldn’t want it any other way.

II

Later on in the night, I open my tired eyes.
I’m all achy and sore, but in a really good way.
Somehow we ended up in bed?
Valerie’s in the middle, I’m on her left, Judy’s on her right.

One thin sheet covers us.

We’re holding our girl.
Nuzzling up to her.
She’s got a contented smile on her face.
So does Judy.

We’re all nestled, dirty, sweaty, but so relaxed.

Judy yawns, sees me staring at her. Reaches over and holds my hand.

“Hi,” she winks.

“Hi,” I whisper back.

She leans up and kisses V softly on the cheek. It prompts me to do the same….

The three of us are in love.
We can feel it coursing through our veins.

I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.
Judy never lets go of my hand….

III.

….Valerie woke up first, slowly, full of emotion. The sun was just coming up over the horizon. It was early. A little after 6:00 am.

She looked to see Judy on one side, nuzzling against her chest, Lucy in the same exact position on the other. She kissed them both, softly, until they opened their sleepy eyes, and kissed her back.

“Hi,” she whispered, and they all started cuddling.

“Morning calabacita,” Judy murmured.

“Hi, V,” Lucy said in a quiet voice, a subtle smile on her reddened face.

They stayed in bed for most of the day, sleeping, laughing, a little crying, overwhelmed with what they’d all just been through, and sleeping some more….

Each of them was at their most sensitive point in this entire process. Their bodies full of pins and needles, tingling with rhythms, vibes of passion and vulnerability.

Lucy and Judy held V and wouldn’t let her go.
They were full of love, full of relief that she was really gonna be okay.

Maybe this could work?

After all, they already took the first step….

And isn’t that always the hardest one to take?

Chapter Text

I.

….After that magical first night, their lives only seemed to get better and better.

Sure, there were hiccups, bumps in the road. After all, they were only human....

Every now and then, Judy caught herself thinking of Bianca, but those moments grew fewer, until they disappeared altogether. In the end, she knew this was where she belonged. In the arms of two women who adored her completely.

Sometimes, there were little arguments, frustrations boiling over. If either Lucy or Judy (especially) thought they were being neglected, they’d become super touchy, bitchy, and ready to explode in anger.

But V was the glue that held them together. She was the centering force, always there with affection or reassurance, never letting things spiral out of hand.

She navigated the relationship with poise, calm, and tenderness.

These were three young women with strong, forceful personalities.

Judy. Fiery, passionate, never one to shy away from saying exactly what was on her mind.

Lucy. Reserved, detached, pragmatic, yet also extremely passionate when it came to the people she cared about.

And finally, Valerie. She was street-smart, a no-nonsense kind of woman. But also too, so loving, sensitive, highly in touch with her own emotions. She could tell right away when someone was being disingenuous or inauthentic.

Sometimes their personalities clashed but overall, they fit together almost flawlessly….

Everything was heightened in this kind of relationship. Feelings, worries, anxieties, desires, passions. It was a charged, electric atmosphere. It was only natural there’d be growing pains, especially at the beginning….

II.

….One morning, about a month in, V woke up early and noticed Lucy wasn’t in bed. She rolled over, kissed Judy softly on the lips and went to find the other woman.

It just seemed natural that they ended up at Lucy’s apartment. Judy moved in, although she still kept her apartment in Northside. V got rid of every one of her places except for Japantown. Why keep that many apartments? It was pointless. They were inseparable anyway….

V found the young netrunner in the darkened living room. She was holding David Martinez’s edgerunner jacket and crying softly.

Quietly, Valerie crept up behind her and held her at the waist. Lucy let out a surprised moan….

“Hey,” V said, “You okay?”

“Hey,” she mumbled and sniffled. “Yeah, I’m okay,” but she froze and whispered, “No. I’m not okay.”

“A euro for your thoughts? What’s wrong, baby? Memories?" V nodded towards the jacket and kissed her on the side of the neck. Lucy was nervous, on edge.

“I never wanted to stay here, V. I love you. I love Judy and I can’t picture my life without the two of you in it….”

“I sense a but coming on.” Valerie leaned her head against Lucy’s back….

"Being here in NC, it just makes me miss him so much more. I feel like I failed him. And seeing you here. Healthy, happy. It reminds me that I let him down. I could’ve done better, tried har—”

“Hey, hey, hey, stop that. He knew how much you loved him. C’mere you gonk.”

"I never told him!" Lucy's breath caught in her throat.

V rubbed her back. "Sometimes words just get in the way. People can feel it. I promise."

Lucy spun around and clung to V. She cried into her chest and said, “W-Why is it so hard for me to be h-happy?”

"Give it time, baby. This past year has been so crazy. But I know wherever David is, he loves you. Luce, you’re such a deep, thoughtful young woman. You don’t let a lot of people in but when do, you’re fiercely loyal. Do you wanna talk about him and tell me who he was? No pressure. I’m here if you ever wanna talk.”

She shook her head. “N-No, but thanks for being patient, V. Thank you for saying that. Means so much to me to know you understand my feelings.”

“I want you to feel like you can be yourself, no matter what." V paused. “Now, what was that about not wanting to live in NC. You still wanna go to the moon?”

“Mhmm,” she whimpered. “But I know it’s not realistic.”

“Why not? You have money. I have money. Obviously, we'd take care of Judy. What’s to stop us?”

Lucy looked up at her with a look of surprise. “You think Jude would be on board?”

Suddenly a voice called out. “Course she would! I’m always up for an adventure!”

Judy came up and the three of them hugged warmly, touching their noses and nuzzling close together.

Luce was still emotional. “I’m so up and down,” she murmured. “Some fuckin’ roller coaster, this? Huh?”

They all laughed. But in the back of their minds, they knew the change of scenery would do them wonders. They kissed and clung to each other....

No more ghosts, pasts, or memories to worry about. No sadness, pain or resentment to contend with. They could start anew, start fresh….

III.

….The next day, V went to see Vik at his clinic in Watson. When she strolled through the set of iron-grated doors, he did a double take, smiled and jogged to meet her….

They embraced warmly.

“You’re standing in front of me, which means one of two things. Either you’re cured, or the chip's still lodged in there and you're on borrowed time. Please say it’s the former and not the latter.”

“I’m gonna be okay, Vik. Lucy and Judy. They saved my life. I’m okay.”

“Wha—?” He said, shocked by her answer.

“Let’s sit. I’ll explain everything."

They went to his work area and found two chairs. V went on to explain the general concept of The Lattice. It’s form and functionality. The nuances of that strange piece of psychic tech….

“That’s fascinating,” he said. “So the corrupted shard is still in your head, but it’s wrapped up in The Lattice? Like a cocoon you said, yes?”

V smiled. “Exactly.”

Vik looked uncomfortable, like he wanted to say something controversial.

“Ummm….”

“What. Just say it, Vik.”

“What if it just decides it doesn’t wanna do its job anymore. I mean what if it ceases to function?”

She stopped to consider the man’s words. Could that happen one day? She guessed anything was possible. But then it dawned on her. She wasn’t bothered by his concerns at all.

“That’s not gonna happen,” she said calmly, confidently.

“I hope it never does but that’s some extraordinarily sophisticated tech. It’s unpredictable.”

“That may be true,” V conceded, “But what isn’t unpredictable is Lucy’s and Judy’s knowledge, their expertise. I trust them absolutely, 100%. She spent a lot of time beyond the Blackwall and Jude was with her every step of the way. She formed a bond with the AIs.”

“Incredible,” Vik said. “That’s excellent news, V. Excellent news…. Hungry?”

“I could eat. Yeah.”

….They had lunch together and talked about everything. It was nice catching up. Finally, they said their goodbyes.

On the walk back to her car, V stopped at Misty’s….

When the medium saw her open the door, she ran up and hugged her tightly….

“V! My god! You’re here! A-Are you okay?”

“I’m okay, Misty. I’m okay.”

….They spent an hour chatting. Misty was transfixed by V’s story. When she got to the part about The Lattice, she gasped, blown away by its simple, yet practical design....

“V. I’m so happy for you. I always rooted for you. Was always in your corner.”

“Thanks Misty. I mean it. You’ve always been such a good friend.”

She held Valerie’s hand. “So tell me. Any chance you’re still talking to Judy?”

“Mhmm, and ummm, remember the other girl I told you about?”

“Ohhh, yeah. L-Lucy, right?” Misty looked to see V grinning. “Wait, you’re not. A-Are you three?”

The other woman blushed and said, “Yes, and it’s fucking nova….”

“Wow. Good for you! For all three of you. Congratulations!”

….She made them tea, and they spent a while talking about the future; something V never thought she’d have the luxury of doing again.

“Today actually, we were just discussing taking a trip to the moon. Maybe even settling down there. The three of us. It’s a long shot, no pun intended,” V laughed. “But we have the euros to do it a-and it’s Lucy’s dream. She doesn’t wanna live in NC, hates it.”

“And you and Judy are on board?”

“Oh yeah. We couldn’t be apart from one another. Not anymore. We’re in love, Misty.”

“Well, I’ll be pulling for you. The moon, wow. That’s about as far away from Night City as you can get.”

“We’ll see. The future’s a blank slate,” V said wistfully. “And that’s what makes it so exciting….”

Fifteen minutes later, she waved goodbye, hopped in her Herrera and decided to take a drive through the city. She ended up stopping to see some of the fixers she’d worked with in the past. Just to let them know she was leaving the business. None of them knew about her condition and she was sure not to slip-up accidentally and mention anything personal.

Valerie told every one of them the same thing: It was time for a change. Time for new beginnings and fresh starts.

They were sad to see her go. She’d quickly established herself as one of the top solos in all of NC and her absence would leave a void felt by everyone.

As she made her way back, she realized she hadn’t checked her holophone all day. As a matter of fact, she’d left it in her glove compartment and forgotten all about it.

When she took it out, she gasped.

“Oh shit.”

There were 22 missed calls, and 17 unanswered text messages, and every single one of them were from her girls.

They were worried about her.
Why wasn’t she answering?
Where was she?
What was going on?
Why wouldn’t she get back to them?

She pinged them both and they picked up right away.

Judy yelled first,

“V! C’mon! You delta without a word? What the hell's going on?”

Lucy was much more subdued, actually seething might be a more apt description.

“Baby, we’re worried sick. Don’t do that again, okay?”

V had to smile. She couldn’t help it. Their concern filled her heart with so much emotion, so much love.

“What’s so funny?” Judy said with a sneer.

Lucy turned to the techie. “Maybe she thinks we’re joking?” She glared at Valerie.

“No, no. I-I’m just, I’m touched, overwhelmed by your concern. I mean it. It just makes me love the both of you that much more.” She blew a kiss to each of them and winked.

Her gestures instantly disarmed the other two women. They smiled back at her.

“Come home,” Lucy whispered. “We made dinner. We miss you.”

“Mhmm, mi calabacita. We spent all day in the kitchen, slaving away. It’s getting cold. Plus," Judy grinned mischievously. "We got something special planned for you, later on tonight."

V realized she was emotional. She wiped her eyes and said, “Love you two. So damn much. Be right there.”

….So many thoughts were spinning around Valerie’s head as she sped through the city, back to Lucy’s.

She had her life back. She was in love with two of the strongest, smartest, most beautiful women she'd ever known. And she’d never have to worry about money again.

Everything was falling into place. She glanced over at the empty passenger seat and smiled….

“I’m good, Johnny. Really good. It just keeps getting better and better. Miss you. But I’m happy again. So happy….”

She sighed and looked towards the setting sun.
The sky was beautiful.
Light purple, blended together with soft yellows and smoldering oranges.

This would be a good life.
Good enough….

END

Chapter Text

I.

Judy:

….Our last night on earth.

We bought the tickets!

Three of them, of course.

We leave tomorrow for luna, the moon. We worked out an agreement. V called in some favors from some high-end fixers and we were able to book passage on an Orbital Air shuttle. I don’t even wanna say how much it cost us! We’re headed for one of the two settlements. I think it’s called, Tycho?

We secured a lease on one of the dwellings (again, all thanks to V) and we’re gonna settle down and live there.

It’s gonna be so nova!

We’re so excited, we can hardly sit still!

I’ve never seen Lucy so happy, so excited. She’s running around the apartment, trying to get everything in order. Valerie and I and so happy for her. Her dream is coming true. This is what she’s been waiting for ever since she first arrived in NC.

Wow….

I can’t believe It’s been a year since she went to the Blackwall and found The Lattice.
She saved V’s life (guess I helped a little too).

What an incredible time it’s been!

The three of us….
We’re so in love.

It’s like every day’s just a little bit better than the one before.

We all moved in together.
Lucy’s place.

I got rid of my apartment on Charter St. and V gave up everything. Even her favorite spot in Japantown!

….I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least a little nervous!

Going to the moon?

No way. Never, ever in a million years would I have envisioned that for myself.

But I wanna do it for Lucy, wanna make her happy. This is important to her, and Valerie understands that too. We both want to see her at peace….

Out of the three of us, she’s had the most difficult time adjusting to this life we all share. The other night, we’d just finished foolin’ around. We were holding each other, giggling, just bonding. Girl time, ya know?

Anyway, she broke down. Got up outta bed real fast and locked herself in the bathroom. Wouldn’t come out.

It took V a half hour of just sitting on the floor with her head resting against the door, talking in a sweet, sweet voice to get her to come out.

She was a mess. Told us she’s been thinking a lot about her boyfriend, David. He was murdered a few years back. Adam Smasher. From everything she told me, it was some awful, horrible shit that went down.

And Lucy’s still not over it….

V and me, we think she’s gettin’ worse. She hates it here in the city. The other day she really scared us and we thought we were losing her. Talked about going back home to Europe for a while, tryin’ to reconnect with her parents. Said she didn’t know when she’d be back….

Valerie was devastated. I mean absolutely crushed. Told her how much we needed her. It took us a long time to convince her to stay….

In the end, we sorta surprised Luce. We made a real nice dinner for her and afterwards told her we bought the tickets and rented the place.

It was hard because V didn’t have the money on her own and she didn’t wanna spoil the surprise. She ended up having to take some loans out from some of her old clients. We’re talking millions of euros just for the three of us to delta.

Fortunately, Lucy paid it back as soon as she found out.

II.

Valerie:

….I catch myself looking at Jude, at Lucy and I ask myself. “How could I be this lucky?” Not only are they both drop-dead gorgeous, but they’re smart as hell too. Brilliant.

They tell me every day how much they love me and I keep wondering when I’m gonna wake up. I mean this has to be a dream, right?

I’m worried about my girl. Lucy’s been in a terrible funk lately and nothing seems to help. That’s when me and Jude came up with the idea of the moon.

I think it did exactly what we were hoping it would do. Bring Luce out of her prolonged malaise. Inject her with new life, something to look forward to.

When we told her, she was speechless. Burst into tears and hugged us for twenty minutes. Actually, we were all pretty broken up. It was an extremely emotional moment for all of us.

That was a few days ago and ever since, Lucy seems like her old self again. Affectionate, still quiet, but so loving and gentle. She’s been gravitating to Judy lately but I have no qualms with that dynamic at all. Whatever helps her come back to us.

She did come up to me when Jude was asleep and held me. Just held me and cried softly against my chest. Told me how much she appreciates this bond her and I share….

Well, better get the rest of my packing done or they're gonna leave me behind!

III.

Lucy:

I’m finally happy. I mean it. I was sinking, drowning in an ocean of self-pity. Never felt more depressed in my entire life.

I’m so thankful to have not one, but two women who love me unconditionally. They haven’t left my side once. Always right there when I need a hug, or a shoulder to cry on. They're not only my lovers, V and Judy are my best friends too.

When they surprised me with this trip, I thought I was gonna pass out! I screamed as loud as I could and hugged them both in my arms. I never wanted to let go!

I know I’m not the easiest person in the world to get along with, but they understand me so well. They know when I need space or a kiss.

I love them both so much, but I don’t know how much longer I could’ve stayed here in NC. I was losing my mind. I even thought about going back to Europe to try and see my parents. But then I realized what a stupid, stupid idea that is. They’d just wanna send me back to Arasaka anyway. Do they even love me?

You know what? Why dwell in the negative? It's a new day. There's a new life waiting for me. And I can't wait!

Epilogue

….They never did come back down to earth.

V, Judy, and Lucy settled on the moon and lived out the rest of their days in peace, harmony, tranquility, and most of all, in love….

Theirs is an extraordinary story; one filled with happiness, a tiny bit of pain, but so much passion and desire!

It's a bond that never weakened, never faded, or began to rust.

They're best friends, lovers, companions for life.

And in the end, it didn’t really matter where they settled down.
(Well, maybe anywhere except Night City….)

The place where it all began.

Where three women found one another in a city of millions.

And once they did, they never looked back….