Chapter Text
Sunlight cascaded through the window of V's apartment, So Mi hadn’t even bothered to close the metal curtains to shield herself from the radiant assault the night before.
Crashed harder than SF1 in Dogtown.
Stirred from slumber and squeezed her eyes shut tight to try and not be blinded by the rays of light. Wanted to turn over and escape the luminescence scorching her senses, but the feeling of something curled against her brought her to a pause.
Blinked away the grogginess and saw Nibbles snuggled against her side. Fondly she raised a hand to the cat, stroking it gently. The subtle low engine sound that was unmistakably a purr was a song of its own.
It was the warmest ‘good morning’ she received in ages. Longer than she could remember. Did she ever have one?
Always work this, work that. More recently it was physical therapy and doctors with medication.
If it wasn’t for more urgent matters, she’d have just laid in bed until late in the day and taken advantage of the serenity that was this moment. A rare occurrence in Night City.
Reality wouldn’t allow that though, and neither could she. Maybe if it was a different time or place, but today, no. Today belonged to the first step of bringing V back. Even the most luxurious bed and bliss wouldn’t keep her sated when she had a mission to accomplish.
Gently patting Nibbles on the head and whispering an apology to the feline, she propped herself up with as minimal movement as possible. Wiped at her eyes with synthetic skin covered digits as bleary eyes adjusted to the world.
Stumbled her way into the bathroom – V's bathroom. Reluctantly checked herself in the mirror. Didn’t care about the messy hair, smeared makeup, and puffy eyes. No, that was never what bothered her. Scrunching up her nose as if the foulest thing had wafted before her, she tentatively reached for the back of her neck, feeling the familiar sensation of lifeless cold chrome.
Still was thankful though for what she managed to get rid of, didn’t take it for granted. A sense of normalcy she had been deprived of like the homeless on the corner begging for food. Never did get the whole meal but got enough to stave off the hunger. Caressed her jaw where chrome unabashedly framed every angle. A sore sight, but one she had grown accustomed to. Wanted to ask the doctors back on Tycho to see what they could do about minimizing it, but then she got clearance to travel and booked it here in a nanosecond.
Gazing down at her arms that were once a bundle of wires and carbon fiber. Fingertips tracing the memorized path where wires once loosely fell from her arms, like nerves made of steel, but only figuratively.
Splashing some water on her face and wiping away yesterdays muddied makeup she stared herself down once more in a moment of silence. Saw a shadow there sometimes, the shadow of her past self. A different life.
Pushing herself away from the mirror she went for her tiny sack of varied belongings, digging for a change of clothes. While V definitely had clothes, her cyberware more often than not required some custom ware.
Nothing worse than getting snagged on her own cyberware from suspect threads, even worse that it was on her back making it one hell of a bitch to reach. Usually what she picked was carefully determined by what she had planned for the day.
A day out and walking? Concealment was key. Jackets that could hide her chrome with efficiency, leaving only neck exposed.
Kicking it around without public excursions? Breathable clothing that could reveal more.
All circumstantial.
A routine she had adapted and settled in over the course of several years. Wrong outfit at the wrong time could lead to bein’ jumped or worse.
Decided on a cozier getup assuming that all that would be on the agenda today was planning. Nabbed a plaid tank top that was open in the back, a top made especially for her ‘condition.’ They had no back as her chrome had buckles built in to attach tops and other garments.
How thoughtful of Myers and the FIA. The type of thoughtfulness that was in the same vein as stabbing someone mercilessly before handing them a Band-Aid.
Pinning the cotton tank top onto the buckles of her cyberware both on top and midway. Gripping it, she gave it a soft tug to assure it was latched on tight enough. Once she was satisfied, she grabbed a pair of black jeans and slid them on without any extra hassle. Never had to worry about most pants with her back, long as they didn’t ride too high, wasn’t a big problem.
Opened her holo to check the time, figured it was still early because Johnny still hadn’t showed V’s face yet.
11:02 am
“What the fuck?” So Mi hissed out in frustration. Didn’t expect to sleep in, she never does but he was supposed to swing by early. She woulda woke up. Doubted he came by and decided to let her sleep, no shot. They had shit to do, and this wasn’t exactly a productive start.
“Shoulda grabbed his contact, fuuuck.” She groaned out loud to nobody in particular. Knew V’s contact, but it was a dud. No point.
Huffing she grabbed the jacket she threw on the couch late last night, throwing it on. Grabbed her favorite worn pair of sneakers and laced them up with purposeless haste. Couldn’t even leave until he showed up, didn’t want to either.
Sitting on the couch, her leg mindlessly tapped away the rhythm of her building frustration. Why even make a plan if there was no intention of sticking with it? Nothing worse than waiting or a plan going to shit. Combine both and it’s a fucking nightmare.
Brown eyes darted around the room looking for anything at all to distract herself. Didn’t get to scope out everything yesterday and the sunlight really brought out things she had hardly noticed in the dark of night. Brought a different perspective.
Shooting up from the seat in an instant she began circling around the room, observing all the little knickknacks and details she had missed. A little Trauma Team AV toy, a miscellaneous collection of books, and magazines.
A poster for Lizzy Wizzy made her chuckle quietly, didn’t take V to be into that kind of music. Learning more and more to stop making assumptions. Next to it a poster for Jefferson Peralez, newly appointed mayor of NC. Could try and figure out that one, but she wouldn’t know where to start.
By her feet was a box of diving gear, glancing over to the still she saw last night of the church, it all fit together nicely. Putting together tiny puzzle pieces of V’s life. Lips curling up in satisfaction as realized she managed slot at least a few pieces together.
Eyes locked onto the computer screen again and she tried not to let her curiosity get the better of her, but fighting it off was like trying to fight off a gang with a stick. A losing battle.
Gaze locked, she strolled over to the seat of the desk, effortlessly hacking it on before even planting her ass into the seat. Clasping her hands together and stretching them outwards to loosen her joints, her fingers nimbly scrolled through emails left open.
To her own chagrin there really wasn’t much to scour. Lots of spam mail. Had more spam than actual mail. Really figured she’d have a lot of juicy details on here, but other than a few of interest, it was rather dull.
An attachment of 4 men in a photo with a tank and dog sent by a Panam Palmer being one of the only ones even worthy of glancing it. Really thought it would a mountain of varied information, but all it turned out to be was a dry well.
Coulda wiped everything she reasoned to herself, or Johnny could have.
However a few images on her left dragged her attention away from her own disappointment, seeing a few scanty pinups of women. She had her suspicions about V's sexual preference, and this only served to lean her further in that direction.
Couldn’t help the smug smirk that played onto her lips when she thought of the letter back at the columbarium from River.
Maybe poor guy really did bark up the wrong tree. Didn’t see any scantily clad men pictures around here after all.
A couple of shards scattered around the computer fell victim to her scrutiny but as she moved to grab one the door slid open, immediately quelling her little investigation. Flustered she flew up from the chair in a nanosecond like a child caught doing something wrong.
Johnny barreled through the door and stopped mid step once he witnessed the netrunners jumpy reflex. Paused as he tilted sunglasses down, peering over the top of the lenses and eyeing her up like a criminal caught red handed.
“Oh-kay, wanna tell me what you’re doing?”
“Just checking the news on the comp,” So Mi responded coolly, shrugging it off. “What about you? What took so long?”
Deflection was a useful tool in her arsenal, one she had mastered in the FIA
“Grabbed a few things, did some thinking.”
“Realize I couldn’t even leave to grab a bite if I wanted to right? Didn’t give me your info.”
“Knew where to find you,” he shot back with an impish grin. A jest followed by the familiar glow of optics as he sent her his info. “There. Happy?”
“Enough for now.”
“Great, now sit. Got some shit to hash out.” Johnny sauntered further into the room heading for the couch. Through his movement he caught a glimpse of a familiar object briefly, did a double take and ceased any movement, staring down the object.
“Song,” He spoke with a feigned calmness, voice low and heavy. “What the fuck is this doing here?” Pointed at the pendant she had snatched from the columbarium.
Freezing at the tonal change, she approached with her hands out in a gesture of goodwill. Like a plea more or less. “I thought V was alive. Figured someone brought them to her and that she might miss them. Was gonna return them.” So Mi motioned to the Tycho pin laying next to the pendant.
Could see the way his body relaxed at the reasoning. Muscles strained releasing themselves back under layers of skin.
“Didn’t see the pin. Musta been rough to see. Sorry.” He apologized not making eye contact with her. Realization from his reaction hit her harder than a sack of bricks.
“You put them there, didn’t you?” So Mi asked.
“Yep.”
“Why the pin?” So Mi blurted out without much thought, wanted to know from her own selfish desire. Burned in her from the moment she laid eyes on it. Had to know.
“Was important to her.” He shrugged it off, collapsing onto the couch, pointing at a seat near his left, waving a hand towards her. So Mi was taken slightly aback by the notion of her meaning that much to V. She was part of the reason she landed in this disaster, fell face first into the grave.
Lost in thought, she grabbed the seat near Johnny with her mind occupied by the idea. Wasn’t too long ago she lead V around by the nose, built her up to beat her down. Didn’t even know if she’d be welcomed by V, even with the prospect of trying to save her. Wouldn’t have blamed V if she greeted her with a gun to her dome.
Johnny watched her with careful eyes, noting the shift in her demeanor, and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, and behind his head. Kicking feet up onto the table without a care in the world, he bluntly provoked her attention with a question.
“That surprise you?”
Sitting on the couch, So Mi brought her legs up, resting her chin on her knees and staring at nothing in particular.
“Honestly? Yeah.” So Mi bluntly responded in kind. “I wouldn’t have blamed her if she tossed it out the window, you know? Tryna to wrap my head around it. Her not wanting me dead. Half expected a barrel aimed at my face.”
“Could do that for you if that’ll make you more comfortable.” Johnny smirked in a way that looked alien scrawled on V’s features.
“Mm, I’ll pass.”
“For real though, self pity the only tune you play?”
Felt her face heat up at that shot, shouldn’t have stung as much as it did because it was Johnny, but still felt hit her core. A good gut punch. She wanted to defend herself, but lost the opportunity as his wounding voice cut through again.
“Still haven’t realized shit, have you?” He started and leaned closer to So Mi, knowing he was studying her though his spectacles. Could feel his shrewd gaze piercing her. Invasive and unwelcome. Sharp. Waited for him to twist the knife unceremoniously.
“V never regret it. Seems like you’re the one beatin’ yourself up ‘bout it more than her.”
She did. Still is. Probably always will.
Shaking her head with lips pursed, she ran her hand through her violet locks.
“Once told Reed honor didn’t exist in Night City…then along comes this merc from Night City. Betrayed her, still saved my life.”
“How poetic. Sounds to me like you just don’t like being wrong.”
“Maybe.”
“I don’t either.” He confessed out of the blue, evening the playing ground. Figures she’d try to get him to open up more about that soon. Knew people like him though. Was gonna be like trying to pry open a boarded window with all the nails stabbing into hands. Gruesome, she could feel it.
“Alright let’s talk biz.” Johnny straightened himself up, reaching in his pocket to pull out a cigarette.
“Bring the blueprints?”
Grabbing the ash tray off the table, he leaned forward as he struck the flame to life, inhaling deeply.
“Yep. Wanna mull some shit over with you first though.”
“Okay...” So Mi said cautiously.
“Think we should get me to Alt first. Make sure everything is in order. Don’t wanna waste our time. Get ‘er filled in on the details, bring her up to speed.”
Not a bad plan actually, all of this effort would be for nothing if Alt wasn’t on the same page. Gotta run all possibilities and angles, with no Alt, there was no plan.
“Makes sense actually. Just remember, gotta go it alone. No shot of me going past the wall.”
“Not asking you to. Just gotta swing by somewhere with a setup. Got a few ideas for that, but it’s an easy bridge to cross. Easier than the next one...”
That had So Mi on the edge of her seat. Braced herself for verbal impact.
“Think we should get some help. Think we could tackle both issues at once. Don’t know how long either of would take.”
Seemed reasonable enough. More connections and people on the job would alleviate a huge time sink, but that all depended on the peeps at work. Risky though to bring in unknowns, wild cards and variables weren’t something she wanted to account for. Johnny eased into that role enough on his own.
Could ask NightCorp, and Mr. Blue Eyes. If her being here proved anything it was that their resources were nearly limitless. Plus, she knew them. Knew him. It.
“It’s not a terrible idea. Actually, could ask my boss. Don’t know what the chances would be, but I think they’d do it. Helped me already.”
“…Boss? The fuck, who you work for?”
“NightCorp. They’re the ones who did the surgery, saved my life.”
The vibe immediately darkened, the room so silent that the water drip-dropping from the faucet could be heard as loud as the alarm blaring in his own head. Couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but…for the first time his eyes reminded her of V’s. Something came to life, sprung to attention like a soldier at war.
“You jumped from one cage only to fly into another corporate cage, you’re wacked.”
“Don’t understand shit Johnny.” She seethed out through grit teeth, mounting her defense.
“Whatever, but no, fuck no. Not asking any corpocunts and cucks for help. Nope. Throw that shit in the trash where it belongs.”
“If it means getting’ V back I don’t see why the hell not, plus got a lot of resources and mon-
“Why the fuck not? Tell ya why. Then V owes them. Same shit with every corp, age old song and dance. V didn’t go to Arasaka, sure as fuck not goin’ to NightCorp. Don’t matter if they can help. Not real help in the end, just a different kind of death.”
“Arasaka? What happened with that?” Perplexed, she asked. Knew they were responsible for the relic, and that V set the tower in metaphorical flames.
“Promised help with the relic, but we decided to let them go fuck themselves. Nothing they could offer would be worth the cost.”
Shook her at that, couldn’t fully agree. Had her life about to end. Arasaka, NightCorp, Kang Tao, didn’t matter. If it meant living, she’d have accepted whatever option. Desperate? Maybe. Just wanted to live. Can’t fully understand letting morals trump the instinct to survive. Easy in theory, harder in practice.
Knowing V turned away an option for survival on some moral high ground while knocking on death’s door just…didn’t compute. Couldn’t compute.
“Seriously though, got the financial aid to help find V, could use them.” One last push. It was just common sense. Most logical option.
“You mean they fuckin’ know you’re down here searching for V and gave you money to do so? Don’t find that odd at all? You think corporations are just filled with goodwill for damsels in distress? Gonk shit.”
Didn’t sit fully right with her either back then, even less now. It was strange that when she was supposed to start working in full, she had been allowed to take leave to find V. Could mull over that, try to analyze it all day.
“Struck me too, give you that. Does it matter though? I’ll be the one who owes them a favor. Not you, not V. At least if we only stick to using money and not direct resources. Money was for me.”
Ashed his cigarette into the ceramic tray, subtlety giving a disappointed shake of the head. Not subtle enough for her to miss.
“Don’t like the sound of that any better.”
Hated to admit it, but that response brought a faint smile to her lips. Seems the stoic fucker had a heart after all.
“Careful, almost sound like you care.”
“Ha-fucking-ha. Now that we stamped that out though, put a tab in it and leave it for another day. I had an idea for help.”
“Don’t leave me hangin’ then.”
Took a drag of his cig.
“Got some chooms, well, no. V had some chooms. Might be of use here. Least a bit.”
“Why do they stand to be any help? Connections?”
“Sure, one of em, other one is a certified techie. Good one too. Couldn’t hurt.”
“Yet you’re acting like it’s more terrifying than the blackwall,” she watched his leg began to restlessly bounce, a kind of anxiousness that didn’t seem befitting of the rockerboy.
“Cause it is.”
“Who and why?”
“One Panam Palmer and Judy Alvarez. No guarantee they’d help though. Least no guarantee one of them will.”
Remembered Panam from scouring V’s comp, photo with the 4 men and dog, she was the sender. A choom of V’s, but the second name was a dud.
“Didn’t tell me why it’s freaking you out.”
“One of them left me around 100 voicemails back when I still had V’s holo number. All of them were about killing me. Other one…just a long story. Both aren’t exactly fond of me and neither really believe me that V did this on her own volition.”
“Long story, huh?” If her time at the FIA taught her anything, it was that when people use that phrase, it stands to reason they’re hiding something.
“Yep.”
Tried to ignore her cortex firing off warning signals, didn’t like secrets. Got sick of that game. Wanted to be open, trust. Finding it increasingly difficult.
“Okay, give me the spec on them.”
“Panam, nomad like V. Surprised me once already with her resourcefulness. Close choom to V. Like family. Know the Aldecaldos have connections to Biotechnica. Know you know what I mean.”
“Mhm, FIA kept close tabs on Biotechnica research. You thinkin’ about the cloning route then?”
“Seems more likely than finding a needle in a haystack of a body for V to be compatible with.”
“Could run into some issues though. Need DNA for that. Post relic won’t work. Been changed too much, won’t suffice. Need pre relic DNA so unless you got some V DNA cache, I’m not privy too, that’s an issue. Said V developed a unique phenotype cause of the chip, right? That’s another whole bag of problems…”
“Could be. Worth diggin around though, seeing what we can scrape up.”
“I’ll bunker down. Do some research.”
“Then do.”
“Spec on the other one…Judy, right? Who is she?” So Mi pressed, the long story line jammed into her brain like the relic was in V. Wanted to pry, see what she could read from him.
“Techie. Damn good one too, like I said. Built robots, gear, whole shebang. Tackling the relic would probably be a good start with her. Could make more sense of it then I could.”
“Hm…Wouldn’t it be better to get some legit S-tier techie to take a look instead? Really can’t risk fucking it up. Only got one relic.” Pressed a bit more, she did.
“Could yeah but missing one crucial thing. I trust them to not fuck it up. Don’ trust some random with this. Can’t”
“That I do get.”
Gave up on pressing…for now. Gotta extract information in bits. Funny though, she thinks. When asked about Panam, he gave more about their connection, and with Judy it was absent. Just skills, no extra deets.
Interesting and noted. Had a sinking feeling like slipping into black tar. Had to shake it, focus.
Focus, So Mi.
“Call them.”
“Still think I should see Alt first. Make sure everything flies smoothly.”
“Could walk you through it. Stop at the wall.”
“If it makes you feel better.”
“Kinda does.”
“Good, now let’s go grab a bite to eat. Got a surprise for ya. One I think V would want you to have.”
Rose to his feet and shook off the loose bits of ash, thought came to his head.
“Wait can you even fuckin’ eat?”
Crushed into some corner of a rundown shack called Tom’s Diner a few blocks from V, So Mi picked at her food. Pancakes. Small bites only, cut to precision. A few bites in and she slid the plate forward towards Johnny.
“Didn’t like it?”
“No. I’m full.”
Raised eyebrows, eyes lowering to peer over at the stack of pancakes still sitting gloriously upon cheap plating.
“Kiddin, right? Didn’t take more than a few bites. Got over half left.”
“Doesn’t take a lot.”
“Guess they called you Songbird because you ate like a little bird.”
Images rushed her like a torrent at that name, memories flooding back. Hadn’t heard that in a long time now, almost forgot what it sounded like on the tip of someone’s tongue. Was hoping she could forget.
“So Mi.” Corrected her, venom accidentally spilling through like an uncontrolled leak. “Anyways, no I don’t. Chrome altered organs. Stomach included.”
The fork still rolling between fingers, twirling it around tips. Remembered her meals back in Brooklyn. Remembered cooking. The smells it brought, the joy it gave. It used to be that she’d put real time and effort into it, but now eating was a simple necessity. Nothing more. Can’t remember any of her recipes she once held close. Couldn’t remember what they tasted like.
“Shit, that’s rough.” Picking up a cup of coffee, he sipped away. Black coffee. It fit him. A thought came to mind, wonders if the relic fucked with their taste. Combined preferences like it mashed body and engram.
“Did V drink black coffee too?” Asked out loud without really meaning too, meant for that to be a question for herself to ponder. Doesn’t know how the intrusion escaped her lips.
“Nope. Sugar.” Unbothered by the query, he answered without even skipping a beat.
Sweet and strong. How very fitting.
“What about you?” He asked between sips, grabbing the plate she slid, deciding unprompted that it was now his and began to dig in.
“I don’t. Prefer tea.”
“Pretentious.”
Scoffed and rolled her eyes. How V put up with him for so long was a mystery, but as time went on, it got a bit easier. Remembers V once said something similar too.
“So what’s this surprise? Actually, do I even wanna know?”
“Lemme finish your waste of money and we’ll delta so I can show ya”
“Not a waste if you’re eating it, you know that, right?”
Grunted an incoherent response, mouth full of food and hair falling forward as he slammed it down. Ravaged like an animal.
Pulled up to a garage off some corner street in Pacifica. Being this close to Dogtown and seeing the green light pierce the sky like a needle in skin sent chills up chrome and skin.
“Not really crazy about this area.” Wrapped arms around herself, as if physically doing so would protect and ward off the negative feeling trying to worm their way into her skull.
“It’s gonna be worth it. Promise.”
Better be, she thought. Coming to Pacifica was always shit and shit just made worse by the events that transpired after she last flew above it. Her little impromptu layover.
Led them both to an empty storage facility blocked by a powered garage door. Nobody else around and if So Mi hadn’t known him at all, she’d think this was the start of some creepy horror movie. Still sort of does.
“Ready for this?” He leaned forward to put in the code, eagerly looking back at her with a shit eating grin. Definitely the start of a creepy horror movie.
“Growing tired of waiting, that’s for damn sure.” A joke. Discomfort shielded with humor. Though she flashed him a faint reassuring half-smile, let him know without wordlessly that it was all in good fun.
“Buzzkill.” He turned back to forward position and input the numbers. So Mi tried to catch them, couldn’t but didn’t matter. Could break this thing open before he even thought about taking a breath. Self-taught herself the courtesy of not doing so. Restraint.
The door slid open painfully slow to her own taste.
Flung open wide and it was just a garage full of cars, rows and rows of them. All makes and colors. Some rental services couldn’t be so lucky.
Struck her then, remembered what he had said. V’s only vice was cars.
Stepped forward into the dark recess of the garage, sunlight being the only medium of light. Catching off the shine of the cars, rays making metal gleam and refracting off the glass panels.
“Whoa…Are these all of V’s cars?” Twisted around and awestruck by the variety. Never really cared for or glamorized cars like other people did, but damn this was an impressive collection.
“Yeah, and you’re gonna pick one to take.”
Jerked around so hard she heard her chrome creak
“Really? Why?” An excited grin played onto her lips like a merc in a gun store, who wouldn’t be excited for the pick of the litter when it came to cars. Sure, some of them might as well have been tin cans with wheels, but there were some real winners there.
“Actually, felt bad about leaving you without a ride. Not tryna leave you stranded in an apartment all the time.” Following her inside, he went to a power box on a concrete pillar, flipped it on, and opened his arms wide in a grand gesture of showcasing.
“Well…thanks Johnny,” Wasn’t going to bother playing coy or saying it was okay. No, no. She was gonna hop on this chance. More exciting that it was V’s. Little pieces of V she wanted to rebuild together, as if doing so could actually bring her back.
“Sure, V would be cool with this? Know enough about nomads to know that you don’t fuck with their cars.” Walking up to a bright blue Quadra Turbo R-740, she ran her hand across the hood.
“Nah it’s fine. Maybe some other people, sure, she’d shoot them on sight. That’s different though.” Coming up behind her he glanced at the car, giving the wheel a gentle nudge with his foot.
“Got this one pretty standard. Said she liked the color. Hardly used it.”
Remembers that when she was looking for V, no cars under her name were on file. Curiosity got the better of her, and she scanned the car in a second flat.
“All these cars have different names attached, that by design? Like the apartment?”
“Yeah, most of them random, though some still have the previous owners name attached.”
“Pretty good at covering her tracks.”
“Don’t underestimate the nomadic ability to drop off the face of the earth, fall of the radar.”
Laid the flat of her hands against the next car in the row, silver Quadra Type-66 Avenger. Stylish, sleek, simple. Definitely something she could see herself at the wheel in, but with the plethora of cars flooding the garage, there weren’t many she couldn’t get behind. Traced her hand against the hood as she moved to the next one, parked so close she hardly had to lift her hand to carry over to the next in line.
Knew this one well, high end lifestyle from being the presidents right-hand.
“Sick Caliburn.” The white and gold caught the fluttering light in a delicate manner, contrasted to the power of the machine. The finish nearly sparkled in the artificial lighting mixed with natural.
“She only ever used it once.”
“What was the one time?”
“A street race. Came in first and never gave the thing another look again.”
Damn shame, that. Gorgeous car. The car next to it though could put the Caliburn drivers to shame though when it came to a class competition. A car that So Mi figured would be entirely outside of V’s grasp, even with reputation. Hardly any around.
“Aerondight? Well, now I’m just flat out impressed.”
“Yeah, pretty sure she didn’t buy it for any other reason than to say she owned one.”
“Wait, let me guess, barely driven?”
“Yep.”
“So what were her favorite cars?”
“Favorite and most used aren’t one n’ the same.”
“So shoot, gimme both.”
Pointed across the rows of shiny cars to a beat down dirty blue and red Galena Rattler, “That’d be her fave, no doubt.”
Could have laughed, the idea of V having an array of cars of all types and her favorite being one of the visually least impressive ones was just so…V.
“Alright, gotta have a story to explain it. Need one.”
“Was her nomad car from back in the Bakkers, car she made it to Night City with.”
Almost like it had morphed before her eyes, all of a sudden, the car seemed like the most beautiful one in the lot. Strut over to it and felt like she could thank it for carrying V to Night City. Wouldn’t have met her otherwise. The wear and tear only served as battle scars this car had to go through in order to bring V to her.
Brought V to her and saved her life, of course.
“What about most used?”
“Little gem over in the corner. Was her daily drive machine.” Motioned her over to the Quadra Type-66 Javelina, hopped up on the hood and took a seat.
“Was her go-to, this. Got a lot of fond memories in this one.”
Nomad through and through. Could see her cruising, kicking back behind the wheel. Ripping through the scorching heat of the Badlands and tearing through sand as the sun beat down.
It wasn’t something she’d take the wheel of but would happily jump in the passenger seat of to join the fun. Would like that actually. Could use the break. A real one.
“Definitely a nice one, but I’m no nomad. Want something that suits me.”
“Suit yourself. Take a look around, pick one, but hurry before I die of old age.”
Investigating around, saw a massive number of bikes against the far wall and while it was temping, bikes were a huge no go with her. Saw another Herrera Outlaw, unlike the one she abandoned the other night however, this was sporting a silver color.
Still really loved this car and decided to settle on it. Was one she particularly enjoyed, not too uppity and not a tin can. Perfect for her.
“Yeah, this is the one.”
“Jesus, same car and everything?”
“It’s a different color.” So Mi stated as a matter of fact.
“Fuckin’ hell,” Johnny walked over to her, and eyes glowed blue as he transferred the biometric key to her for the car. Received and accepted.
“Really did mean it when I said thank you.”
“Can thank me by helping me get to Alt. Figure out the ride situation later, now we gotta get to work.”
“Where we heading anyways? Got a station set up for yourself?”
“Nah, but we’re gonna borrow one.”
“That so? Where from?”
“Afterlife. Gotta ask Rogue and Nix, but expect some pushback.”
“Got beef with them too? Rogue did put us in contact.”
“Nix? No, but he does tend to gravitate to whatever Rogue says. Rogue and I…got history. Just made a bit iffier from this whole sitch.
“Doesn’t believe you either?”
“Don’t think she even knows if she does or not.”
“So it’s complicated then?”
“Could say that for sure, yeah. Don’t expect her to leap outta her seat with excitement when I tell her that I gotta reach Alt though.”
“Lover's quarrel?”
“Yeah. Can't say I blame her.”
“What happened?”
“Story for a different day, but let’s just cut to the quick and say that loyalty wasn’t my strong suit back in the day.”
“Ah, so you cheated?”
“Uh-huh.”
“With Alt?”
“One of them, yep.”
“One? So…Meaning multiple?”
“Just three.”
“That’s multiple.”
Walking into the Afterlife So Mi and Johnny both easily got through the doors, noted how the bouncer shot Johnny a side-eye though. She noticed, be he seemed blissfully unaware. That or he just decided to ignore it.
With him either could be true.
Locked eyes with the bartender Claire, she met the other day, waved a silent greeting and received one back in kind, but when she saw Johnny, her wave dropped.
“Really not popular here, huh?”
“Don’t know, don’t care.”
Approached Rogue not knowing what to expect, but Johnny seemed to just trudge forward without a care in the world.
The bodyguard blocked the path, but Johnny just swiveled around him in order to catch Rogue’s eye.
“Ah, Johnny.” Rogue greeted with feigned surprise, “let him in.’ The fixer commanded her bodyguard to step aside.
“Brought a guest too it seems…” Rogue said once again eyeing So Mi from head to toe. Nodded towards Rogue, her own form of greeting. Decided that minimizing her role in this whole interaction would probably be for the best. Far be it from her to intrude on personal business. Didn’t need to say anything. Yet.
“Yeah, need her help and now need yours too.”
“Not doing anything involved with Arasa-
“Just listen. Please.”
“…Alright, I’ll play your game. What is it, Johnny?”
“Need to use Nix’s netrunning station. Know he listens to you. That’s all.”
“That’s it? Really...and why is that?”
“Gotta talk to Alt.”
So Mi practically could have tripped over her own feet at Johnny’s lack of…tact. Would have made a shit agent.
“Know just how to butter me up, don’t ya?”
“Speakin facts is all. Gonna try and save V. Need Alt to do it, shit ain’t exactly a pleasure visit.”
“What do you get out of it?” Rogue pointed her glare at Johnny with an uncompromising fierceness behind those Kiroshi implants.
“Always wanna take shots at me, don’t you? Find it so hard to believe I wanna help someone.”
“Because I know you, Johnny.”
“No, you knew me. Haven’t even bothered to get to know who I am now.”
“Johnny Silverhand doesn’t just change overnight.”
“Was a lot longer than overnight. You gonna help or not Rogue?” Impatience laced with aggravation spewed into words.
“Got no reason to help.”
“Could pay you.” So Mi offered, knowing one thing fixers give a shit about is eddies. For most it was the be all, end all.
“Finally decided to speak up? You don’t have enough money to get me on board.” She did. Rogue probably knew she did too. Churned out a massive pool of eddies last time she skated by here. Had more than enough on hand, but the wording of that made one thing clear. Something else was the end goal here.
“Okay, then what do you want?” So Mi offered a challenge back to see where the line began.
“A favor. Know who you are now. Former FIA.”
So Mi shot a glare over at Johnny, the kind of glare that could crumble stone monuments, let alone a human being.
“Wonder why…” Johnny recoiled back and avoided eye contact with the runner.
“Don’t even know what I would need or when. When the time comes I need information or anything you could help me with, I’ll expect it repaid. No barriers.”
“Insider information, like government?” So Mi could only assume.
“Don’t know. Just know if I’m ever in a jam and need some info, I’ll expect to be able to call in that favor.”
“Done.”
Didn’t care about the repercussions, the implications, or the load needed. Could cross that bridge when it comes, improvise.
“Go talk to Nix then. Tell him you’re in the clear, but if you fuck anything up, I expect you to reimburse him with interest. Now go.”
Rogue waved them off dismissively, but not before getting one last word squeezed in.
“And Johnny? Don’t fuck this up. Would actually like to have V back, got some preem work done before.”
“Try not to.”
“Hey Nix, Rogue said we could use your station.”
“Hello to you too.” Nix said while laying down in his chair, pushing his body up into a sitting motion, getting a good look at the duo who interrupted his routine diving.
Nix glanced them over with a cautious eye and So Mi knew he was scanning them. Registered an uninvited scan breach, had half a mind to squash it herself, but her black ICE was more than enough to keep him out.
“Could ask before scanning.” Nix smiled at the statement, giving So Mi his undivided attention.
“Oh, it’s you. Mystery runner who was here the other day.” Arched an eyebrow with mischievous grin, “do you ask everyone before you scan them?”
So Mi snickered. That’s Fair. She did not.
“Nice chrome.” He complimented, pointing at his own back to show what he was referring to. It was covered up pretty nicely she had assumed but remembered that last time she visited here she had taken less care in hiding it.
“Really? Should get it yourself then, see how quick you flip on that.”
Getting up from his chair, he circled So Mi like a shark in water, “Mind if I see it?”
Caught off guard by that, didn’t like it. Not one bit. Spent years trying to pry eyes away, not invite them in. Fidgeting with the cuff of the sleeve of her jacket, she stumbled over the words she’d never get to say.
“Can fuck off for a bit Nix, I think. If I ask to see your dick, you gonna show me that? No. Now leave ‘er the hell alone.” Johnny stepped between Nix and the runner, crossing his arms and lowering his glasses.
Could only stare at Johnny in disbelief, blinking slowly, but words still ceased to thrive on her tongue.
“Hey now, no need for that. Was just a question, I’ll be out of your hair now. Trust she won’t let you mess any of my things up as an experienced runner.” Nix took a step back, putting distance between himself and them, retreating past the line that was just drawn. Grabbing his belongings, he hastily left the room, leaving Johnny and So Mi alone.
“Fucking shark.” Johnny hissed, “you good? Should’ve just told him to ghost the fuck off.”
Bringing a hand upwards, she rubbed her neck as if doing so could alleviate the physical tension she’d just built from that uncomfortable encounter.
“Next time.” She said during a breathy exhale, a promise to herself more than anything.
“Don’t like it, do you?” Knew what he meant. Didn’t need to ask.
“No, I really don’t.”
“Right. Well, turn around. Gonna put on this stupid net suit.”
Swings her body around to face the corner without objections, least she could do. Felt something stir in her though, remembers V’s body behind her. Skin showing and bare for air to hit skin. Wonders what scars she may have, how toned a merc could really be underneath gear.
Doesn’t give in though, looming thoughts aside that she chalks up to curiosity. It’s not V. Not just an empty vessel either. It’s Johnny. Can see the difference between them plain as day now.
“Alright.” He gives the signal he’s finished, and So Mi careened back to face him.
In that suit though, he definitely doesn’t look like a ‘he’. Suit clinging to curves, accentuating breasts and the dip of V’s hips. Could barely make out the faint lines of toning that made up V's muscles. A studious inspection of how the fabrics tightness pushed against skin. Fabric was too thick though to make out the lines of her abdominal muscles, and a creeping urge to run her hand over them to find the existence for herself squashed down by sudden vocalization.
“Is this how chicks feel being eye fucked all the time?”
Felt her insides swarm with heat, rising from gut to fleshy cheeks covered with EMP threading, the warning of possible overheat being flagged and popped up on the screen her own internal diagnostics. A nice visual to pair alongside this embarrassing moment, like a fine wine paired with scopdogs.
“N-no I wasn’t. Just envious. Maybe I shoulda went down the merc path.” Deflected, brushed it off. “We doing this or what?”
Wished she could backhand the grin off his face as he chimed in.
“If you’re done looking, then let’s party.”
“I’ll lead you to the wall, but once we hit it, that’s on you. Don’t even think it’s safe, but if Alt is still active and going, should sense you.”
“Yeah, I know. Let’s roll.”
She was sure her face scrunched up as she scowled at the rushing enthusiasm just bordering on reckless. Teetering on the edge of insanity. Went there once, he did. Doesn’t understand the drawbacks of each visit. Takes a piece of you. Though she supposes, the toll could weigh different on engrams, even with an organic body.
“Alright. Here goes nothing.” Fingers trace the lining of a cable delicately, like holding a loaded gun, because not everyone understands that’s exactly what the net is. Let go of a shaky breath and she jacked him in.
“Before we do anything, gonna hit you with some high-grade temp black ICE and scramble our sig. Run it through, ping it off several locations just in case Netwatch wants to play. Make it harder to track. If you take too long, you’re screwed.”
“Hit me then.”
Forced her way inside V’s mid-tier ICE, another mental memo to make sure that V got it upgraded. Insane she lasted as long as she did against any runner without exceptional defenses.
Injected her programs into Johnny, overwrote existing systems coded into place and let her pride fly through circuitry. Wrote up her own black ICE, constantly improved it through the years.
The benefit of having her chrome was that no chair, tub or suit was ever needed any longer. Could do it from the comfort of wherever she pleased. Same with traversing the net, entering cyberspace from the comfort of one’s couch did have its perks.
The pros didn’t outweigh the cons in the end, however.
Sees her interface notify her of the process completion and grabs a seat at Nix's desk.
With Johnny hooked up and no more delay, she commenced his dive, and followed him through the digital webs that weaved the cyberspace that was the net.
Arrived in the digital climate of pixels and void, a homecoming for So Mi. The flow of data and code in architectural structures, familiar to navigate. Like the back of her hand or her old apartment in Brooklyn, could find her way around blind if she had to.
Johnny appeared as his actual self, data constructed represented his engram and not the body that was hosting it. Couldn’t fool cyberspace.
“Been a while since I’ve seen this.” He exclaimed, eyes lowered at his silver arm, raised it up, and clenched his fist.
“I Bet. Now we should get moving. Before we turn digi-heads.”
Stood still as the flow of data flew around them, past them. They didn’t move, didn’t have to. The net moved around them, alive, breathing, and carrying them to where they wanted to go.
If there were wind in cyberspace, their hair would fly back at rate of speed they seemed to be moving, but such things didn’t exist in the net. A complex weaving of code and scouring, So Mi knew she was the one moving towards the wall, but any outsider would think the digital world was ushering them along.
Saw the distant sight of familiar crimson come trickling into sight. Throat tightened and stung, like swallowing piles of ash, swallowing became a chore. Leveled herself, tried to hush the nerves in her body screaming for help. Wanted to turn around, but she’d face it. Had to. For V.
The saturated red only got bigger as it got closer, like a train about ready to crash into them. A release she may have thought about accepting.
Forgot how small she felt next to the wall, an ant in comparison to what lies beyond. Digital void, but never empty.
Knew what lurked behind there. Was just a microscopic entity in comparison to the artificial terrors that could snuff them out. Endured it once, won’t do it again.
Face to face with the wall of dreadful nightmare fuel, she thought she would feel scared, petrified even.
The only thing that the runner felt fill her blood was anger.
Anger at V being behind something so sinister. A wall made of shattered dreams.
Took her life, almost. Now it held another one hostage. Couldn’t stand for it. Wouldn’t.
“Alright. Now how do you plan to do this?” took steps back as she asked, gaining distance just in case something unforeseen pops up. Even if it didn’t matter, it made her feel better.
“Same as last time.” Johnny lifted his hand up to touch the wall, and So Mi reactively grimaced in second-hand pain. Knew he couldn’t feel it though, unlike him, she would intake the wall. He just wanted through.
Watched as digital life pixelated away, uttered one last thing to the code scattered around, whirling into the gateway of the artificial hellscape.
“Good luck.”
Passing through to the other side, Johnny stood there awaiting any vestige of Alt. Or…whatever the fuck remained of her. Had to be a shred somewhere. Had to be.
The distant image painted of bits and pieces of live code flowing in a humanoid shape began to manifest.
Just like his shows, she always showed up.
Here, too.
Always.
“Johnny.” She greeted with an echoing voice booming throughout the nothingness that comprised the area around them. Filled, yet empty. More here than outside, he knew that.
If he listened hard enough to her speaking, could swear he could hear the voice of all the constructs she gobbled up like rich man’s feast.
“Hey, Alt.”
A wave of the image’s hand and they were transported through the space into a much more familiar area. One where he knew he was safe. Encrypted BBS fortress of Alt’s own making, each time seemingly changed bit by little bit. It was like a game, spot the difference.
“You do not have the preparations ready to host V.”
Pursed his lips, a hard line being drawn downwards. Guess manners were all but irrelevant to any artificial intelligence. Seen SCSM’s with more manners.
“What? No hello?”
The image stood tall, a towering entity over the small vessel of engramic code in his shape, still and unshaken.
“You have not come alone.”
“Wha-
The AI shifted the scenery around them with a snap of her fingers, before phasing out of his sight.
Stood there tapping her foot restlessly, knew it hadn’t even been more than a minute or two. That was enough time though to shred whatever was left of Johnny and then some.
Had a bad feeling she couldn’t shake, crept up on her like the blackwall in her peripheral vision.
Crept up on her like the AI so advanced, she hardly noticed its presence coming from behind.
“You.”
The voice tore through So Mi, immediately recalling the voices in her head from her blackwall days, prying, trying to get in, takeover. Knew time didn’t move in the net, not like reality, but everything still felt frozen in that moment of time. Ceaseless.
Before she could face the entity, run, flee, anything; she saw the digital image of her being whisked away, before nothing.
Nothing at all.
Black.
No existence, temporary, no way to scream.
The very second Alt disappeared before his eyes, she was already back. Like a glitch in the system and nothing more. Phased out and in just as rapidly.
Knew it wasn’t a glitch though when another body manifested to his side. Knew who it was before they even finished getting code rebuilt.
Fuck.
“Alt, what the fuck!” He raged, slamming fist down on the conjured appearance of a railing, feeling no release from frustration when no impact could be heard or felt.
Peering over to his side, even through the blurriness of the net’s visual, he could see the face of Songbird take shape. Terror never looked so fragile.
Black faded into blue dim lights. Was sure that was what death felt like, but right now there was a feeling worse than death. The sinking feeling when she saw the AI image of Alt Cunningham and Johnny right next to her.
Means only one thing. The worst thing.
She had to be beyond the blackwall, no other way to rationalize it.
It looked so…different though. No voices, no attacks. Took a deep meaningless breath as if the gesture itself would help calm herself.
“You are safe here.”
Alt spoke with the kind of cold certainty that only an AI could, and she could hear the numerous other voices mixed into the backdrop of the reverberating echo.
“Alt, you can’t jus-
“Song So Mi.” Cold digital voice cut off Johnny, ripping his words away by the throat.
“Alt Cunningham.” She greeted the AI with equally matched coldness, like stating a simple fact. The sky is blue, corpos love eddies, and President Myers is a bitch.
“No. Once, perhaps. I am what remains, yet entirely new.”
“Yeah, heard this whole song and dance before. Let’s move on.” Johnny leaned over the railing, sounding drained of almost all life. Tired and taxed.
“We really safe here?” Song spoke up cautiously. Though it felt safe, she needed confirmation.
AI don’t lie. Not one she has ever seen.
“You are safe. This is my encrypted BBS.”
“Good.” Johnny hung his head in what could only be deciphered as relief.
“I do not understand why you have come.” The booming voice bounced off pixelated walls.
“Got a plan to get V commissioned again, needed to make sure it wasn’t for nothing. Wanted to make sure you were game.”
“If you can meet the necessities to do so, I will give you another BBS address to locate me at.”
“Oookay, gonna take that as a yes.”
“Yes.” The AI confirmed in shorter, more simple terms for the rockerboy.
Wanted something more concrete though, So Mi did. Something more tangible. Figured this plan was missing the approval of the most important person involved.
“Wanna talk to V.”
Johnny nodded in agreement, silently scrolling the same mental page together apparently. Glad they were of one mind.
“Very well.”
A massive red arm fabricated of code pointed over to the area to her side, and as the flow of information, engramic code pulled from a human began twirling from the ground up.
Feet moved without her even mentally willing them to, tiny strides made up of apprehensive and timid half-steps.
The image came into full as she closed the distance as V wasn’t facing her and unmoving.
“V?” So Mi thanked the net for being a breathless existence, sure she would have been heaving, begging the air to stay in her lungs.
Laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, and the image of V doing so to her at the Black Sapphire speared into her head.
Maybe she’d feel the same relief she was graced with back then. Maybe they were echoing each other like the voices trapped within this BBS whenever Alt spoke.
V grabbed the hand as she turned around to face So Mi, and So Mi could swear that even as a soulless engram, she still had that sparkle in her eyes. Could make it out even through this.
Felt something inside her pang and gnaw, when eyes scanned her like a stranger, confused and foreign.
“Who are you?”