Here is chapter 9 of A Beautiful Thing. I would like to thank everyone for their continued support and I wish every single one of you all the best. See you in the next one!
END AUTHORS NOTE
ARIZONA DESERT, WATERING HOLE SOUTH OF ALDECADOS CAMP, MORNING
V grumbled as the sounds of an engine and crunching rocks pulled her from the soft embrace of sleep. She raised her head looking around the tent that was currently a mess. Clothes lay everywhere and V grumbled as she grabbed the large shirt she had on last night. Judy stirred next to her before looking up at V with sleepy eyes.
"What's going on?" Judy yawned as V sighed in annoyance as she gestured to the tent wall where their truck was parked
"I told them to not come find us" V growled as she pulled on some shorts "that we were going to be…"
V paused mid sentence as she heard the unmistakable sound of a shotgun slide chambering death. V's eyes snapped wide before she threw herself over Judy as a blast tore the peace of the morning and their tent wide open. The snapping of pellets zipping overhead triggered the Sandevistan OS in V's head. Time dilated as her perceptions and reaction jumped beyond normal human limits. Her bare feet sent the bed sheet flying as she leapt from the tattered remains of the tent. The falling fabric had yet to touch the ground.
The man with the shotgun gasped as V collided with him. Her mantis blades ripped his chest cavity open as she rolled off of him. Her hand pulled the shotgun with her as she got to her feet. A second shotgun blast obliterated the morning and the second interloper's face.
There were three more now falling back for their vehicles. V roared as she javelined the shotgun into another man's chest stumbling him. A geyser of blood erupted from his neck. A head rolled leaving a red stain on the desert sand. V's Sandevistan was almost out. Two more gonks V growled to herself as she dodge the incoming gun fire lurching to the side.
One of the men was throwing the door open to the Thorton only for V to slam into it. The door crushed the man's arm. Screams became gurgles as his internals spilled out of him in a pile at his feet. Gunfire obliterated the vehicle's cab. The last man was roaring death for V.
V had to dive behind the car's engine to avoid becoming a bloody mess. She leapt over the hood as her Sendevistan timed out, making her stumble as her head swam. She fell to her hands and knees finally getting a good look at the attackers. Wraith colors were worn proudly on the man's coat as he grinned seeing V disabled. He raised the pistol.
V's mind raced. The barrel of the gun seemed to be a black hole beckoning her to the void. She growled as she willed herself to stand up and die on her feet at least. A clap of thunder made V flinch. She smelled blood and brains. Her face and chest was suddenly wet and sticky. She looked down before frantincly patting herself.
She looked to the man who was now sprawled out over the sand. Half his head was missing. Grey matter oozed out of the wound from his pulped brain as his body gave a few final jolts. Another bang and his body ragdolled as another shot hit the corpse. V's face snapped to the source.
Judy had the sheet pulled around herself and one of the dead raffen's pistols in hand. Bang. Her face was a twisted knot of rage and hate. Bang. She roared. Bang. The corpse of the raffen exploded as Judy shot it again. Click. Click. Click.
V gulped as she slowly walked over holding her hands up as the mantis blades returned to their closed state. Judy was still pulling the trigger despite the weapon being empty. V put a hand on the gun and slowly pulled it away. Judy let her and the Iron clattered to the sand.
"Fucker" Judy seethed as she glared a second death at the corpses "ruined my morning"
"Judy" V ventured as she put a hand on her girlfriend's shoulder making Judy look at her. V's face was a mess of blood from the man Judy had shot as well the butchers awful that V had reduced the other four to. Judy took a few breaths before breaking and throwing herself at V.
"I am okay Judy" V comforted as she patted Judy's back. Judy growled as the tears came. She squeezed V hard, the blood not even bothering her. V sighed as she looked to the dead raffen before she gave Judy a kiss on the cheek. A tingling built in V's limbs as electricity gathered in her head. V knew what was coming and took a deep breath as the neurological overload built before breaking the damn open.
V groaned as her body buckled, muscles beginning to cramp and spasm. She felt bile build in her throat. She pushed Judy off as she collapsed to the sand retching her guts as spasms and cramps ravaged her muscles.
"V!" Judy cried as she went to go by V's side.
"Stay...back!" V shouted as her arms shook the mantis blades were rattling in their housings. V growled as neurons misfired, sparking agony in her body. The wave of disruption raced along every neuron as the processor on the side of her head burned with the effort of getting her neurons back into their proper state.
Judy watched in horror as V growled and yelped. It was hell, Judy grabbed fistfuls of her own hair unable to do anything. Judy screeched waiting for the waking nightmare to end.
"No!" Judy wailed as she watched V ragdoll. Her mantis blades were out as she spasmed. The razor sharp weapons slicing the air as she writhed. V's body stopped spasming as the processor on the side of her head finally got the misfiring neurons back under control. Judy was by her side the instant it stopped.
"V!" Judy wailed as she fell down next to her "Say somethin!"
"Ouch" V hissed not moving. Her chest heaved as she caught her breath. Her throat was raw from vomiting and howling in pain. Acidic fire ragged in every muscle making her unwilling to even risk flexing them. Her head burned from the pain and the processor that kept her brain from unscrambling.
"Thank fuck" Judy gasped as she took V's hand "You're alive"
"Not flatlining, today" V groggily replied as she willed herself to sit up. Judy's tear streaked and blood stained face made V sigh. It was the same face she had when Evelyn had taken her own life. V took a deep breath grabbing Judy's shoulders so she would look at her. Judy's eyes found V's. They frantically searched for anything and V gave her a smile before she spoke.
"Judy we need move" V firmly said making Judy nod "If they attacked us, that means they found camp"
"Okay, we can head back" Judy affirmed nodding quickly her voice quaking "get you checked out"
"We need to wait for the all clear from Panam" V replied softly with her hand caressing Judy's cheek "I am okay right now, we can't risk driving into a serious fight. Help me to the truck and we need to move. It is not safe here anymore"
"Let's go" Judy sighed, looking at V. Pain was clear in her eyes and V wanted to do nothing more than hug her close. Let her know it was going to be fine. As much as she wanted to, they needed to move first. Judy helped V to her feet and to the truck. She ground her teeth as she opened the passenger door and fell into the seat.
"I'm gonna grab what I can, real fast" Judy quavered. V grabbed her hand making her stop. Judy slowly looked to V. Her eyes still wide with shock and fear. V rubbed the blood off Judy's check gently giving her a smile. Judy gulped before V leaned in giving her a soft kiss letting her know she was still there.
"We are okay Judy, I am okay" V whispered hoarsely as they broke apart. Judy nodded as V's words calmed the storm of raging emotions in her eyes "get our stuff, we need to delta"
WATSON, NIGHT CITY, SARAH ZIMMERS APARTMENT, MID MORNING
Jason knocked on the door of apartment 34 in the shoddy building along the Kabuki Market circle. The building was the standard Night City hovel with debris buildup in alcoves as well as squatters making nests within. No one was active in the halls, most of the people in the apartments sleeping off a night shift or gone for the day. The smell of the building made Jason think of his childhood, when he was the dirty squatter living amongst trash in some basement in Watson.
Jason did not hear a response from anyone inside. He knocked again harder this time hoping that Sarah was home. Muffled rummaging noises reached Jason's ear before he heard light footsteps. Something heavy rattled on the door before it slid open just enough that half a face was visible.
"What?" A distrusting voice demanded. Jason could see Sarah better now that she was not hanging from a hook in the dark or covered in blood. Her black curly hair had more life to it now, bouncing as she shifted behind the door. Her skin was back to it's healthy tone, a rich golden chestnut color versus the pale tan it had been. Her one visible vibrant blue eye watched him like a cornered animal. Her face had sharp features, a small nose and full lips that were currently pressed together in a cautious scowl.
"Viktor sent me" Jason calmly said holding out his open hands "You look much healthier than last I saw you" he offered with a small smile. Sarah studied him for a moment before she opened the door all the way and poked her head out checking the hallway. Satisfied it was just him she stepped aside for him to enter.
Sarah's apartment was clean, disassociating it from the building it resided in. A simple studio affair with a sleeping alcove at the back, net running set up tucked in a corner and a small personal bathroom to the left. A small candle burned on the table near a ratty couch making the room smell of hot cocoa and cream.
The door shut behind Jason as he examined the net running set up. It was certainly of a high quality and custom built. Evidence that Sarah had just been sitting in it was clear from the food wrappers around the chairs support and the headphones from which music blared sitting on the seat. Sarah brushed past Jason over to the in unit vending machine.
"Can I uh, get you a drink?" She hesitantly asked, looking at him over her shoulder. She was wearing a simple pair of soft shorts and plain tank top. He could see the top half of Samurai's logo above the back hem of the tank. The bright red ink and vibrant silvers stood stark against her skin.
"Just a Niccolo, any flavor" Jason replied as he sat on the ratty couch. Sarah got him the drink tossing it to him with a black metal cybernetic arm. Jason noted that it was the arm whose shoulder she had hung from the hook on. She sat down on the netrunning chair pushing the headphones aside as she hugged her knees to her chest. The revolver she had pressed against the door was still in her left hand.
"You were the one who saved me?" She asked curtly as she sipped her own Niccola.
"Yeah" Jason confirmed his eyes watching the revolver.
"Why?" question Sarah as she shifted in her seat uncomfortably.
"You were in trouble and I had the ability to get you out of it" Jason shrugged "so I did"
"Just like that?"
"Just like that" Jason said with a small nod "you won't need that revolver"
Sarah studied him for a moment, her blue eyes like drills boring into him. She did not move and Jason sat there returning her gaze. She reminded him of a stray cat, used to abuse, now confused by the kind hand in front of her. She sighed as she ran a hand through the bouncing tangle of curls setting the revolver down.
"I doubt if you wanted to do anything this peeshooter would have stopped you" She grumbled still sitting closed off "Sorry if I seemed hostile I just…"
"Have trouble sleeping, danger in every corner?" Jason asked knowingly. Sarah just nodded before clearing her throat.
"Thank you though" she whispered giving him a quick grin "thought I was going to be a dead woman"
"It was nothing, like I said you needed help" Jason shifted forward in his chair the Niccola held between his hands "I am glad you are doing better"
"Better?" Sarah laughed mirthlessly for a second before shaking her head "better is subjective but you came here for a reason…"
"Jason Alvarez"
"Like the Mox's old BD tech that worked at Lizze's?" Sarah puzzled letting her legs hang off her chair.
"My sister, did you know her?" Jason asked curiously.
"By reputation, I scroll a BD from time to time. Not smut, but netrunning ones. Help teach script-kiddies or make a gonk feel like a preem genius for some scratch" Sarah smiled a bit as her shoulders relaxed "Judy was the best editor in NC. Having her tune your scroll was worth the eddies, made them pop"
"Glad to hear she did well for herself" Jason smiled as he finished the Niccola "Viktor said you could help me decrypt a shard"
"You can't?" Sarah asked intrigued.
"I pull triggers, leave the tech stuff to the experts" Jason replied as he took the shard from his pocket. Sarah got up and walked over taking the shard she looked it over.
"Arasaka shard, where did you get this?" She accused Jason with a sly grin.
"Killed an Arasaka CI operative that tried to kill me, I hope there is something important on there"
"Good, fuck Saka" Sarah grinned as she took it over and plugged it into her set up. Jason raised an eyebrow as she got the system booted up.
"You don't like Arasaka?" He inquired as he stood up to get a better look at what was going on with the terminal screen.
"Add justice to the peoples math" She sang as her fingers started to dance over the keyboard "Blaze way down the rebel path"
"Explains the Samurai Tattoo" Jason noted as Sarah moved back from the terminal and started checking the chair.
"Yeah well Silverhand was right" Sarah growled as she got the rest of the setup booted "Helps his music is still fucking preem but if I am being honest" She stood up with a smile "Kerry's tribute album gave a lot of Samurai's best new life"
"I wouldn't know" Jason countered as the setup hummed to life.
"Shame" Sarah sighed as she sat down in the seat and pulled the terminal over "Shard has heavy security, going to pull it into Cyberspace. I can work better there. Going to take a fat minute so feel free to crash on the couch"
"You okay with that?" Jason asked unsure.
"Yeah, you saved my life so I doubt you are going to hurt me" Sarah replied tapping on the screen "besides, with Smasher a landfill junk pile I think that makes you the most dangerous fucker in NC"
Jason chuckled as he sat down on the couch. Sarah keyed up a few things and grabbed the port slotting it in behind her ear.
"Going to take long?" Jason asked as he relaxed into the soft couch.
"Saka makes good security but I have been cracking their code for years" Sarah proudly informed Jason as she lay back in the chair "helps I am angry, tearing something apart is going to make me feel a fuck load better" Sarah shut her eyes and the setup whirred to life. Jason took the pistol from his belt and looked to the door taking up his vigil.
ARIZONA DESERT, UNKNOWN AREA NEAR PALO, AFTERNOON
Judy sat on the tailgate of the truck looking out at the desert. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and a cigarette hung between her lips. Her eyes were blank staring into the distance as she took the occasional drag. She could hear V rummaging through their supplies Judy had grabbed as they fled their campsite by that peaceful little watering hole. V grunted as she forced her muscles to move. V needed to put on fresh clothes, the shirt and shorts she had on when they were attacked were spattered with blood and gore.
Judy took a long drag as she listened for anything from the camp. Her mind kept wandering though and she scowled as a few tears ran down her face. Her morning, that perfect morning with V had been destroyed. Images of V about to die floated on the edges of her gaze as gunfire echoed in her ears. The smell of blood and gunpowder was still in her nose. Her hand could still feel the weight of the gun. Her rage still simmered and her terror floated in it.
Judy had seen death before. The scavs and Tyger Claws V had dispatched searching for Evelyn or taking clouds. Evelyn's lifeless body in her bathtub. Judy had watched Woodman die but it was V that slew him, not her. She was struck by the knowledge that she did really have the power to take life and she had used it. She did not regret it, he was going to kill V. The loss of that part of her remaining innocence was gone now though, never to return.
"Hey" V softly placed a hand on Judy's shoulder drawing her out of the hamsters wheel that was her thoughts. Judy sighed looking at the ground as V climbed up next to her on the tailgate and took her hand. Judy gave a quick smile as V squeezed her hand in comfort. The beat of her heart could be felt where Judy and her wrists meet. Judy leaned on V's shoulder looking out at the desert.
"You okay?" V cooed as she kissed the top of Judy's head. Judy just shook her head slowly, still looking out at the desert. V sighed wrapping an arm around her as Judy hugged onto V.
"It's alright Judy" V whispered rubbing Judy's shoulder.
"No" Judy croaked "it's not. Last night was perfect and today…"
"Wasn't" V agreed sadly "but we are alive, unharmed" V squeezed Judy tight making her smile for a second.
"Yeah" Judy mumbled as she looked down "I am tired of it V, the death, the killing"
"We did what we had to," V replied comfortingly but regret heavy in her voice. Judy sighed looking up at V her eyes full of slowly falling tears.
"I know" Judy sighed as she hugged V close "I was afraid I was going to lose you. You didn't hesitate, you just leapt on top of me" Judy spoke softly "you would have died for me"
"You're my girl, my output" V slowly said before giving Judy a grin "My fiance as of last night"
Judy smiled widely for the first time but briefly as she rested her head on V's lap. V gently played with her hair as they watched the desert. Nothing moved out there in the heat. Only mirages danced at the horizon. Small wispy clouds drifted across the sky as they sat there.
"How did you do it?" Judy asked quietly looking out at the sand "back in NC, I know the spec on you" Judy demurred softly "I watched you kill Woodman...it looked like you were just…"
"Doing a chore?" V whispered as she tucked Judy's hair behind her ear. Judy did not speak but only nodded ever so slightly her head in V's lap.
"Johnny told me something once," V muttered, making Judy look up at her. V's eyes were in the distance though as she scanned the desert.
"If you're going to look at yourself, truly look in the mirror" V began softly "You gotta admit...admit who you are. Not just to yourself but everybody else"
Judy did not interrupt but only looked up at V her eyes searching for the light.
"As long as I was dying, the relic and Johnny, eating at my brain. I never thought about what happened next"
V gulped "All I knew was that when it was over I wanted to be free with you" V paused searching for her words "I think that might be the hardest part, the silence. The silence when my mind was all my own again, when I could lay down my guns. I didn't…" V took a breath "I didn't know how I was supposed to live in that. I looked in the mirror after that. Stared into my own eyes for what felt like hours"
Judy reached up and put a hand on V's cheek as her own grew warm with tears. V shuddered with her next breath and Judy could hear the edge of the tailgate creak as V gripped it.
"I...I was a survivor but that had also made me a killer" V laughed sadly "fucking near daily and I, I didn't care until that moment. I was fighting for my life everyday. I had not let myself care until that moment" She shook her head "How many mother's sons and daughters did I take away? How many Mama Welles are out there now because of me?"
"V…" Judy softly rubbed her cheek as V took a moment.
"But I couldn't...care beyond that moment. It was me or them and I was not going to let it be them" V affirmed "I had people of my own that wanted to see me again" V looked to Judy her eyes pleading "Does that make me a bad person?"
Judy did not answer at first before she sighed sitting up and gave V a long kiss. It was wet from Judy's tears that slowly stopped as they shared an embrace. V pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. They stayed like that for a moment before Judy pulled away licking her lips before she looked V in the eyes. V was begging her to answer but honestly, she needed to know. Judy smiled softly before she pushed V's hair back and squeezed her shoulder.
"I don't know Valarie" Judy whispered "No one leaves NC clean. It's a fucked city and a more fucked world" V's pleading eyes stared into Judy's "but you kept every promise you made. Not everyone does. You helped me and asked for nothing in return. You had every right to hate Evelyn. You helped her instead'' Judy gripped V's shoulder "You are good to those you care for and you are good to me" Judy smiled "you're mi calabicita. So to me, you are the most preem person I know"
V nodded and put her head on Judy's closing her eyes. V took a deep breath letting it go slow before she spoke again.
"For the first time in as long as I can remember I don't have to fight everyday to stay alive" V gulped "and If I am going to be honest, I'm scared" V admitted quietly.
They sat there in the sun like that for a few moments. Judy hugged V close her arms wrapping around her. V could feel the darkness and doubt that had eaten at her fall away. A light burned in her brighter than it had before. Judy's words like the sun breaking after a storm cleared the clouds away. V smiled as she hugged Judy tight and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Judy? V? You guys okay?" The radio crackled from the truck with life with Panam's voice.
"Come on V" Judy whispered "we should go home"
WATSON, NIGHT CITY, SARAH ZIMMERS APARTMENT, EVENING
Sarah sat up in the netrunning chair with a grin as she stretched and shook out the stiffness in her neck. The smell of hot food made her sniff the air as she looked around her apartment. Jason was sitting on the couch, his eyes on the door with a pistol in one hand and a slice of pizza in the other.
"You ordered pizza?" Sarah asked excitedly as her stomach growled. Jason gestured to the box where half a pizza remained.
"I hope that locust pepperoni is fine" Jason offered as he took a bite of his own. Sarah nodded as she greedily took up two slices folding them together like a sandwich. She grinned happily as she tasted the hot food and plopped down on the couch next to Jason. He scooted over giving her more space as he still watched the door.
"I was able to zero the shards trace" Sarah said between bites "They won't know we accessed it"
"What was on it?" Jason asked, sipping from a bottle of water. Sarah smiled as she finished stuffing the crust of the pizza in her mouth. She waved a hand at the terminal and a holographic display of the data pulled up.
"Take a look" Sarah offered as she dove in for more pizza. Jason chuckled at her as he pulled the holo over and started looking at the data. As he did his small smile at Sarah's antics became a scowl.
"They have all those operatives outside their legal bounds" Jason observed "violating the treaty of 2023" Sarah nodded her mouth full of pizza as she pointed at another holo panel. Jason looked at that one studying it. The files outlined that Arasaka was consolidating, the factions having been defeated or forced to comply.
"There is no way Yorinobu did that'' Jason scoffed crossing his arms "the guy never believed in his fathers vision. Doesn't have the strength of character to pull this off" Jason frowned leaning back on the coach as he scanned the files. Operatives locations along the west coast were highlighted while 3rd party assets blinked throughout the western states. Another detailed a new 5 year plan that if it came to fruition would put Arasaka on top of every market. Troop deployments and allocations of resources to NC as well as purchasing plans were in another file. Jason looked at a memo from Yorniobu but the writing style did not match up with what Jason knew from his SA days.
"This is genuine?" Jason asked quietly as he clicked on a text log of communication between Nagaari and one Micheal Bakker. The Bakker's had found V and Arasaka was awaiting completion of the bounty. The log mentioned the Bakkers consolidating in Arizona but no specific town was given.
"Yep, fresh and real" Sarah said as she glanced at the last slice of pizza. Jason shrugged his okay for her to take it which she did, tearing into it.
"That is not good," Jason sighed as he grabbed his holo. His finger hovered over Stout's name before he thought better of it and put the device away.
"About to tell your corpo masters the spec?" Sarah inquired watching him but Jason shook his head.
"I left Militech" Jason answered as he waved the data away. He crossed his arms pondering what all it could mean.
"This does not add up" Jason puzzled as he grabbed his water "Arasaka doing illegal shit, that scans clean but consolidating, by force" Jason shook his head "Yorinobu is not that man and Hanako is to quiet besides, Arasaka is a Japanese company and very traditional"
"Sexist" Sarah corrected as she reached over and keyed the vending machine for a Niccola.
"I suppose, so I don't think the company would rally behind Hanako like this and Michiko would never take over. She has one foot in Arasaka and another in with the NUSA" Jason frowned "and going after V and at that bounty, makes less sense"
"Maybe Yorinobu grew a set of balls and Saka is petty, V hurt them so why not?" Sarah countered popping the tab on her drink "corps don't like loose ends, surprised they did not flatline you when you left"
"They figured I would do it myself before long" Jason grumbled as he thought. Him and Sarah sat on the ratty couch trying to piece the puzzle together but kept finding missing parts.
"Arasaka cares about profit, profit is not made by vendettas" Jason started "So V knows something, something big"
"And they want her to be forever silent about it," Sarah agreed, sipping her drink. Jason nodded before a question came to him and he looked at Sarah.
"You said you have been cracking Arasaka code for years" Jason pressed, making Sarah nod along "why?"
"Arasaka is the worst, I don't like corps or corpos but they are...something worse" Sarah growled "Most corps only want money but Arasaka wants power over everything. Regina Jones has dug into them for information, passes it out to Media types trying to do good work"
"So that is how you have that setup over there" Jason gestured to the netrunning chair and hardware.
"Yeah, I am very good and when it comes to Arasaka few people dance around them like I do" Sarah smiled proudly as she drank her Niccola "I helped get data that brought some of their scandals to light as well as did some damage. I know that they got fucked hard a few weeks ago"
"When V and the Aldecado's attacked them using that Militech tunnel" Jason gleaned. Sarah smiled and poked his head slowly.
"Bingo" She smiled "some brain and not just brawn huh?" Jason's neutral expression made her stutter "Yeah, yeah that time. I was doing some work for a friend of Regina's named Max, he wanted as much as I could get on the save your soul program. You know that one?"
"Celebs and rich people have Arasaka make engrams of them" Jason confirmed following along "I am guessing that Max thought there was something more malevolent behind it than cultural memory and whatever else was one the advert"
"Right on target, and there was. The legal contracts made the engram Arasaka property" Sarah nodded as she paused before shivering "I was on my way out but then it happened"
Jason waited for her to continue. She took a minute collecting her facts and thoughts before she spoke up again her voice weavering with fear.
"Something else came on their net, it's hard to describe…" Sarah shivered "you ever read any of those old stories by some gonk named Lovecraft?"
"Not much time for pleasure reading in SA" Jason returned watching her closely.
"All the monsters in his books are these unknowable, powerful, alien things that can drive someone insane just by seeing it" Sarah swallowed as goosebumps formed on her shoulders "it was like that, something from beyond"
"Only place beyond cyberspace is..."
"Yep" Sarah cut off "I was fleeing but it trapped me there. I had camera feeds shoved in front of me. I watched it slaughter every Arasaka netrunner like that" she snapped her fingers "eat them alive. It turned all their security mechs, turrets, anything on the net against them. I thought I had somehow hide from it but it just hadn't dealt with me yet"
Jason listened intently as the netrunner spoke. She trembled despite the warm apartment and her eyes were wide with terror. Jason had seen the look before from shell shocked soldiers and traumatized civilians. Sarah gulped as she continued.
"It came back to me. It had a massive data stack" She tapped her head "it told me 'you will be my witness'. I closed my eyes but that didn't matter, it forced the data into my system. All of it flashed before my eyes, like a hundred movies on fast forward"
"You don't remember any of it?" Jason asked quietly as he glanced at the door.
"No, but I was scrolling" Sarah chuckled.
"Arasaka data heist BD was going to make me a pile of eddies but instead I got a nightmare. I knew Judy had left because I was going to have her help me with the BD, make sense of it all but she left the city. Decided she had it right, I'm no gonk and so I left only to be proven a gonk"
"Raffens got you" Jason finished "and now here we sit"
"Yep" Sarah chirped. Jason sighed as he stood up and holstered his pistol. Sarah looked up at him curiously as he went over and took the shard out of the terminal.
"Where you going?" Sarah asked, watching him.
"Going to go find V and my sister, both of them are in trouble" Jason replied pocketing the shard "I set out to find Judy, I know where she is and now I have this to warn them about"
"I'm coming with you" Sarah declared standing up.
"Excuse me?" Jason blinked as she went over to the bed in her sleeping alcove and lifted it up to access the storage underneath.
"I am coming with you" Sarah articulated as she grabbed a bag and started shoving clothes into it "Grab that terminal will you?"
"I did not say you are coming with me"
"No, I did '' Sarah gripped as she pulled out some clothes more substantial than what she was wearing "You are going to find Judy, she can help me make sense of this horror show I scrolled because she is one of the best BD techs around. Second Arasaka is neck deep in this shit and you are going digging so I want in. It's what I do" she gestured to the terminal and Jason sighed grabbing it "and third I owe you one and you need a netrunner, can't shoot a network into giving up the spec"
"I used to be a corpo soldier" Jason countered making Sarah roll her eyes.
"Well you pulled me off a meat hook and stopped me from a very gruesome death so you are okay in my book" Sarah said tossing him her bag "besides you don't act like your average corpo, you give a shit about people"
"This is a one way trip I am not coming back to NC" Jason warned Sarah who shrugged.
"NC is a dead end now for me" She said looking at him "Now wait outside solider boy so I can change and then lets get the fuck out of this town"