The sterile, lifeless corridors of Biotechnica's underground facility passed V by in a blur as she followed Kulkarni through their twists and turns. She had tried to map out their route when they began their journey from the elevator, but after the umpteenth turn into yet another identical corridor, she had given up and decided that they would have to rely on Adriana's data instead.

The information V had received from Adriana wasn't exactly what she'd call extensive. She had delivered on her promise to provide a map, which gave a good overview of the different levels of the facility, but beyond that, the only other data Adriana had sent was an image of a large, metal case with its location. Judy had received a similar map, with interfaces clearly marked on it that would allow her access to Biotechnica's systems.

Judy walked along silently beside V, probably just as preoccupied with her task as V was. After their cold shower, and a few hours of fruitless attempts to sleep, Judy had remained oddly quiet, only offering brief replies to any of V's efforts to start a conversation. She didn't like that Judy had retreated into her head, that she didn't want to share what was troubling her, but V couldn't blame her either. While V had the tendency to do that simply out of habit, because she was used to handling things alone, she suspected Judy had made a conscious choice this time. It would do them no good to go over every little worry just before a mission.

When Kulkarni stopped abruptly in front of a large door, V noticed that the white panelling had given way to thick grey plating that lined the walls and floor. She had seen similar architecture in military buildings, but she couldn't tell if it was for the purpose of reinforcement or protection from outside technology. A thin red light sat above the doorway and as Kulkarni approached it, it flickered to blue. The metal door slid upwards to reveal a large room filled with counters and a variety of machines.

V followed Kulkarni into the lab and scanned the area, surprised to see several people hunched over small displays and scientific equipment. Taking in the layout of the room and the placement of several smaller doors set into two of its walls, she noted that the case could be nearby. Referencing the map, it was possible that it was being stored in one of the adjacent rooms, but she'd need to have a proper look around to be certain.

Kulkarni cleared his throat and the three lab technicians, each in identical, crisp white coats, turned to face them. The two young men seemed surprised at the new company, but the woman, who was older and wore her experience well, seemed irritated by the intrusion. Even though she was relieved to see actual people instead of more bots, V was troubled by the complication this may cause. If she couldn't retrieve the case unnoticed, these scientists may very well end up getting caught in the middle.

"Now that your bloodworks have been processed," Kulkarni began, looking at V and Judy. "I can show you what we do here."

V peered at him expectantly, wondering just how much of what he was going to tell them would align with what Adriana had said.

Kulkarni walked along the line of counters, motioning with one hand as he moved. "This lab is dedicated to analysing and producing viable species of agricultural crops and other plant life that we grow here in the city. Obviously, sustainable food is our top priority, but there is no need to limit ourselves to that alone."

"Uh huh," V murmured, quirking an eyebrow at him. "That's all great, but I don't see what that has to do with me."

Kulkarni wavered then and glanced at the lab technicians. "Please continue your work," he told them. Without hesitation, they returned to their instruments and V watched them for several moments, unable to determine what it was they were working on.

Holding a hand out in front of him, Kulkarni urged V and Judy onwards towards a side door. As she walked towards it, she took in the rows of containers sat upon a counter that contained various, multi-coloured liquids. Beside them was a large, bulbous machine that she guessed must be used for processing them in some way. She tried to get a glimpse of the laptop that lay open next to the machine, but Kulkarni ushered her quickly through the door.

She stepped into a murky gloom and she barely noticed Kulkarni slipping past her and moving further into the room. When Judy joined them, the door slammed shut with a resounding clang. She heard a few clicks to her left and then the room was flooded with light, blinding V momentarily. She blinked quickly and the room came into focus.

The first thing she noticed was a large window set into the wall in front of her. At first, she thought it was tinted black or only allowed viewing one-way, and she wondered if Biotechnica had a fetish for that, but then she realised that whatever was located on the other side was in complete darkness. Below the window was a row of panels containing controls and monitors, which now came to life with flickering lights and bright text.

Kulkarni stood beside a swivel chair, looking down at a small monitor set into the long panel, his features tight with concentration. Judy wandered over to the window, her eyes darting back and forth across the displays. Perhaps she could make more sense of it than V.

"Our progress with crops is just the tip of the iceberg," Kulkarni said then, his voice sounding odd amongst the clicks and beeps of the console.

V moved towards him and he tapped a few times at the monitor he had been eyeing. A light snapped on beyond the window and was joined in quick succession by more that ran the length of the cavernous hall beyond. V's eyes widened as she took in the rows upon rows of cylinders that filled the void, each taller than a person and as wide as two. The top and bottom of each container seemed to be made from metal, but the rest was encased with a misty, curved glass. She could see light from within, but condensation blocked any view of their contents.

"The secret of our success with the flora here is, simply put, cloning." Kulkarni clasped his hands behind his back as he spoke, pride puffing his cheeks. V imagined he was restraining himself from providing a flourish with his arms and she had to force a façade of surprise onto her face.

"All the trees and crops are cloned?" she asked, hoping she'd lifted the pitch of her voice enough to mimic disbelief.

Kulkarni nodded. "When Biotechnica first took over the running of the city, the technology—the science—was still in its infancy. As you saw for yourself, we have come far since then."

"And this?" Judy asked and V had to look over her shoulder to see the other woman staring through the window.

"That is the next, obvious step," Kulkarni replied, his tone still brimming with achievement. "Human cloning."

V's gaze slid back to him. "You can clone people?" That question she actually wanted an answer to.

Kulkarni poked at the monitor again, and in the display beside it, an image popped up. On it was a digital replication of one of the containers in the hall, and within that was the outline of a human figure. Data was displayed next to it, but V couldn't understand what the numbers referred to.

"Yes, we have successfully replicated the human body. Some of these containers house our clones."

V did not miss his choice of words, but she wasn't about to probe him on it. Not yet. "So, what are you sayin'? You want to fix my problem by cloning me?"

Kulkarni's brow creased momentarily and the corner of his mouth ticked downwards. "That is one possibility. Another is to merely clone your brain."

Judy moved to stand with them. "You think that would actually work?"

Unclasping his hands and walking over to another display, Kulkarni swallowed awkwardly as he bent down to look at it. "We would need to test the compatibility, of course. It would not be a quick process."

V's eyes narrowed. "I'm kinda on a timer here."

"Yes, I am aware," he said, his voice dropping. "But something like this cannot—should not—be rushed."

Judy, again, walked over to where he stood. "And what about the chip? What's to stop it fuckin' up again?"

Kulkarni straightened and looked between them. V could see the uncertainty in his eyes, the fear of what she would do if he gave them the wrong answer. She could use that. She came to stand directly in front of him with an unwavering glare.

He squared his jaw and returned V's gaze. "That is why I need to study the chip."

Judy also turned to face V then, seemingly waiting on the reply, but her eyes darted to the left. V briefly followed the movement, noting a terminal set into the wall in the corner of the room, near the door. One of the access points Adriana had mentioned. She understood immediately.

Time to turn the screws. She leaned in towards him, her eyes narrowing, and he jerked backwards slightly, his eyes widening. "I'm hearin' a whole lotta maybes here and nothin' solid. Why should I let you poke around in my head?"

Judy took that moment to back away slowly, edging out of Kulkarni's peripheral vision. V would likely need to turn him more towards the window to prevent him catching movement with a quick turn of his head. Or keep his attention firmly on her.

His chin tremored briefly before he regained his composure. "You can see what we are capable of here. If we cannot find a solution, then who?"

That was a weak answer and she would have taken him to task for it under normal circumstances. But she didn't want to unsettle him too much or he might be tempted to call in security. She just needed him off-balance. V turned and moved towards the window, making a show of swinging her arms wide in exasperation.

"Say I believe you. What do you get outta this?" she asked as she spun back towards him.

Judy had successfully reached the terminal now, but V couldn't see what she was doing, only that her movements were slow and careful. To V's relief, Kulkarni had followed her movement to the window, seemingly relaxing a little.

"There is something we have been missing in our research into cloning," he began and there was something rehearsed about his words. "While we were able to perfect body replication, the mind is another matter. We believe the chip may be the final piece to this puzzle."

"I see," V murmured and resisted the urge to stare at Judy's back, willing her to work quickly. "And what do you need from me? Are you gonna have to take the chip out?"

Judy glanced over her shoulder, concern flashing in her eyes, but she swiftly turned back to the terminal. Kulkarni regarded V cautiously and slipped a hand into the pocket of his lab coat. As V crossed her arms over her chest, she eyed him, hoping he didn't have something stashed in that pocket.

"That would be the simplest option," he admitted. When V's eyes narrowed, he continued. "But we can work with whatever you're comfortable with. We would need to conduct a complete scan of your brain and hardware. Obviously, we'll need to consider factors outside the chip, such as implants. We will also need a full history of the chip and your experiences with it."

The more he spoke, the more it was dawning on her that he knew very little about the chip. He had admitted to not having all the details when they'd first spoken, but she realised now that he didn't have any. She clenched her jaw, trying to hide her growing disappointment. Kulkarni shifted uncomfortably at her lack of response and her heart lurched when his eyes darted away from her.

She quickly reached out and gripped his shoulder firmly, causing his attention to jolt back to her, his expression twisting in shock. "Tell me somethin'…" she said, her tone dropping. "How did you hear about the chip?"

He swallowed audibly. "Well, I…" he trailed off, and V could see a sheen of perspiration bead his forehead.

"Arasaka, perhaps?" V probed, her grip tightening.

Kulkarni made another attempt to stutter out a reply, but soon snapped his mouth shut. He took a steadying breath and tried again. "It is true that Arasaka reached out to us about stolen property."

V quirked an eyebrow, relaxing her hold on him minutely. "If I was a bettin' woman, and I am, then I would say Arasaka never mentioned a damn chip at all."

A single drop of perspiration trickled down the side of Kulkarni's face and disappeared into his collar. "Y-yes, that is also true."

V let out a slow breath when she saw Judy turn away from the terminal and nod once in her direction. "So, 'fess up, Director. Who told you?"

"I…" he croaked and struggled under her grip, which only made her press her fingers into his shoulder more. "I don't know. I received an anonymous data dump. It… it just contained information on you, where you were. That you had a chip capable of transplanting personalities. That it was killing you."

She let her hand fall away from him, confusion creasing her brow. Kulkarni stumbled back, putting distance between them. He rubbed at his shoulder, a mixture of relief and fear clouding his eyes. Judy stepped towards him, gripping his arm, and his head snapped to the left to look at her.

"Y'know what I hear when you talk?" she said, her voice dipping to a low rasp. "Bullshit. You don't have a fuckin' clue how to help V. You just want the chip for yourself."

Kulkarni wrenched his arm away from her, his eyes darting between the two of them nervously. "No, that's not true. I—"

Kulkarni's denial was lost to a sudden, thunderous roar. V instinctively fell to her knees, slamming herself against the panel behind her as the room was rocked with violent tremors. A flash of light filled the window above her. Both Judy and Kulkarni dropped down to join V, their eyes wide with shock. A crack split the air. When V looked up, she could see a thin line in the glass snaking its way across the window, threading off in dozens of different directions.

Fuck. Another booming explosion shook the room and V launched herself towards Judy, wrapping herself around the other woman as the window shattered. Shards showered down on V, and she felt them slice across her head and back. She tucked Judy more tightly against her chest as the slivers of glass stung the sides of her face. V squeezed her eyes shut, her senses overwhelmed by the onslaught.

As the ringing in her ears faded, V became aware of the shudder of Judy's body in her arms. She lifted her head and looked up. The window gaped wide, its edges like jagged teeth. Thick plumes of dark smoke billowed through and the stench of burning flesh reached V's nose. Kulkarni scrambled to pull himself up and stared, slack-jawed at the damage beyond the window.

V pulled back, her hands moving to Judy's face. She swept her hair back, fingers brushing across the skin of Judy's cheeks, checking for any sign of damage. Dark eyes lifted to look at V, fear fading into concern. Judy raised her own fingers to shakily sweep across V's jaw and her brow dropped to shadow her eyes. V became aware of a stinging in the echo of Judy's touch and she realised the glass must have cut her.

"C'mon," V said softly. "We need to get outta here."

She pushed herself up, pulling Judy with her, and turned to look through the window. Her breath caught in her throat. Between the swell of smoke and the flames that licked at the walls of the hall, she could see that the majority of the cylindrical containers had been utterly destroyed. Metal had been torn apart and the glass casings had been obliterated.

Kulkarni stood, completely frozen, mumbling words to himself that V couldn't catch over the inferno roaring beyond the window. Relinquishing her hold on Judy, V grabbed the back of Kulkarni's lab coat and yanked him towards the door. The smoke scratched at her throat as Kulkarni struggled, his arms flailing.

"Snap out of it!" she hissed in his ear. "Or I'm leavin' you here to choke."

Kulkarni seemed to come to his senses then and spun about, stumbling to the door. The three of them bundled into the lab and Kulkarni slammed a hand against a panel on the wall, sealing the smoke-filled room behind them. V let out several rasping coughs and wiped a hand across her face. What the fuck just happened?

From her position near the doorway, V could see the three lab technicians sheltering behind their counters, their faces contorted in shock and confusion. The lighting in the room pulsed from white to red to white again, casting an eerie atmosphere over the lab. Another tremor rumbled under V's feet and she had to steady herself against the wall. Judy clung to a counter, her eyes darting around the room.

Kulkarni, looking extremely ruffled now, fiddled with something on his wrist and waited a few moments. "What happened in containment?"

Stability returned to the room and V took in a few calming breaths as she watched Kulkarni.

"What do you mean? How is that possible!?" Kulkarni barked at whoever he was talking to.

V slowly made her way along the row of counters towards the second side-door, her focus back on her task. She froze when Kulkarni slammed his hand down on the metal countertop.

"Shut it down! She can't access—" He stopped himself abruptly, apparently remembering who was in the room with him. "Where is security?"

Smoke now began to seep into the lab through one of the small vents near the ceiling and V knew their window of opportunity was growing smaller. Kulkarni still glowered in rage at the space in front of him.

"What!?" he seethed in disbelief. He slammed his palm down again. "Then get a manned team down here. And fix the fire suppression system!"

He seemed to close the commlink then and swept his gaze over the room, searching for something. When he spotted the technicians, he hurried around the counters and kneeled down to check on them. V took that moment to move closer to the door, noting the panel next to it. Perhaps Judy could help her unlock the door. Or she could just force it.

"Evacuate. Now," Kulkarni told the technicians and they shakily got to their feet and ran from the room. He looked towards the vent then and spotted the smoke. "We should leave as well."

V glanced between him and the door, her adrenaline spiking as it dawned on her that she wasn't going to be able to get the package without complications. His expression shifted as he also came to a realisation. He stomped forward towards the door, his eyes narrowing, and V wondered when he'd found this sudden surge of courage.

"You're behind this!" he spat.

V blinked at him in surprise. "That's ridiculous," she said quickly. She didn't know why she was trying to defend herself against the accusation.

"She got to you, didn't she!? I should have known! She wheedles her way into everything." He was ranting now, his eyes burning with betrayal.

V had to suppress the eye roll and she closed the gap between her and the door, considering him nothing more than an annoyance now. When Kulkarni lunged towards her and grabbed her arm, she almost laughed at how weak his grip was. She shoved him off, bringing her left arm up between them. Her mantis blade sprung out and he recoiled backwards, his eyes widening.

"Security will be here any… any moment," he stuttered.

"Let 'em come," V said dismissively and thrust her blade into the panel beside the door. It spat sparks at her and fizzled. With some satisfaction, she heard the magnetic clamps disengage from the door.

"You won't get away with th—"

V turned to see Judy grab Kulkarni by the shoulder and spin him. She lashed out with one fist, landing a bone-crunching hit to his jaw. His head snapped to the right and his eyes rolled back in his head as he crumpled to the floor. V stared at Judy in surprise, her eyebrows raised.

"Been wantin' to do that for fuckin' ages," Judy rasped and shook her hand as she clenched and relaxed it.

A throaty laugh burst from V and she shot Judy an appreciative look. "You're so hot right now," she remarked before jamming her mantis blade into the doorframe in an attempt to lever the door open.

Judy leaned against the wall next to V, her eyes on the doorway to the corridor. "You sayin' I ain't always hot?"

V snorted. "You know that's not true." When the door gave way, she strained against it with one arm and it slowly relented, metal grinding against metal.

She hurried into the room beyond, which appeared to be some sort of storage space, and retracted her blade. There were rows of refrigerated cabinets, some with keypads. There was no sign of Adriana's case out in the open, so it had to be in one of the cabinets. Judy joined her and looked around uncertainly.

"You search left, I search right," V suggested and moved to one side of the room.

She wrenched open one cabinet after another, finding an array of vials and sealed containers, but nothing that resembled the case. Maybe Kulkarni had rehomed whatever was inside to a different kind of case. Or maybe it wasn't even here. She frowned as she realised they probably should have left him conscious.

"V," came Judy's voice from behind her and she turned to see the other woman holding a large metal case in her hands.

"Thank fuck," breathed V and hurried over to her.

It seemed to match the image Adriana had given her. Whether it was truly the exact same case, she would leave that up to Adriana to discover. She wasn't hanging about here any longer.

"Let's get outta here," said V then and Judy nodded.

They quickly slipped out of the storage room and Judy hesitated in front of Kulkarni. Her gaze flickered to the smoke slowly seeping into the room and back to the unconscious man. V frowned. Deciding not to argue about it, she slid her arms under his body and lifted him, surprised at how light he was. She motioned with a nod for Judy to go on ahead of her.

When they reached the corridor, V felt a chill creep down her spine as she spotted several men jogging towards them, garbed in light body armour. Judy slowed her pace then, letting V move in front. V glanced at her but she said nothing. She just gave her a meaningful look and then glanced down at the case. V guessed that she didn't want the case to be the first thing the security team saw. Perhaps they would be distracted by Kulkarni's unconscious form and Judy could slip past unnoticed. It was a plan. Of sorts.

"Hold!" yelled one of the men as they neared.

V stopped in front of them. "Oh, thank fuck you're here," she panted, adding a twist of drama to her voice. "Director Kulkarni was hurt by one of the explosions. I don't know what to do!"

She took that moment to drop Kulkarni unceremoniously to the floor, his limbs landing in a tangle. The three security team members crouched down around him, and the one who had yelled at her looked up with unrestrained incredulity. Judy took the opportunity to edge around them and they didn't even look her way.

As V's heart hammered in her chest, she offered the man as weary an expression as she could muster. "Carried him all the way here. It looks bad back there. Where's the evacuation route?"

The man's attention returned to Kulkarni as his colleagues checked the director for injuries. "Just head back the way we came. The stairs are clearly marked at the end of the corridor. Join the staff in the courtyard and…" He looked up again. "Don't leave."

"'Course," she said and hastily stepped around him.

She motioned for Judy to move on with her hands and the other woman launched into a jog, clasping the case to her torso in an attempt to conceal it. V peered over her shoulder as they moved, relieved to see that the security team was fully occupied with Kulkarni. As they made their way to the stairs, she hoped he didn't wake too quickly.

...

The gentle hues of the evening blanketed the dome far above Judy in an orange haze, giving the buildings around her a rosy tint. Her eyelids fluttered as she adjusted to the new light level and she gratefully took in lungfuls of fresh air. The first thing she noticed was the odd scent – there was a sweetness in the air, a freshness that she hadn't experienced before. Her gaze settled on a large tree nearby and she saw that small, pink buds were just beginning to peek open on its thin branches.

She felt a reassuring hand at the small of her back and V guided her off to one side of the entrance they'd just emerged from. Judy glanced at V, who was scanning the area with a laser-like focus and didn't seem at all distracted by the wonder of the city around them. It was then that she noticed the group of people gathered across the large, stone courtyard. She estimated that there were around twenty men and women, mostly scientific personnel if the lab coats were anything to go by.

As she surveyed the high walls that framed the courtyard, she spotted metallic figures standing disconcertingly still by a large wire gate, the evening sun glinting off their forms. The bots' heads were lowered and there was no blue tint to their eyes. Was this Adriana's doing? That would explain Kulkarni's outburst in the lab and their unimpeded exit from the facility.

"Need to get us some wheels," V said, her voice hushed.

When Judy followed her gaze, she spotted a small parking area where several cars and a motorcycle sat unattended. Their sleek, clean designs were unlike what she was used to seeing in Night City, but were very much in line with the Alpha aesthetic. As they hurried towards the parking lot, V seemed very focused on the black motorcycle.

Casting one last look around, V slipped a leg over the seat of the motorcycle and smoothed her hands over the handlebars appreciatively. She looked up at Judy with a grin. When she held her hand out, Judy passed her the case and V tucked it into the space between her legs.

"I think a car probably woulda been the way to go here, V," Judy said with a shake of her head, but she couldn't hide her amusement at the other woman's excited grin.

"Where's the fun in that?" V quipped and motioned for Judy to join her.

Judy settled on the seat behind V, pressing herself up against the other woman's back and wrapping her arms around her waist. She could certainly see the appeal of this mode of transportation. V peered at Judy over her shoulder and smiled.

"Gonna quickhack the gate when we get close. Hopefully with security bein' all fucked up, I won't get any resistance. Hold on tight, 'kay?"

Judy gave her waist a quick squeeze in reply and V turned her attention to the task at hand. The motorcycle quietly hummed to life, its chassis vibrating gently beneath them. V eased it forwards slowly at first, but the movement was quickly spotted by the nearby employees. Their confused gestures quickly shifted into alarmed waving and V responded by speeding towards the gate.

As the closed gate rushed towards them, Judy braced herself, pressing her cheek to the torn leather of V's jacket and squeezing her eyes shut, her blood pulsing in her ears. When no collision came, she lifted her head and saw that they were racing through the empty streets of Alpha. She let out a relieved puff of air. Simple white houses passed them by in a blur, each with their own little square of green. Judy imagined that they had once been well-tended, but they were overgrown now.

High above the city, looking down from the guest quarters, everything had seemed so neat and perfectly crafted. But down here, feeling small and insignificant amidst the vastness of Alpha, she could see how nature pushed back against the restrictions imposed upon it. How it refused to be contained. She felt a surge of melancholy at how empty the city felt. There was no life behind the windows of each perfect home, no sounds from the abandoned bars, no scents from the stores. Much like the dome protecting it, Alpha was a mere shell.

When V turned the motorcycle into a wide street, the imposing tower at the centre of the city came into view. It stretched up impossibly high and Judy had to crane her head back to see its peak. She felt a tightness in her chest as they rushed closer, the shadow of the tower creeping towards them in the day's fading light.

Judy straightened when a notification popped up about an incoming call. When she felt V's muscles tense beneath her hands, she guessed she wasn't the only one. She accepted the call and was surprised when there was no visual display.

"I see you have successfully escaped Biotechnica's facility. Do you have my item?" came Adriana's silky voice.

"Yeah, yeah, got the case," V said distractedly as she pushed the bike even harder. Judy glanced over her shoulder and didn't see any movement behind them. It didn't look like they had been followed.

"Excellent. I also see that the director is still alive." Disapproval sept into Adriana's tone.

Judy's eyes narrowed at that.

"I got your damn case. Didn't need to flatline Kulkarni."

"That decision was unwise. Due to the inactivity of his usual security force, the director has now called in outside help." Adriana's voice had dipped to a low drone.

Judy instinctively tightened her grip on V. She supposed that meant Kulkarni had recovered from her blow, but who could he have possibly called in? More Biotechnica goons?

"We'll deal with that when the time comes," V muttered dismissively.

"What the hell happened back there?" Judy cut in.

There was a pause and Judy noticed the motorcycle had slowed now.

"You required a distraction. I supplied one," Adriana finally said, her voice betraying nothing.

V tensed again. "Destroyin' all those clones was just a distraction, huh?"

Another pause. "They weren't alive. Not truly. You need not feel grief for them. They would not appreciate it."

V shook her head but didn't respond. When Judy peered over the other woman's shoulder, she saw a wide gate set into a wall similar to that which surrounded Biotechnica's facility. There didn't appear to be any bots here, though. As they neared, the gate slid open, but V brought the bike to a stop before passing through.

"Do come in," Adriana purred, causing a shiver to slip down Judy's spine. What a creep.

"Let me get back to you on that," V snapped and appeared to end the call on her end.

Before Judy could do the same, Adriana's voice drifted over her commlink, now low and dangerous. "Please tell Valerie that we have approximately one hour before Kulkarni's new friends arrive. Don't dawdle too much."

The call ended and Judy bristled at Adriana's use of that name.

V lifted herself off the bike and placed the case on the ground beside it before turning to face Judy, her features shadowed by anger. She paced back and forth for a few moments, seemingly turning something over and over in her mind. Judy sat in silence, unsure of what to say.

"This feels so gonk, Jude," she said finally, her voice strained.

Judy stared up at the tower, her eyes travelling over the twists of the silvery architecture. "You mean goin' in there?"

V ceased her pacing and stood beside the bike again, looking down at Judy. "Yeah, the whole thing. Adriana's playin' us."

Judy sighed and frowned. "Don't doubt that for a second. Not really sure what to do about it, though."

V rested a hand on her hip. "I'd say we should delta, but we don't even know how to get out of this fuckin' city."

Judy nodded slowly. "And Adriana says that more Biotechnica people will be here in an hour. Doubt we'd make it very far even if we could get out."

V kicked the wheel of the motorcycle with the tip of her boot. "Fuck. So, what do you think?"

Judy had to take a moment to think that over, surprised that V was asking for her opinion on it. She was the mercenary, she usually took charge in moments like this. Finally, Judy shrugged.

"I don't trust the bitch. Don't think she's told us one true thing. But I also don't think we can just sit on our asses out here and do nothin'." She paused, going over the options one more time. "If she really can help you, V… I think we gotta take the chance. I don't think I could forgive myself if we let that opportunity slip by."

V's eyes roamed over Judy's face as she spoke and as she let the words sink in, she stepped closer. "What if it all goes to hell in there?"

Judy reached out and took V's hand, running the pad of her thumb across the back of it. "Then you'll get us out. It's kinda your thing."

"No pressure," V said with a half-hearted laugh.

Judy squeezed V's fingers. "You're not alone, V. Whatever happens in there, we've got each other. There ain't no situation that the both of us can't figure out."

V tilted her head a little and a fond smile tugged at one corner of her lips. "Where were you all my life?"

Judy let go of V's hand and gave her a playful tap on the chest. "Don't get mushy on me. You'll ruin your rep."

Rubbing the back of her neck briefly, V chuckled and slipped back onto the motorcycle, but Judy caught a glimpse of a slight flush under the other woman's cheeks. V retrieved the case and shot a look over her shoulder.

"Ready?"

Judy took in a deep breath, fear coiling in her stomach, but she nodded firmly. V faced forwards and the bike eased through the gate. Unlike Biotechnica's buildings, the area around the tower was wild and unkempt. Ivy had begun to creep up the smooth white of the tower and what had once likely been a beautifully sculpted garden was now a mess of weeds and tall grass that fought for dominance over the blues and yellows of wildflowers.

Judy felt a tension creep into her shoulders as the gate creaked shut. V hopped off the bike and pulled the case with her, gazing up at the tower. Heavy double doors slid open at its base, revealing a dark foyer beyond. Her heart stammered in her chest as they moved inside, their footfalls echoing loudly through the lifeless interior. They passed a dusty reception desk, the computer displays upon it blank. At the back of the circular room were several elevator doors. The middle of the three doors swished open, yellow light spilling out onto the smooth tiles in front of it.

V glanced at Judy before stepping inside, her jaw tight and the hand gripping the case whitening at the knuckles. When the door closed behind them and the elevator jolted to life, Judy swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being raised to their doom. As they waited silently, she reached out with one hand and brushed her fingertips across the skin of V's free hand. V gave her a small smile and she felt some comfort in that and the brief contact.

The elevator came to a sudden stop and Judy heard an unsettling grinding of metal somewhere above them. The door jittered open. She and V stepped into what appeared to be a long room with a large, segmented window set into the rear wall. The dusk sun was the only source of light and it revealed the familiar form of a desk at the far end of the room. Shadows stretched across the floor and over objects Judy couldn't identify.

She narrowed her eyes as they cautiously made their way further into the room. There appeared to be a chair behind the desk, but it was too dark to tell if someone sat in it. The silhouette of wires and tubes erupted from the sides of the chair and desk, running the width of the room and disappearing into the darkness. Apprehension pushed heavily on her chest and she felt as though she had to force the musty air into her lungs.

Her nose wrinkles when she realised it wasn't just dust in the air. There was the odour of something else that sent a chill down the back of her neck. The distinct, unforgettable scent of death. V stopped suddenly and placed an arm in front of Judy. A light flickered on behind the desk, revealing a large monitor that swung down from the ceiling to face them.

A second light burst to life above the desk and Judy sucked in a gasp. Slumped in the chair was the withered, grey form of a woman. Her business suit, once dark blue, was now faded and threadbare. The flesh of her face had receded, drawing her skin tautly across her bones. Her cavernous eyes were closed. Judy's lips twisted as she took in the sight. The tubes she'd seen as mere silhouettes plunged into the woman's parchment-like skin and the wires disappeared behind the mass of fine, tatty hair that hung limply from her scalp.

Judy felt acid burn up the back of her throat as a rattle filled the eerie silence of the room and the woman's chest rose shakily.

"Adriana?" V asked with trepidation.