Another Choice

Part 2: Sacrifice, Epilogue

I highly recommend playing the Cyberpunk 2077 end credits music while you read this chapter. Really completes the mood.

Valerie's funeral was small, held at the old church by the El Coyote Cojo. All those involved in the final mission came, along with Mama Welles, Regina Jones, and several other fixers.

The service itself was simple and short. Padre stood in as the presiding priest, leading prayers to God and Valerie's soul. There were no anecdotes, no stories, no speeches. Everyone there knew what kind of person Valerie was, and what she did. They didn't need reminding.

Valerie's body was cremated, like the majority of deaths in the city. A plot was purchased for her at the city's columbarium, right next to a plot belonging to Jackie Welles. Inscribed into its surface were the words:

Valerie Alvarez.

Legend of Night City, Savior of the World.
Never stopped fighting.

The rain beat down on the heads of two figures, in front of the newly engraved plaque. One was thin and small, the other tall and broad. Neither spoke, as there was nothing to say. The closest, smaller figure placed a kiss in their hand, and touched the plaque, their fingers slowly tracing the words etched into the smooth stone.

"It's time," said the farther figure, turning to walk towards a car. The smaller figure bowed their head, then spun on their heel and followed the taller one. They both entered the car, and drove back down the hill.

The car drove for a while, across the city, and to the ocean, where a tiny beach house sat next to an equally tiny dock. It rolled to a stop, sinking slightly in the soft sand.

"You sure you want this?" asked the broader figure. They removed their dark sunglasses, revealing a handsome face and short blonde hair. Johnny Silverhand, in the body of Cashmere Gallagher.

"Yes. Yes, I do," replied the other. They removed their hood, and a pretty young woman with pink and green hair was uncovered. Judy Alvarez.

They both got out of the car, Johnny going to the trunk, removing a scuba tank and fins. Judy went to stand on the dock, watching the rain patter against the surface of the water. She was wearing a red and blue diving suit. Johnny deposited the scuba gear by her side, then reached into his jacket, pulling out an incendiary grenade.

Judy pulled an old brass key from her pocket, inserting it into the door of the beach house. The lock opened with a dull click. She stepped inside, and went to the bed in the back of the house. She pulled a necklace over her head, with a bullet and a datashard strung onto it, and laid it on the bed. Then she drew the ornate katana on her back, and set it beside the necklace.

Together, the three items represented Valerie evading death, and eventually succumbing to it. Judy turned her back on the room, and went back outside. She nodded to Johnny, who activated the grenade and tossed it into the house. Judy shut the door, and locked it.

The house went up in a brilliant burst of flame, so hot it shattered the windows. The roof caved in a moment later. Judy and Johnny watched it burn for a few minutes, then turned to each other.

"It's been a pleasure, Judy Alvarez," said Johnny, shaking her hand. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

With that, he turned on his heel and got back in the car, driving back up the sandy road. Judy went to the end of the dock, putting on the fins and attaching the scuba tank. She slipped the rebreather mask over her head, and dropped into the water.

Like always, the silence of being underwater helped to calm her. She swam over to the elevator, and dropped several glow sticks and flares into the dark depths. Then she activated the lift, and descended to the ocean floor. Waiting there for her were the remains of her old hometown, which she'd shown to Valerie just a month prior, but now seemed like a lifetime ago.

She swam into her childhood home, and into her old bedroom. Not much remained in the room after so much time underwater. Her old posters and photos had all melted away, and the furniture was falling apart. She settled down on the ruined, rotting bed, turning on her side to make room for the scuba tank. From a pocket in her suit, she pulled out another glow stick, and a photo. It was a selfie, depicting Valerie making a silly face, her arm wrapped around Judy who was laughing hysterically. It was Judy's favorite photo of them.

She carefully placed the photo on the algae covered nightstand. She then pulled a silver and diamond ring off her left hand, and placed it on top of the photo. She reached behind her to the straps of the tank, and released them. The heavy metal tank fell to the ground with a dull thunk. Oxygen alert alarms started going off on her HUD, but she disabled them. As she felt her lungs constrict and her eyes grow heavy, she whispered a single, final phrase to the depths.

"I'm coming home, V."

ALERT: 10 UNHEARD VOICEMAILS – PLAYING NOW

Voicemail from Mama Welles:
"V, mija. I pray you found rest from your burdens. I cannot tell you the pain I feel from losing my two ninos, but it gives my heart peace knowing you found each other in cielo, in heaven. Lord above, watch over my beloved children, take them into your glory and hold them close, they have suffered much in service to you. Remind them of the good they did for this world, and for themselves. This I beg of you, amen. Rest well, V."

Voicemail from Yuna Takemura:
"Hello, V. Goro and I wanted to let you know, Arasaka is gone. Hanako disbanded the company after she destroyed every part of the Save Your Soul and cyborg Engram programs. You can rest easy knowing my family will never threaten the world again. Also, I want to thank you, for this opportunity to really have a family of my own. I married Goro last week, and I'm hoping for some little ones soon. This was all thanks to you. From my family to you, Sayounara V.

Voicemail from Claire Russell:
"Heya, V. Heard about this voicemail thing and thought it was a good coping strat. Anyway, Afterlife's doing great. Wakako and Weyland are still hard asses, but their hearts're in the right place. Already the streets're getting cleaned up in ways I haven't seen since the peak of Rogue's career. We put up a little thing for you and her, by the way. Johnny gave us the stuff for it. Got a pic of you and Rogue hanging above your guys' old booth, with your iron in a case under each. Looks preem, and it's always a great conversation starter for the cute up-and-comers in here. Kinda like the Afterlife's salute to the afterlife, hehe. But really, we all miss ya, V. I'm sure you're taking over already, wherever you're at. 'Til next time."

Voicemail from Panam Palmer:
"Last one, V, I promise. We just made the border to Arizona. Got some contacts in Phoenix who scoped out a nova spot for us, just north of the city. New camp's gonna blow the last two out of the water. Had a bit of trouble with some Raffen scouts, but nothing we couldn't handle. Still got the Basilisk, after all. But here's the real sich. River's making your girl here a momma. Got a little girl growin' in me now, and it's amazing. Only thing that could make it better would be if you were here…But I'm sure you're already getting' into trouble wherever you're at now. Still, we already picked out a name, and I'm sure you can guess. Our baby's gonna be named Valerie Hope Ward-Palmer, after a certain crazy, stupid, brave, caring merc we happen to know. Take care, V. We'll see each other soon."

Voicemail from Mitch Anderson:
"How's the afterlife treatin' ya, V? Thought I'd give you the final update on the project I was doing with Judy. She left me her research and prototypes of the BD mind sync system, and I finally got it to work. Already got patents pending and investors lined up. This could be the next big thing, all thanks to your output. We're calling it BD-VAL, Brain Dance Virtually Adjoined Life. Still working on the acronym, but we were adamant it be called VAL. For Valerie. Rest easy, V."

Voicemail from Viktor Vektor:
"Hey, V. Thought I'd give you a call here, Misty said it could help. Hope the afterlife's treatin' ya as well as they say. Uhh, Clinic's up and running, haven't had this much traffic in years. All these young, hot-headed mercs around here wanting the shiniest chrome available. Remind you of a certain someone? I gotta thank you again, V, for settin' this up for me. Really gave me a better outlook for the future, even when the world feels so dark with you not in it. We miss ya, kid. I miss you. Take it easy up there. You deserve it."

Voicemail from Kerry Eurodyne:
"Yooo, V! Better be party central up there, they just got the biggest fuckin' legend of Night City joinin' them. Been pretty standard 'round here. Johnny and I been jammin' a lot, even started talking 'bout gettin' the ol' band back together. Can't believe I'm saying this, but I missed the motherfucker. Guess I gotta thank you for dropping him back in my life, all those weeks ago. Should probably thank you for pulling me outta that rut you found me in. If you hadn't come along, I'd still be a shit rich drunk doin' fuck-all with his life. Well, that's not true. I'm still a shit rich drunk, but I am getting' shit done now. Fuckin' Johnny's head of Militech now, can you believe that shit!? And he's made me a honorary board member! We're primed to really change shit in this city, V, the way Johnny was tryin' to do fifty years ago. But this time, it's gonna work. All thanks to you. Miss ya, love ya, stay nova, V. Eurodyne, out."

Voicemail from Johnny Silverhand:
"Hey, V. Was told by Misty to make one of these Vidcall messages. Thought what the heck, why not. Check this, they officially made me CEO of Militech. I've gotten real fuckin' good at acting lately, pretending to be Gallagher. Once I got through all the legal nonsense, though, it's been pretty smooth. Got Kerry here helpin' me, he's actually got an ear for business, believe it or not. Using this position in a Megacorp to start changin' stuff in this fucked-up city. Remember how I tried to nuke Arasaka to do that? Well, I can tell ya, this way's much better. Arasaka's gone anyway, Hanako dismantled the whole company. Everything I've wanted for over sixty years has finally happened. And you're the reason for that, V. Tell Rogue I send my love, and remember, never stop fighting."

Voicemail from Misty Olszewski:
"Hey, V. I did a reading on you the other day, and something told me to pick just one card. I drew the Hanged Man. He represents a common punishment, death, but he isn't scared of it. He's there because he wants to be, out of a sense of duty. V, I know your choice was hard. Harder than any of us could've imagined. But you did it, V. You saved the world through your selflessness, your sacrifice. And nobody could ask anything more from you. Don't be sad because you couldn't stay, be joyful because you left the world better than it was. Goodbye V, take care."

Voicemail from Judy Alvarez 3:
"I can't do it V, I just can't do it. I've tried so many times to think of a future without you, even outside this city, and it's unbearable. I have no future without you in it. You were the only reason I stuck around this city, the only reason I had to not give up. Now, with you gone, I'm not strong enough anymore. First Evelyn, then Maiko, now you, I can't take it. Every time I love, I lose. But not anymore. I'm done with this fucking world, its empty promises and false hopes. I have only one desire, and that's to be by your side. Johnny's helping me with this. He understands, more than anyone. I'll be home soon, V. I love you."

[-]

[Achievement Unlocked: The Hanged Man]

[-]

And so concludes ending number one. Like I said before, I had to slightly amend my upload schedule. Cause I'm such a nice guy, and didn't want to keep you good people waiting too long, I've uploaded Part 2 now, with Part 3 on the way. And I made sure to start with the sad one lul.

Thanks for sticking with me, and stay tuned for the second ending, Part 3: Resurrection. Be sure to Follow/fav/review if you enjoy my writing, or if I made you cry!