This story has no connection to the others I am working on and none of the events I added to those stories have occurred in this world. The V of this world was again female but an ex corporate exec for Militech. The word is that she is long dead. But can you believe everything you hear. It is set in Night City in 2085 in an alternate Cyberpunk/World of Darkness/Vampire the Masquerade – Bloodlines setting with a bit of the Witcher thrown in.
BLOOD AND CHROME:
A SHADOW OVER NIGHT CITY
A WORLD OF CYBERPUNKS. A WORLD OF DARKNESS. A WORLD OF VAMPIRES
STORIES FROM THE DARK AND BLOODY STREETS OF NIGHT CITY IN 2085
Introduction: A Return to The Darkness of Night City
2085, June 20th 9.00 AM - Judy Alvarez returns to Night City. Bittersweet Memories from the Past
Smog. Thick black toxic choking smog. Lung rotting black death. The obvious result of an uncaring and often deliberate corporate practice of bringing back the most polluting industries of the 20th and early 21st centuries. The relentless expansion of a vast hive of the have's and have not's.
It was the result of a massive population growth across the country in an ever expanding nation of more than a billion people. The sky was never blue over Night City. Ranging from pitch black to dirty browns, yellows, greens and sand storm orange like Mars or Iraq no one was sure which was worse.
And also there was the deadly acid rain burning the skin off of anyone unfortunate enough to come into contact with it. Anyone who couldn't afford expensive protective clothing or cyberware or shelter wasn't going to survive long.
Mile after mile in every direction of desperate, tragic people in their makeshift refugee camps trying to survive in this uncaring cesspit of murder, hate, cruelty, blood and tears. And forlorn hope. These people once believed in a better time when their lives would mean something. When they weren't treated as the worthless unwanted dregs of humanity that civilized society had created and allowed them to become.
Night City alone as one of the most overcrowded mega-metropolises in the world with a population of over fifty million registered residents, and twenty million unregistered homeless in the outskirts and slums of the city. And perhaps thirty million or more unregistered in the Undercity Hives.
It was just eight years since she last saw the place and it was almost unrecognizable with the amount of new habitation towers that had been crammed into every space around the old city. Each one home to tens of thousands of 'fortunate' working class people.
The less fortunate made do with whatever shelter they could find. Many of the old unfinished industrial areas had been reclaimed by the corporations from the homeless and thousands of gangs in the city. This pushed the outskirts further into combat zones and no man's land. Desert and wilderness as the hungry machines of industry pushed them back ever further.
The underclass made do with an Undercity of hidden depths, death and destruction far from prying eyes where even the homeless in the upper city are extremely grateful they don't share the fate of the thirty million or more souls who reside in the Undercity Hives. A network of makeshift housing. Extremely illegal businesses where all the crime of the city is now conducted. Thousands of miles of tunnels and chambers dug deep into the earth as many cities have taken to doing because of the skyrocketing population.
The corporations hired, trained and equipped whole armies of well fed, conditioned and armed troops sometimes by the hundreds of thousands. Despite the city's terrible reputation it was the corporate heart of the country and all corporate elite wanted their place at the table. Often leading to all out war on the streets. Habitation block towers were being built as if they needed to be sky high armored bunkers. With walls, doors, floors, ceilings and windows built sturdy enough to take a tank blast or continued fire. And the building itself being able to withstand multiple explosions. They were ugly and drab. Like vast bunkers that housed troops during wartime.
She had hoped never to see this place again. It was a place for memories of dead friends and lovers. She had survived back in 2077 thanks to V and others who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting Arasaka. But many of them were distant memories. Dear Evie, and V. Neither of them were here now. Both long dead. And there were others. A list of people she no longer remained in contact with or long dead like so many she had known.
She didn't miss them any longer. Perhaps remembered them with a little fondness. But she had lived her life these past eight years without any regrets. Her time had not been spent idly. She had traveled for a year after V's death. But didn't settle anywhere for long. She put her time into becoming one of the best net runners in the country. It had been hard and difficult to survive some of the contracts she had taken. But she had an ace up her sleeve. By the name of Alt Cunningham. The Rogue AI had watched over her and many other promising net runners. Waiting for a time when they would be needed. When Alt would lead them all against the corporations. A time supposedly fast approaching.
This was the city she remembered. A merciless hellhole where life was cheap and paid for with a handful of eddies. She thought of Evie and the terrible fate that had befallen her. Judy would never allow that to happen to herself. But who was she kidding really. Wasn't that why she was back here. Her wealthy mistress and benefactor. Prince Ekaterina Daveraux. A European actor and megastar of the highest quality Braindance films. If not for her wish that she accompany her to Night City. Then there would be no reason to ever return to this place. She had of course wanted to refuse but she was now bound by blood.
The blood of the Toreador Vampire Clan now ran through her veins. A blood doll and soon if all went to plan a fledgling vampire. But not just any fledgling but the childe of the Prince of Night City her master. She traveled with the Prince's personal harem and bodyguards. Fifty corporate edge-runners of the finest quality. They traveled in five large transport AV's wth six AV gunships providing a security escort. Straight to the Corporate Plaza and Kindred Controlled Elysium at the center of the city where Daveraux International Media Corporation was located. Network 54 was the parent company.
It turns out the mad street preacher Gary had been right about those shadowy and dark organizations. It had after all cost him his life. When they revealed their existence. They were already in control of the government, near orbit stations, bases and fleets, the military and many of the largest corporations.
They had been secretive once and many remained so. But vampire numbers were fast on the rise and many were worried about how powerful they had become seemingly overnight. But they had been there since the dawn of humanity. Only now where they making their presence felt again as they had throughout history. Their wealth and resources were unsurpassed by mere short lived humans of even the highest corporate positions and standing.
A matter of minutes before they arrived and Judy was calm but had a slight feeling of dread on her mind. This was really happening with no going back. Back in Night City. Would she survive long enough this time. The politics and warfare of corporations and long dead masters was about to become the normal state of affairs for her and those she once new.