Adam Smasher was finally dead. A bullet from the Malorian Arms 3516 pierced his armored skull and entered the one thing about him that was still human, the brain. It was a fitting end for the bastard. I wish he would have suffered more, but that involved time that neither I nor Johnny has at the moment. The warm blood dripping onto my hand that was holding guts in reminded me of just how much a pyrrhic victory tends to cost one.

One of his rockets had nicked in the wrong place, and now I could barely hold myself conscious. It wasn't the wound people recovered from, as a trail was beginning to form of me dragging myself to Mikoshi. I was shaking, my vision beginning to fade. I forced myself to take a step. Before taking another. With one more.

"C'mon, V. You don't have forever," Johny spoke to me with worry in his voice, and I don't blame him. I barely heard him with everything I had being directed to taking one more step. Everything was blurry, but that didn't stop me from pushing myself to walk further. I wasn't gonna die here, not today.

I used my legs to jump forward and again thanks to the reinforced tendons, but my body slammed against the floor, causing a rush of pain to flow through me, but it wasn't as bad as I figured it would be. Either I've gotten used to the pain or am beginning to enter shock. If it's the latter then things are really fucking bad right now.

I forced myself upwards and limped towards the door, sliding it open with my gorilla arms. That left my wound open to the air, and it stung like hell, with me gripping it. To make matters worse, the chip then decided that would be an opportune time to flair up. The glitches formed over what was left of my vision, and I finally fell onto the ground.

I claw the ground, pushing myself forward. I refuse to die now. Not now, not ever. My blood was being spread onto the ground, leaving my body at a fast rate. My mind began drifting to Delamain, Joshua, Takemura, Jackie... No! Need my mind focused, else I'll slip away.

I forced myself up to grab the port and hook myself in. I felt it connect, but my energy was drained. I flopped onto the ground, with the knowledge that this room is where I'd die. Wouldn't matter if my body overheats with the wound. My intestines are spilling out and I don't have anything to stop it. I'll find a way to make it. Always have.

When my eyes open up again, I find myself standing without the wound, causing me to immediately freak out. I'm in an elevator, which says it's heading towards the roof. Why would I suddenly appear here since I'm dying, slipping away unless…

Oh no.

The elevator door opens to reveal a corridor. I don't want to walk through it, but I don't really have a choice here. The stench is all too familiar of Night City, I spot cats moving around, and standard litter that's everywhere. I know this isn't what's freaking me out though.

It's the two plastic chairs right next to each other. This was the last spot I was before storming Arasaka on my own. I walked slowly, out of respect for this area. Jackie came here to think, but I had my mindset when I was here. Take the fight to the bastards that screwed me over more times than I cared to admit. I hope they learned what termination truly means.

I spotted the memento with the bullet and decided to pick it up. It looked the same as usual before my vision finally formed with the Net I knew. It showed a pyramid, a bridge, and some sort of beam beyond the pyramid. I started walking on the bridge while hearing Cunningham, or I guess the AI Cunningham, speak.

"Let us go then, you and I. When the evening is spread out against the sky like a patient etherized upon the table. Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets, The muttering retreats. Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels. And sawdust restaurants and oyster-shells."

Man, she likes her own voice. I thought those goddamn politicians were annoying. If this is what being beyond the Blackwall does to people, I'll hop back into my dying body, thank you very much.

"Streets that follow like a tedious argument, of insidious intent, to lead you to an overwhelming question. Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' Let us go and make our visit."

I finished walking across the bridge to see Johny looking at the light. He still had the long hair and vest, but it all appeared red and see-through. Didn't have time to think about looks though, the elephant news to be spoken of.

I cleared my throat as I stood beside him. "The wound from Smasher is the kind most would call lethal, Johnny. The hell do we do now?"

"Don't know. Alt's been busy for a while, stating something about a problem that had arisen. More than likely, she's dealing with the entirety of Arasaka so there isn't much she can't focus on."

"Great, so our plan failed?"

"She said to me that your body had kicked shortly after jacking in. Did what could've been done, but there wasn't to do since you flatlined. Most we can hope for is crossing the Blackwall and hope for the best."

Fuck that. I ain't becoming no AI or whatever the hell Silverhand's output has become. I'm not someone that can standstill. In the net, I feel so… slow. You have something holding you down, and I'm not sure what it is with me losing my body now, but it feels like that was pushed tenfold. Walking with shackles and weights on, yet never faster.

I looked down and saw the void staring back at me. My whole life, I've done so much, yet so little. I should've told Dexter to stuff it, walked away from it all. Instead, little old me had to poke the city with a stick and was surprised when it exacted its revenge. Dex would've found some other gonk to take the job though, so I suppose better me than someone else.

I stared into the void for an eternity, when an idea struck me. The void went down farther than I could see, and it was pitch black, without a single ray of light piercing it. Whether that means inaccessible or just unloaded, I don't know. I can't stand not knowing or staying here. So, there's a simple solution.

"I'm jumping down"

Immediately, Johnny grabs me by the arm. "Don't you fucking dare die on me now. We already came this far."

"We've already done it all, man! Neither of us can return to the real world, and I'm not becoming some fucked up machine like Alt. I'm going to take a risk and see what it brings me."

"V, I'm fairly certain you aren't gonna get lucky again. You'll wind up finally putting yourself out of commission."

"That's the risk we took in breaking into Araska, helping the Aldecaldos, Finding Randy and so many gigs. I've done so much I knew I'd get killed one day."

The two of us were looking at each other, with worry in our eyes. My mind was set though, and goddammit I was gonna follow it. I walked closer to the edge and turned to Johnny, sticking my arms out into the air.

"I was once asked about whether I wanted to die in a blaze of glory, or as a mister nobody. My body's dead and people will know of my attack against this fucking corporation. My only hope is that I don't end up lost, or whatever the hell happens to people that go to the void in the net. See ya around, Johnny."

I allowed myself to fall into the abyss, welcoming it as an old friend. My eyes shut as I begin to rest after so long, with the fall growing while the weights fall off. I felt contentment and peace, hoping to see whatever it has to offer. I have no idea what will happen now, but that's fine. I suppose the fourth time's the charm.

At least, I hope it is.

(A/N) Sorry about not updating my other stories, but I got burnt out, will try updating this one as long as I still have a spark of hope for this one