V stumbled at the entrance to the Afterlife. A coughing fit racked her body, courtesy of the broken piece of tech lodged in her head. Her lungs felt like they were on fire, and her head was swimming. The cybernetics in her body glitched, causing her vision to go fuzzy with static.

The large throng of people at the entrance to the bar did nothing to help. They didn't even glance her way as she coughed her lungs up. Just another merc on their last legs as far as anyone else was concerned. A common sight in Night City.

Eventually, her body settled down from its rebellious streak, though her breaths still came out ragged and short. She stood and continued down the stairs towards the bar. Her blood smeared across her torn jeans as she wiped her hands on them while weaving through the crowd of people standing at the entrance to the Afterlife. The guard at the main door nodded his head at her as she approached, opening the door when she stepped past the crowd.

"Thanks," V muttered, just loud enough to be heard over the noise of the crowd. She slipped through the door, entering the bar properly. The loud lights and booming music nearly drowned out the various conversations that were taking place. A tightness formed in her chest as she did. The last time she was here was with Jackie. He was so giddy that day, so sure they had finally hit their big break. If only he knew what it would cost. If only they both knew.

V pushed those memories to the back of her mind. She was here for a reason and couldn't let herself be distracted. The cool wetness of blood trickled onto her lip which she absently wiped off with a thumb. Probably from one of the nosebleeds her ripperdoc had warned her of. There was a bathroom near the entrance that she quickly ducked into. The mirror revealed the truly horrible state she was in. Eyes sunken in, hair a limp tangle of faded color, smeared blood on her upper lip.

She splashed some water on her face making sure to clean up the leftover blood. Without the blood dripping out of her nose she looked marginally better. Still a far cry from where she had been before getting shot in the head, but that was probably a good enough excuse. Her hud flashed several warnings at her, her usual brown eyes glowing a faint blue as they worked. She blinked and dismissed the warnings. She already knew what they said by heart now.

She shook her head, pushing away from the sinks with a huff and straightening the brown jacket she was wearing. After a pat down to make sure everything was still in place, she exited the bathroom striding up to the bar. Claire noticed her, and she set down the glass she had been cleaning, "Hey, V. Wasn't expecting you here so soon."

V grimaced, "Yeah, well, got something I need to take care of." She brushed off the look Claire was giving her, "By chance, do you know where Rogue is right now?"

"Sure," Claire pointed to a small partly walled-off area. "She's in her usual hidey-hole."

V nodded her thanks to the woman and stalked off towards the alcove. A guard stood in her way, trying to look intimidating. On any other day, it would have worked, but the death sentence that now loomed over V's head left her uncaring of the tactic.

"Need to see Rogue," She said, standing straight and looking the large man in the eyes. She could see the slight apprehension in the man's tense shoulders. "Got some biz for her."

"Let her through," A female voice spoke. V leaned around the guard, glimpsing the infamous Rogue. She looked almost exactly like she had in Johnny's memories. Different clothes, but still her. She was talking to another woman who was dressed in what V recognized as nomad clothes. Rugged jeans and a jacket that had clan symbol on it.

The guard moved to the side, giving V a clear path through. As V stepped into the alcove, the noise of the bar died down considerably to give its user a comfortable talking volume. The woman talking to Rogue glanced in V's direction before turning back to Rogue. "Go fuck yourself." She stormed past V, taking a moment to look the woman over before growling, "Be careful who you bargain with," as she slipped past, disappearing into the crowd.

Rogue hummed as V made her way to the couch before speaking, "Hmm. Not here, not there, Who're you?"

"Name's V," The young merc offered. "Need some information, was pointed in your direction."

Rogue's eyes scanned every inch of V as Johnny glitched into existence, sitting on the back of the couch He did his own scan of the old mercenary, his glasses dangling from his hand as he stared, "Damn, it really is her, Fucking Rogue, just kickin' back on a couch in the Afterlife." The voice seemed real, sound to her ears like Johnny Silverhand was there speaking out loud. But V knew it was only in her head.

"You think she'll help us?" V said in her head hoping she didn't give any indication she was talking to voices only she could hear.

"Yeah, she'll help, for a price," Johnny answered, giving a shrug of his shoulders and a quick, infuriating smirk.

Rogue spoke again, drawing V's attention from Johnny, "Why do you think I'd have anything to offer you? Especially after all the bodies you've left behind?" Rogue had finished her examination and her eyes were now staring unerringly into V's.

"Cause you know just about everything that goes on in Night City," V leaned forward, propping her leg on the table. "And I know you were there, the night Johnny Silverhand died. Saw him get taken out by Adam Smasher, so I know you got a trail of bodies behind you too." She had just played her ace. Hopefully, it wasn't too early.

Rogue raised an eyebrow, her eyes once again flitting over V's form. "Sit," There was no force behind her word, but it still carried her brand of authority behind it. A smirk adorned Rogue's face as V complied, sitting next to the older merc. "Few people know about that night. How did you come by that information?"

"Mutual acquaintances," V's eyes darted over to the still visible Johnny. "They told me you could help find someone."

"Did they now," Rogue relaxed into the bench seat they both were on. "That might be true, depending on who you're looking for, and what price you're willing to pay."

"I got the eddies, don't worry about that," V's elbows rested on her knees, hands clasping together as she spoke. "Looking for Anders Hellman. Need to find him as soon as possible. Matter of life or death."

"V, this is NC, everything is a matter of life and death, and getting information like that takes time."

V winced, she should have known that would be the response. This was Night City, where no one lifted a finger to help anyone unless it benefited them. Even Jackie had been that was when he and V had first teamed up. He still would've had her back though, especially at the end. Now all she had was the rockerboy terrorist eating at her brain.

"Love ya to V," Johnny said from his spot on the other side of Rogue.

"But, it just so happens I was already gathering it for another client," Rogue said as she pulled out a pack of cigarettes. She selected one, lighting it up and taking a long drag. She offered one to V, who declined with a wave of her hand.

"You were already gathering information on Hellman, for who?"

"Come on V, you know how this works, I can't just go around revealing my clients," Rogue's smirk returned after another drag off her cigarette. "That'd be bad for business."

"Then just give me the information and I'll be outta your hair." She was starting to get frustrated. If this lead turned into a dead-end, she'd be in deep shit. She needed that information to even begin trying to stop the chip in her head from killing her. "I just need to talk to him, that's all. I'll even pay a good price." V hated the way Rogue's smirk grew into a grin. She knew she had the dying woman now, and any amount of eddies she wanted.

Their game was interrupted when Rogue's guard spoke up, but not to them, "Sir, I going to have to ask-"

"Ask all you want I'll still talk to her," Rogue paled at the sound of the accented voice. A man poked his head around the large guard, his unkempt hair flying in every direction. Green eyes, which seemed to glow in the dim light of the bar, darted between Rogue, V, and seemingly Johnny before settling back on Rogue. A carefree grin sat on the man's face that only grew as he spoke, "Rogue! You miss me?"

He stepped around the guard with an easy nonchalance, hands in the pockets of his red and gold coat as he strolled into the alcove. His dark green shirt hung loosely over a pair of sturdy pants. Both Johnny and Rogue were now staring at the man, though for different reasons. Rogue glared at him, her arms crossed in anger. The dead rockerboy however watched him with undisguised shock.

"No fucking way," Johnny's voice was low and breathy with surprise.

"What?" V asked, her curiosity piqued.

"He should be dead," Johnny's voice was strained. "He was around during my death."

V frowned, "And? So was Rogue." Though a second glance showed a bit of what Johnny was talking about. Rogue, although appearing young for her age, still looked old to if someone was looking closely. This man didn't look any older than V herself.

Johnny shook his head, "You don't understand, he has no cyberware, nothing. I don't think he'd ever seen a ripperdoc, and it doesn't look like that's changed."

V scanned him with her kiroshi optics, confirming what Johnny said. There were no cybernetics anywhere in the newcomer's body. In fact, there was nothing on him. Facial recognition returned as unknown, DNA scanning did the same thing. It was like this man didn't exist at all.

"Why are you here, Potter?" Rogue said through clenched teeth.

If the man, now named Potter, was perturbed at all by Rogue's demeanor, he didn't show it. Instead, he pouted dramatically, plopping himself on the other side of Rogue, "Back on last name basis again, what did I do this time?"

Rogue growled at Potter, scooting away from him towards V. "You know I don't like it when you just appear in my bar." Her glare had still not abated.

Potter shrugged, "Wanted to check, see if you had that information I asked for. Considering you never answer my messages, I decided to visit." Rogue's eyes darted over to V for a moment.

V shared a glance with Johnny, hoping they were both on the same page. If Potter was the other client Rogue had spoken of, V would now hold the cards again. The likelihood of that being the case was small, but V had nothing left to lose at the moment, so she took her gamble, "That information… wouldn't happen to be about Anders Hellman?"

His unearthly green eyes locked onto hers. She could see Potter's grin growing as his eyes roamed freely, taking in her appearance. She felt naked in front of this man, even though he didn't look at her with lust in his eyes like most did. Simple curiosity drove his gaze, and it unnerved the merc like nothing else. "It might be," He stood slightly, leaning around Rogue to extend his hand to V. "Harry Potter, at your service, and who might you be?"

V grasped his hand, noting the odd calluses on it, and answered with a grin of her own, "Name's V, why are you interested in Hellman?"

"There was a project he was working on," Harry said as he sat back down. "You could say I'm an… invested party in his work." There was a twinkle in his eyes and once again they seemed to flick towards Johnny, "I recently got word he left Arasaka, which would be a first for anyone that high in the corp's food chain."

"Yeah, got that same word," V's grin was at Cheshire cat levels as she saw Rogue begin to squirm. "Was just talking to Rogue here about him when you showed up. Guess we got a… Mutual interest."

"It truly seems that way," he leaned back into the couch, his own grin matching V's.

Rogue chose this moment to intervene again. V could tell she was nervous, likely because the conversation was no longer in her favor. "That's all well and dandy, but who says I'm going to just hand over that info."

"The amount of eddies I've already deposited into your account does," The grin never dropped off Harry's face even as the tone of his voice lowered. "And I believe this solves the problem of delivery. You did say you were having trouble transferring it off the shard, right?"

"Considering the archaic form you demand your information in," Rogue said with a sneer.

"Oi! At least I'm not asking you to write it down with quill and parchment," Harry shuddered, "Believe me, writing with a quill is torturous." He then gestured to V. "Besides, we have our solution sitting right here with us. Give her the shard and she can relay the information to me."

"I can't just hand over shards like that. That's not how this works."

"It's my information, I've already paid in full," Harry said with a dismissive wave. "Who I decide to give my stuff to is none of your business. Besides, I'll even let you keep the extra eddies I sent to transfer the info off the shard." He pointed at V again, "So give her the shard and let's get on with the debrief."

Rogue's scowl stayed on her face as she practically threw the shard at V. She caught it and inserted it into her cyberware. Information flew across her eye as she downloaded the contents. "Huh, he's being transported in a Chinese military AV," V ran a hand through her hair as she continued sorting through the info.

"Kang Tao," Rogue said, "Got the AV routes on there. I'm guessing you can see which one?"

"Yeah, got no manifests for that one, and too low a load for smuggling. Got a VIP transfer from QianT."

"Would make sense, QianT is how Kang Tao does business in NC," Harry said. "Now the question is how do we bring it down."

"That's where the problem starts," Rogue leaned back into the couch. "Night City airspace is out and the AV travels through Kang Tao territory as well."

"So we have to hit it outside both, in Jackson Plains," The map V was looking at showed a location outside of Night City in the badlands. "Any nomads in the area? Could be good to have someone who knows the terrain." It was always a good idea to be on friendly terms with a local nomad clan. They ruled the badlands outside the main city.

"The Aldecados are in the area," V's eyes snapped to Harry as he spoke. She'd heard about the Aldecados. A large nomad clan that had chapters all over North America and a ruthless reputation. "Any of them working in NC?"

"Just one," Rogue seemed a bit more relaxed now that they were just talking business. "Panam Palmer. Though from what I understand she's hit a rough patch with her clan so she's been working for me."

"That poor girl," Harry was grinning again

"Shut the fuck up Potter," Rogue's teeth clenched as the tension returned to her body. "I don't tell you how to run your business."

"You don't even know what businesses I run."

"You know what I'm fucking done with you," Rogue's finger jammed into Harry's chest. "Get out of my bar, I'll have your new fucking chew toy give you the rest of the info." She waved a hand in V's direction, "And if you need anything else from me go through her, I'm fucking done dealing with you."

There was a dramatic gasp from Harry who held a hand to his chest, "I'm wounded, whatever will I do when I have to get my Rogue fix," Rogue once again growled at him. "But I can see you've had enough of my charm, I'll leave." He made a show of holding his hands in the air as he stood and made his way out of the alcove, "V, I'll be outside when you've finished with miss grumpy pants over here."

"Yeah, no problem, I'll meet you outside then," V said as she gave him a lazy salute which he returned. He brushed past the guard and sauntered out of the bar, leaving the two women alone.

"Fuck, I hate that man," Rogue pulled out another cigarette, lighting it quickly to take a long draw. Smoke curled out of her mouth as she exhaled. "Drives, me up the fucking wall."

"I can tell," V said with barely concealed amusement. Rogue just glared at her, taking another drag of her cigarette.

"Anyway, I believe I was about to tell you about my contact," And like that, the two mercs moved back to business.

V found Harry leaning against an old blue motorcycle. His eyes were closed as his foot tapped to an unknown beat. V took notice of a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead, now visible out of the dark atmosphere of the bar.

As V approached him, his eyes opened, an amiable smile stretching across his face. "Done dealing with the queen of the afterlife, then?"

V couldn't help the smile that crept onto her face as well, "Yeah, her royal highness gave me the deets of her surf. Just gotta call her and set something up. Gotta help the contact out first though, get back some stolen merchandise and a vehicle before she helps us."

Harry nodded, "Sounds good, I'll leave that to you," He rummaged around his pockets before pulling out a slip of paper and handing it to V. "Here's my number, call me when you're ready to go after Hellman."

V took the offered paper. Her eyebrow raised as she realized it wasn't any kind of paper she had felt before. "Parchment, really?"

Harry shrugged, "Hey I said quills were torturous, I happen to actually like parchment."

V opened the paper, her cyberware automatically adding Harry's number to her contacts. She folded it back up and stuck it in her pocket. "I gotta ask, why are you after Hellman?"

"For the same reason you are," Harry folded his arm in front of his chest. "That biochip with Silverhand, that's been shoved in your head."

V's eyes widened, "How do you know about that?"

"I have my ways," His eyes softened, "I also know it's killing you right now. Trying to replace you with Johnny."

Her breath quickened as her heart started beating in her ears. This, unfortunately, caused the chip to act up, sending her into a coughing fit as she collapsed. Strong arms wrapped around her before she hit the ground. A blurry image of Harry hovered over her. He held a small thin stick in his hand and was waving it over her body as he mumbled under his breath.

V's vision popped back into full clarity. The pain in her head had died down to a dull ache. "What the fuck was that?"

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not," Harry leaned back on his heels, still crouched down beside V. "You're being possessed in the most painful way possible. Don't know how that fulfills any definition of fine."

"I barely know you, forgive me if I don't go telling you all my secret feelings and shit," V said with a growl as she sat up.

"See, that's a fair answer," Harry was grinning once more. "Telling me to bugger off and mind my business." He pulled out a small glass vial, "Completely reasonable, now drink this."

"What is it?" V frowned at the substance.

"Pain reliever," Harry sighed as V glared at him again. He shoved it into her hand and pushed it up to her lips. "Drink, it'll help."

V rolled her eyes and drank, grimacing at the taste, "Gah, that's fucking awful."

"At least it's not skele-gro," He muttered. V's eyebrow raised at his odd words, but he waved it off. "Not important. Now let's get you up," He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and lifted her. He held on till she was steady on her feet, then took a few steps back. "There we go. No good having a pretty woman like you lying on the ground."

V huffed, shooting a glare at Harry, "I can see now how Rogue would be annoyed at you."

"All part of my charm," Harry flashed her a smirk. "Now we should talk about the rockerboy in your head."

V pinched the bridge of her nose, "How the hell do you even know about that?"

"Trade secrets," Harry folded his arms across his chest. "Suffice to say, I know quite a lot about Soulkiller and all the… related subjects." He scowled, his eyes flashing with anger. "I'd like to put an end to it, which is why I was asking after Hellman."

"As long as you don't kill him before I get my word in," First Takemura wanted Hellman, now Harry. What was next? An ex-girlfriend? "I need him to give me details on this biochip in my head."

"Of course, I understand," Harry said with a wave of his hand. "I'd like to help when you go after him and be there when you talk to him. I hope that's not too much of a request."

"That… should be fine," V said. She tapped her thumb against her thigh as she mentally planned out the next few days. She had a lot to do with the little time she had left. "Got some other business in the city first. Gotta go after the lady that gave me the job that got this," She rubbed her neck where the biochip sat, "Stuck in my head. Hellman isn't scheduled to fly over for almost a week."

"Brilliant sounds great," Harry turned and swung a leg over the blue motorcycle. "Just call me when you're ready to go after him. Or, hell, call if you need help with anything. Storming a castle, saving a damsel, that sort of thing." He winked at her as his bike rumbled to life. "I'll be seeing you around V."

"Yeah, see ya around," V gave a lazy salute as he roared off. There was a moment of silence before she spoke into thin air, "So what do you think?"

"I think he's hiding something fucking big," Johnny glitched into existence next to her. "He was always a bit mysterious and full of cryptic bullshit when I knew him. Seems that hasn't changed."

"Were him and Rogue always at each other's throats?"

"No, that's a new thing," Johnny flicked a digital cigarette on the ground. "I don't even think she held that kinda hate for me." He followed V and she made her way to her beaten-up car. "V be careful with him. He always knew more than he let on. Fucking creepy, like he could read my mind or something."

V opened the door, the rusted metal letting out a tortured squeal as she leveled Johhny with a glare, "I'll be careful, I always am."

"The bullet in your head says different."

V ignored him as she plunked down into the seat, the car creaking and swaying at her sudden weight. She slammed the door closed, letting her head hit the back of the seat as she blew out a long sigh. She hated when Jonny got the last word in, especially when he had a point.