Chapter 17: Circus Maximus
The Horus flew on, its maximum speed of 400mph meant that they were flying at the same speed as private jets and the trip across the USSR had only taken a few days. Hildegarde was still sleeping off her wounds and drained power core and still lay in her cot. Nobody bothered her lest they face her sudden rage. Jericho had finished whatever it was he was doing at his desk in the corner and approached V.
"V. If you are willing, I would like to gift you a set of new cyber-limbs. The Chipset will work better with compatible hardware that is optimized for it. Your own off-the-shelf chrome will only do so much."
"Yeah, I dunno. I'm thinking that this is maybe a little too much for me. I think after we're done with Hildegarde's bounty problem, I'm out.", V sighed.
"V... That is your choice. As I stated before, your contract has been fulfilled and you may leave at any time. However, you have barely used the Chipset. I encourage you to at least try it out before you make any hard decisions.", Jericho added frowning slightly. "We do have other allies, perhaps meeting them will change your mind. We are not alone in this Revolution".
"Alright, I suppose that won't hurt...", V noted.
"Aye, so a quick stop to Handsome Jaune it is then? He's based in Italy, we're close by.", Scotch noted checking their navigation system.
"Sounds like a plan. Herald him and let him know we're on our way.", Jericho stated.
The comms system activated and sent a brief message to the bizarre corpo king that they were friends with. A cheery man with a strange mask and spikey blonde hair was displayed to the crew.
"Oh hey! Long time no see, Jericho- god this gelato sucks!- What've you been up to?", the man presumably known as Handsome Jaune announced.
"More of the same. As you're aware. We're coming to visit. Put on your best face for us.", Jericho noted.
"By all means! Land in docking bay 343!", Handsome Jaune noted before cutting the transmission and resuming his consumption of truly terrible gelato.
"Is everyone you know completely insane? What's his deal?", V asked.
"Jaune is a bit off. His mask is an exact copy of his old face. Don't stare. He's useful, though, runs a micro-corp called Trevali Arms.", said Jericho.
"And he even commissioned a Ballad written about him and his lover! The Ballad of Pyrha and Handsome Jaune!", Asher added.
"Was it any good?", V asked.
"Ehh, sorta? It's a bit weird at times.", Asher replied. "I think they overdid the pop-culture references and it ran for like 48 acts before everyone left the theater after losing the plot."
"Sounds like fun. Maybe we should go watch it someday."
"Noooooo!", Asher wailed. "It's terrible!"
The comms system suddenly cut back in with Handsome Jaune looking a bit worse for wear in the short time. "Second thought. Don't stop by. Rubia! Put the gun- OW! Having some technical difficulties!"
"Really?", Jericho asked.
"Yes really! Ying, stop firing on your sister! She's having compatibility issues! Liren, get Nora to behave, the vending machines aren't supposed to fly! Just a few problems with some errant tech! No worries though, if you call on us we'll be there!", Jaune replied between yelling at his own teammates and the chaos that was happening behind him, a vending machine shot across the broadcast in the background. Two girls wearing red and yellow respectively appeared to be fighting each-other and man dressed in green ran after another girl with orange hair as she punted another vending machine across the office behind Handsome Jaune.
"A shame. Well, I wish you well.", Jericho noted before the comms cut off again, a hail of random gunfire entering the frame followed by a rocket-propelled hammer. "Just keep flying, Scotch."
"Aye."
The AV just flew past the gaudy H-shaped corporate headquarters. Trevali Arms was having some problems as random explosions appeared to be happening around the penthouse. Jericho had mentioned that this was most likely due to them having a rather large team of twelve people and that larger teams were harder to keep on track. Nonetheless, Handsome Jaune and his friends were successful in what they'd been doing and would offer some kind of support when the Revolution came. V just sighed, all of their allies were insane and this was his life now, nothing but insanity.
"Send a message to Navarre and Gunter.", Jericho commanded.
"On it!", Asher added.
A few seconds passed before Navarre's pale face appeared on screen.
"Hello, Jericho. Did you miss us?"
"Just checking up. Any concerns?"
"That imbecile Starhawk came looking for you again, found us instead."
"He's dead. Hildegarde killed him."
"Oh really? Was it brutal? Painful? Bloody?"
"Very."
"Good. We're waiting for you in the location we agreed upon. The local Nomads are turning out to be more helpful than expected. We've sold nearly all of our stock to them. Some of them have even agreed to help us when the time comes."
"Sounds great. Wait for our signal."
"Affirmative, Jericho. See you soon."
The comms cut out again, Gunter was absent either on a mission of his own or busy with something else. Navarre seemed to be the brains of the team, with the other missing members out of sight. V kinda wanted to meet the Twin Guns and their NetRunner as they seemed to be interesting people. He could wait though.
"Jericho, if I ran away in the middle of combat how mad would you be?", V asked, considering his role in the Revolution.
"If you need to run, run. Live to fight another day. Do not die for a pointless sacrifice.", Jericho noted. "I will remember you and I will find you when you are needed again. Another contract, perhaps."
"Ah, okay... Cool... I think I can do this now."
"Worry not, V. We have allies and this has been planned for some time.", Jericho reassured.
V just sighed and relented. Hildegarde's bounty, the Revolution, and whatever came next. He'd be there for as long as he could until he couldn't. Jericho wouldn't kill him for going AWOL, but would inevitably find him again. It could've been worse.
"Scotch, send a message to the Relentless Nine and the Bells of Hellfire.", Jericho commanded.
Scotch didn't hesitate, calling more of their friends. The comms system didn't activate this time, instead returning with an automated message. "When you signal, we will come. We are busy at the moment."
"Ah, oh well. They're a rambunctious group anyways. A shame.", Jericho noted sadly.
V just sighed, it seemed like some of their allies were preoccupied with their own troubles. They'd come through though, as soon as Jericho blew upon the trumpets of Revolution. How many people were involved in this? He didn't know. This could either be a massive uprising or it would divide mankind into two groups of rebels. This war could go on for years, decades, eons. It just wasn't as easy as it had been explained. He sighed again and just gave up for now. Only time would tell.
The Horus flew onward making its way through Europe without issues; Asher's Veil was working and keeping them hidden from any prying eyes. They flew over Paris, the ancient Eiffel Tower passing below with the now highly-modernized city reaching skywards with the tower looking unusually small in comparison to the mega-buildings that dotted the skyline. Food and fashion was Paris' forte and it still showed true. An Us Cracks billboard displayed the upcoming global tour with Kerry Eurodyne, the Rockerboy prominently displayed between the three Japanese idols. Soon the English Channel approached.
"Hildegarde? Are you rested?", Jericho asked, gently rocking the Outlaw. Hildegarde's eye opened looking around for a moment in a panic.
"I'm awake. Where are we?"
"Near London. It's time to collect your bounty."
"Great. Just what I always wanted.", Hildegarde sighed. "Be gentle, won't you?"
"Always."
London was flooded, the sea having risen decades ago and submerging most of the Biritsh Isles. Venice was entirely flooded lying beneath the waves of an expanded ocean and now London was the new Venice. Massive mega-buildings arose from the new watershed and reached into the sky. The streets below were inhabited by various hovercrafts and a few boats that could traverse the new landscape. Big Ben's clock tower still stood proudly although almost half of its height was now underwater.
"Did you tell them?", Hildegarde asked.
"Not yet.", Jericho responded. "Asher, send a message to Monarch. Tell them we've claimed their bounty.
"Okay...", Asher replied hesitantly. She didn't know how powerful Monarch was, but judging by their massive corporate tower looming over the flooded city, they were equally as bad as Araska in Tokyo or Night City.
"Hello, you've reached Monarch. The Future of London! I am Allistair, how may I help you?", a genial older man announced.
"We've claimed your bounty.", Jericho stated.
"Oh, really? You've got Hildegarde, then? Alive and unharmed?"
"Yes. Do you doubt us?"
"I do not. A capable... cyborg... such as yourself cannot be doubted. I truly hope that she is indeed in one piece, however."
"She is in one piece, but not for long if you refuse us both landing and access to your building."
"I see. Please land in the highlighted zone. Proceed through the doors across the walkway. I will be waiting."
The transmission cut off. They had been cleared to land in one of the massive parking garages adjacent from Monarch Tower itself. It would be a short walk into the corporation itself. They only needed to prepare the ruse itself before they were let in. Jericho quickly bound Hildegarde's hands behind her back with a set of zip-ties, thick enough to restrict movement, but not strong enough to resist the power of her Strength Core.
"I am going to gag you. This is only for appearances.", Jericho noted as he tied a cloth around Hildegarde's head.
"Iyyff Truffft Yuuww.", Hildegarde mumbled through the gag.
"V, come with me. You'll be the one to hold Hildegarde's rail-gun and do the talking. You're street-smart and will be the perfect decoy.
"Okay... Sure.", V sighed. He was told the rail-gun pistol wouldn't fire and pulled the trigger out of habit. It just clicked as nothing happened.
"Tefft ifff ouf lafer.", Hildegarde groaned as V played with her gun.
The Horus just landed in the designated spot. Nobody came to escort them like they'd been expecting. No corpo-cops, no security. Monarch was understaffed? V and Jericho walked behind Hildegarde as she was led towards the side doors of Monarch and an awaiting elevator. Jericho held Hildegarde's hands and V held the rail-gun to her head as they pressed the button on the lift, the doors opening and revealing the Corpo-Cops they'd been expecting with several heavily armed and armored troops staring back at them.
"Come with us.", the troop leader commanded, his armor was slightly more ornate than the others and shone brightly in blue and gold with intricate engravings all over. He stared at Hildegarde for a moment before stepping aside.
V and friends just entered the lift and stood shoulder to shoulder with the corporate security. There wasn't much room in the elevator as the troop leader pressed one of the buttons and the elevator began to move upwards. Hildegarde just eyed the troops around them, she could probably take them out if needed, but that wasn't the plan. They still had to find the CEO and figure out the meaning behind this bounty. She had a feeling she knew, but it was probably best to keep it quiet for now.
The elevator came to a stop a few floors up with the doors opening into a large hall. The hall was decorated in a greco-roman style with massive marble pillars painted in Monarch's corporate colors of blue and gold sat reaching towards the ceiling high above them. A dark blue stone floor and a long crimson carpet led further into the room where a semi-circular desk sat in the middle with an older man standing in front of it.
"Commander Wejj, escort them up here, please. I need to have a look at the prisoner.", the older man, Allistair, stated.
Commander Wejj just pushed gently on V's back and forced the trio forwards towards Allistair, the rest of the corporate guards falling into line behind. Hildegarde resisted somewhat and was abruptly shoved forwards by V, the outlaw shooting him a glance as he did so. 'All of appearances, right?', V hoped. Hildegarde responded by kicking him in the shins. Jericho just forced her forwards towards Allistair.
"Hrrrmmmfffrrrrrmmmm", Hildegarde grumbled as Allistair approached, getting entirely too close for comfort. His hand stretched out suddenly, grabbing the outlaw by the neck. He forced her head to either side, examining her facial features and even looked under her eyepatch before stepping back.
"Remove her gag. I need to make sure it's really her.", Allistair commanded.
"Uhh... Are you sure?", V noted.
"You do want to be paid, correct? I must verify her identity!", Allistair snapped.
V just cut the cloth that had been stuffed into Hildegarde's mouth that was keeping her from hurling her insults at everyone. As the cloth fell to the floor, Allistair leaned in again only to have a wad of phlegm hit him squarely in the face. He blinked for a moment, considering possibly punching the woman, before he stepped back and wiped his face.
"It's me, Allistair.", Hildegarde spat.
"I see. Well, then... I'm sure Sigmund will be happy to see you. I'll send him a tell.", Allistair noted before walking back to his desk and hitting a button. "Commander Wejj, you are dismissed."
Commander Wejj and the rest of the corporate security simply saluted and turned around and left V, Hildegarde and Jericho standing in the hall all alone. This was odd, why weren't they staying? V guessed that there were some additional security measures hidden somewhere in the ceiling and if they'd attempted to make a move on Allistair they'd pop out and flatline all of them in a hail of gunfire. Nonetheless, Hildegarde seemed to know Allistair, perhaps this was the history she'd mentioned. Jericho just stood silently behind the outlaw and scanned the room cautiously.
After a few moments of standing in the middle of the hall, a tall man approached. He was a few inches shorter than Jericho but still towered over V and Hildegarde. He had long dark brown hair and piercing grey eyes and wore a pristine white suit with blue and gold accents at its edges. He stopped a few feet short of the desk and just stared at Hildegarde in surprise.
"Surprised, Sigmund?", Hildegarde asked, smirking at the man.
"H- Hilde... You're alive...", Sigmund gasped as he began to walk forwards, closing his distance with the outlaw.
V expected some kind of witty response to Sigmund shortening her name as she so hated whenever he did, but there was no such response. The outlaw just stared up at the man with a smug smirk on her face.
"I... I...", Sigmund stuttered. He shot forwards quicker than V could respond and wrapped his arms around Hildegarde in a crushing embrace that pinned her still-bound arms to her sides. She broke out of her restraints as her ribcage was crushed by the man, her arms curling up slightly. "I missed you so much... Why did you leave?"
"Please let go of me...", Hildegarde sighed. V just scratched his head with the barrel of the rail-gun. This was unexpected. Jericho just raised an eyebrow. Not expected at all.
"Okay. What the hell is going on here!? How the hell do you know each-other!?", V exclaimed.
Sigmund finally let go of Hildegarde and composed himself, taking notice of the other two mercenaries standing behind the wayward outlaw. "Ah... Explanations... Forgive me, I was overcome with emotions."
"Riiight...", V noted awkwardly.
"Hildegarde and I have known each-other for a long time. I missed her, that's all. As far as the bounty, I cannot pay you-"
"You can't pay us!? We just dragged the most wanted Solo halfway across the world for you and you can't pay us!? If we're not getting paid, then why don't I just do the world a favor and blow her head off right here!", V exclaimed. He couldn't actually do anything, but this was how the plan was supposed to go.
"No, NO! Don't do that! You didn't let me finish! I cannot pay you, the Founder of our company can, but only if I bring Hildegarde to him. You will stay here while I take Hildegarde to see him and I will return with your money.", Sigmund shouted.
"No, I don't think so. We'll all be going along with you to see the Founder himself. I don't trust you or any other corpo-rats. What's stopping you from calling in your guards as soon as you're out of the room?", V interjected.
"Look, the conversation between myself, Hilde and the Founder is none of your concern!", Sigmund argued. "I'll be back shortly, Allistair is here and you can wait with him. I promise nothing will happen."
"Okay, sure... Fine... Just answer one question, what do you want with Hildegarde anyways? And why did you want her alive?", V prodded.
"Once again, that reason doesn't concern you. What does it matter to you? You're getting paid.", Sigmund scoffed.
"I would also like to know how you've known each-other so long. I have actually known Hildegarde for nearly 15 years, myself and I have never heard of you.", Jericho noted, stepping forwards.
Sigmund just stared at Hildegarde and Jericho. "For fucks sake! None of your concern! You brought her here for a bounty, some kind of friend you were if you've known her that long!"
Jericho just deployed his nano-ceramic blade, the weapon clicking into place in a split second. V just pulled out his Malorian and got ready for this shit to pop off. Hildegarde just sighed heavily bending forwards slightly.
"V, Jericho... Don't do anything bloody stupid. I'll explain...", Hildegarde sighed, V and Jericho just stared at her. "Sigmund, we had... different... expectations on how this meeting would go..."
"You all know each-other? What was your plan?", Sigmund asked, realizing that the hired mercenaries were not mercenaries at all and they were all working together.
"Well, we thought this would be a bit more... frosty. The plan was to get in here, figure out you planned on executing me in the courtyard, lure you into the main office, kill you, and then take all the money in the vaults.", Hildegarde ranted.
"Wha- Why would I kill you!? You- You're the one who left me here all alone!", Sigmund cried. "I idolized you, Hilde. And when you ran off... I couldn't do anything!"
"...Which is why I'm stopping them from carrying out our planned Heist. V, Jericho, I've got some secrets...", Hildegarde sighed again.
Jericho just sheathed his blade and stood back up. V wasn't so sure and kept his finger on the trigger just in case this was a sudden and inevitable betrayal.
"I thought you'd be mad, considering how much the... Founder... had raged when I stole his favorite AV, the Toward Stars, and half of his life-savings. He did send me all kinds of threats after I'd left promising a quick and brutal death via his own bare hands.", Hildegarde mused.
"Yes. He was angry, but you're still...you. He wouldn't do anything brash.", Sigmund added.
"Well, I suppose it's nice to know that. It's- it's good to see you again... brother."
"Brother!? What the fuck!?", V exclaimed.
Hildegarde just sighed again and placed an hand onto V's shoulder. "Yes, he's my brother. And I'm... Hildegarde Von Bretton, the heiress to Monarch."
Jericho leaned back and crossed his arms. He didn't know. This was about all of the surprise he could physically show, although he was probably wondering why she hadn't shared this information earlier.
"You're a corpo? What the hell is going on?", V asked in exasperation.
"Was a corpo, V. I left all of that life behind. I didn't want to inherit this steaming pile of rubbish and I wanted to make something of myself. I'd read all about the 'Legendary Mercs' and loathed this hoity-toity lifestyle. So, when I was ready, I stole my father's AV and his money. I left and never came back until now.", Hildegarde explained. "I thought my father was serious. He still had a son who could live up to his expectations. His threats of executing me in front of the city seemed very real at the time."
"Walk and talk, Hildie, Father is waiting for us...", Sigmund noted as he began to lead the trio away from the front desk.
"Oh joy."
"No seriously. He loves you. He's a hardass, but he loves you... You're all that he has left of mom. You're so much like her too, attitude and willpower...", Sigmund added. "He was mad when you ran off, but he still loved you and wanted you to come back. He considered hiring mercs back then, but most of them couldn't guarantee you'd be returned alive or unharmed, so he didn't bother."
"I find that hard to believe."
"No really. A lot of the mercs asked how unharmed and how alive you'd have to be. They implied that unspeakable things would be done to you when you were apprehended. Father didn't want that at all, and just kept saying 'It's just a phase, she'll come back.'.", Sigmund noted. "But then... Three years ago... He heard the reports you'd been killed."
"Aha... Right... That. Had to do it, Siggie. Got a bit too noisy and had to lay low for a bit.", Hildegarde mused.
"I was in denial as well, thought it wasn't possible. But Father even had forensics look at the body... it was a match as far as they could tell. He broke... He just accepted that you'd never be coming home again and it wasn't just a phase you were going through. He put me in charge of the corporation and began to live in the pentouse like a hermit. He began to research any sightings of you, most of them just bullshit. And then you came back, guns blazing, into Night City. He's the one who placed the bounty on you. He had to be sure.", Sigmund mused as he remembered the day her death was reported. "I couldn't believe it either, Hilde, I'd never get to see you again... never get to hear your voice... or see your smile... There's a niche for you in our family tomb, although there's no body."
"I... didn't know you cared."
"I was 14 years old when you ran off, Hildie. I thought you were incredible, living the life of the Legendary Solos we'd watched movies about... But then you died. Just like all the rest of them did. I just told myself you faked your death, but... I knew you'd never come home again. And now you're back, still alive and kicking and wrecking shit.", Sigmund mused.
"Hate to say, it but I'm not staying. We're just here for the bounty.", Hildegarde stated.
"I know. And you'll still get your money.", Sigmund sighed. "Can I ask you something? What happened to your eye?"
Hildegarde just stared at Sigmund for a moment. "It was shot out. A gig gone wrong early on into my career. I had it replaced a few years later with a cybernetic compound eye. It can see what cannot be seen. It's a bit unnerving to some, since it doesn't blink, so the eyepatch covers it for cosmetic purposes."
"Ahh... Cool."
Sigmund led the group to another elevator, this one more ornate than the one they'd used originally. It was decorated in corporate colors with intricate engravings all over. He pressed a single button and allowed the elevator to rise up higher and higher. A glass wall eventually showing the skyline of London as the elevator climbed its way towards the penthouse. The doors eventually opened into a massive and high-class apartment with an open view to the city below. A man stood against a railing at the end of the hallway.
"Sigmund? Were the mercenaries successful?", the older man asked, not turning around.
"They were."
The older man turned around, a chiseled jaw and strong eyebrows curled into a permanent scowl twisted his face. Silver eyes stared towards Sigmund and pinpointed Hildegarde behind the younger man. Tears began to flow. He ran forwards arms outstretched for a painful embrace.
"Oh... Oh no...", Hildegarde whimpered as she was once again crushed in an embrace. Her arms were free this time and she gently embraced the older man. V and Jericho stepped back.
"It's you... I'm so... I missed you... I thought you were gone...", the older man wept.
"Uhh... So this is my father, Siegfried. The founder of Monarch.", Sigmund awkwardly introduced to V and Jericho as Hildegarde's spine and ribcage was crushed again, she flailed around for a bit helplessly.
"Y-You're crushing my tits... Let go...", Hildegarde gasped.
Siegfried let go allowing Hildegarde to slump down a bit. "You're back. I have no words..."
"I faked it, dad. I'm alive. You saw me, watched what I did. You knew this would happen. I've always been creative.", Hildegarde noted.
"You could've called!"
"I couldn't and you know that. If I told you, then you'd be in danger!"
"Fair. And who are these people!?", Siegfried asked noticing V and Jericho hanging back.
"A friend, Vee, the mercenary... And my husband, Jericho.", Hildegarde added.
"You got married!?"
"W-well... N-Not... exactly? I... uhm..."
"And you didn't think to tell me about that!?"
"Didn't want to put you in danger!"
Siegfried just let out a loud and long groan that lasted for several seconds, turning around and face-palming hard enough to crack his own skull before turning around and facing them again. "I guess you want that bounty, huh."
"That was the plan, albeit with a different ending than we'd expected."
"Fine. It's your money anyways, your inheritance...", Siegfried sighed. "So this is the life you've chosen? You know you could always come back, I can make up some story about how you decided to study abroad or some shit."
"No. You know what I've done. This isn't the life I wanted. I'm living the life I made for myself. Sigmund is better with books anyways."
Siegfried's eyes glowed blue for a moment as he transferred Hildegarde's inheritance to her, the entire 500k eddies. He slumped forwards slightly before turning back around.
"Jericho, was it? I trust she's in safe hands?"
"She is. She is worth more to me than anything else.", Jericho noted.
"Then you have the full support of anything that Monarch can supply you with. You just need to ask. You're family now, Jericho. And I'm happy to call you my son-in-law."
"Thank you, sir."
"I implore you to at least stay a few days before you run off on whatever sordid quest you have planned. Sigmund, lead them to their quarters. I need to sleep on this... revelation.", Siegfried commanded.
"We will, thanks dad.", Hildegarde added, noticing a grunt from her father in response.
Sigmund just motioned to the group to follow him back to the elevator. The feeling was frosty, Hildegarde's father was cold and calculating, only letting intense emotions show. The outlaw wanted to see her own grave out of morbid curiosity, but decided not to at the moment. The elevator descending back to the large hall. The doors opened once again to behold a bizarre sight. Scotch was drunk, having helped himself to the wet-bar behind Allistair's desk and Asher was sitting in one of the waiting-room chairs playing some kind of game on her Cyberdeck. Monarch had retrieved the other members of their team while they'd been gone.
"Lord Sigmund! You need to get this wazzock out of here! He's already drank nearly two thousand eurodollars worth of our bourbon stock!", Allistair wailed.
"Noted, Allistair. Unfortunately, they're now our guests of honor. They have free reign over everything that Monarch can offer.", Sigmund sighed.
"Ah... Okay..."
"Now then. Your rooms are on the 43rd floor. The bar is on the 45th floor, and you can roam around as much as you want. I... I have to go back to running this shitshow.", Sigmund noted.
"Have fun with that. Hey, why's Wejj the guard captain?", Hildegarde added.
"Wejj? Well, he's good at what he does when he's not wasted. You should've seen the absolute circus that Biggs was running before Wejj took over. I think Biggs works in janitorial right now.", Sigmund noted.
"Fitting. Well, as long as he doesn't cause any trouble..."
"He won't. He still has scars from that rugby incident with you. You didn't need to hit him so hard."
"Hah! Good old Wejj. Didn't you tell him that scars make him look tough?"
"I did! But he's just not... that... manly?"
"Tell him to go to a ripperdoc and get a full-borg conversion next time you see him."
"Haha. No."
"Whatever, fine."
Sigmund just threw his arms up in exasperation and walked back to the elevator. His older sister was back and the relentless mockery had also returned. It was just like when they were teenagers. A missed experience, but nonetheless still annoying. He was older now and actually had appearances to keep up with otherwise he'd try wrestling her, not that it would end very well for him.
"Right. Well, then I suppose we should see ourselves to our rooms.", Jericho noted as he walked off towards the other elevator.
"Bar time!", Asher exclaimed. "I heard there's a dance club too, I hope they like the hard-bass that I added into their system!"
"I'll join you, for once. I need a strong drink after all of this.", Hildegarde noted, wrapping an arm around the smaller woman.
"Hey, I'll join you. Also, here's your gun back!", V added.
"Bar? Where?", Scotch slurred as he stumbled away from Allistair, the older man face-palming as the shorter man ran off.
Hildegarde just led the group of them minus Jericho towards the other elevator, they rode towards the 45th floor, the official break-room of Monarch. An entire floor designated towards entertainment and drinking. It beheld a full service bar, a dance floor, a braindance club, a Ripperdoc, an arcade with all the best games, a shopping center open to the public and a fighting ring for antsy corporate employees. Hildegarde still held the record for quickest knockout in said fighting ring. Something that Sigmund had tried time and time again to beat but was constantly the one being knocked out in record time.
"Ooh! Fun! Why did you run away from this again?", Asher asked.
"I didn't want to be fed from a platinum spoon my entire life?", Hildegarde answered.
"Awh. If I had things like this, I would've never left!"
"Jokes on you, then. Have fun, Asher and don't hack any of the games.", Hildegarde sighed as the quirky NetRunner ran off into the crowd.
"Aye. I be getting' me drink on! I'll be at the bar...", Scotch slurred as he stumbled off.
"So that just leaves us, V. Would you care for a drink or twenty?', Hildegarde asked.
"Yeah. I'm down for that.", V noted.
Hildegarde and V walked off towards the bar and club, the hard-bass already blaring from the club. Asher had added her own flare to the dance floor and flailed around on the lighted dance floor with other corporate employees joining her in the fray.
"Oh, fuck! Hildegarde!?", the bartender exclaimed. "Do you want the drink named after you!?"
"Hit me.", the outlaw responded.
"What's it called?", V asked.
"Hot Ice Hildegarde. It's got liquid-nitrogen cubes in it for a smokey effect combined with the finest gin and tonic with a splash of Ribena.", the bartender announced.
"Hot Ice Hildegarde? That's the stupidest name I've ever heard. Why?", Hildegarde asked, scowling at the bartender.
"Well... Hot, because you are... Ice, because of your demeanor... and Hildegarde because it's your name?", the bartender replied hesitantly.
"Call it something else. Frozen Hellfire makes more sense to me."
"Okay... Done. No worries!", the bartender replied as he changed the drink name immediately as he served the drink in a small tumbler.
Hildegarde sipped the drink, it wasn't terrible and it didn't have nearly enough burn to it. She sighed. She hoped this wasn't a popular drink, but it probably was.
"I'll get a Jackie Welles. It's vodka, lime, ginger beer and a splash of love.", V noted.
"Gotcha. Here you go.", the bartender assured.
V stared at his drink, it was different from Night City's variety and resembled a Moscow Mule, but had the addition of a splash of Ribena. He sipped it and was instantly drawn into the memory of Jackie and him entering Night City for the first time and the adventures that had led them to their own destinies. The bartender was skilled. Better times he thought to himself.
"So tell me, what exactly does Monarch do again? They're not like the other mega-corporations.", V asked.
"They manufacture heavy-duty construction vehicles, cargo AV's, power tools and an array of home video consoles. They've never entered into cybernetics save for a few powered-lift suits for construction workers. Monarch is backed by the Crown and unofficially runs London, just like Arasaka and Night City.", Hildegarde explained as she sipped her drink. "They're still cutthroat and shady when it comes to their competitors. The same as any other mega-corp."
"Huh... They seem pretty nice though. I dunno, I'm a nomad, so I can't really compare it to anything except what I saw in Night City and this isn't that."
"V... Had you grown up with this as your kingdom, you'd have headed for the hills at the first chance as well.", Hildegarde sighed as she ordered another one of her named drinks.
A larger man approached the two of them from behind, his armoring ornate, but he didn't wear his official guard helmet and appeared to be on his break. "Hildegarde... So it is you."
"Wejj...", Hildegarde mused not bothering to turn around. "Come for a rematch in the fighting pits?"
"No! I still have scars from that rugby tackle into the goalpost twenty years ago! I just wanted to say hi.", Wejj stuttered. V just stared at the huge man.
"How's guard duty?"
"Slow and boring. Nothing ever happens around here. Who wants to rob a construction company!?"
"Heh, figures. I'm glad I left."
"But wait... You could do a lot of damage with a bulldozer if it got stolen...", V noted.
"Where? The whole city is flooded. It wouldn't even get out of the yard.", Wejj added.
"Oh right."
"Welp, back to guarding your brother's office. Hooray.", Wejj stated flatly before walking back out of the bar.
"They're trying, really. They're trying to be big and bad like Arasaka and Militech, but it just isn't possible.", Hildegarde sighed. "I doubt we'd have even lasted a decade if the Crown wasn't backing our reconstruction efforts around the UK."
"Yeah, seems that way...", V mused as he looked around the bar. It was full of corporate employees on break or off duty. "Do they live here? The workers?"
"Yep. Monarch has its own corporate apartments on the lower floors. My family lives in the upper ones. The 43rd flood is reserved for 'Business Partners'. Think of it a bit like a British Konpeki plaza.", Hildegarde mused.
"Man. Work here, live here, die here. What a life.", V sighed.
"Now you've got it.", Hildegarde added, patting V on the shoulder. "Why don't we do something fun? A few rounds in the Fighting Pits."
"Against you?", V asked hesitantly.
"Are you scared, V? It'll only be to the knockout, so you probably won't die."
"How does that work? Are we fist-fighting?"
"No. Anything goes. Our ammunition is replaced with non-lethal rubber bullets. It's completely safe.", Hildegarde hissed. V was almost certain that it wasn't safe in any way shape or form, but he did want to see how he'd fare against the others. Maybe Scotch and Asher could go a few rounds with him.
"Alright... Sure. I'm not going to hold back, either."
"You'd better not, V. Otherwise I think you'll be the new record holder for fastest knockout.", Hildegarde noted with a smirk.
Hildegarde just got up and left the bar without bothering to pay, the bartender wanted to say something but the decided not to because he wasn't stupid. V just followed her out of the bar making sure to drop a few cred-chips on the bar before he left. The sea of corporate employees parted as the plum-purple clad woman walked down the mezzanine towards the fighting pits. The workforce was either aware of Hildegarde's return, unaware of the fact she'd been allegedly killed, or her reputation was equally as infamous here as well.
The fighting pit sat in a circular arena with several hundred seats around it with a large transparent dome over top of it. Corporate workers watched a set of fighters down below as they traded blows. The main floor of the arena had several large concrete pillars sporadically placed around it for cover. An announcer sat in a booth that hung above the ring itself. There was no referee. Hildegarde just walked up to the announcer, who stared back at her in disbelief and shock.
"Okay! So we're going to be stopping this match because Hildegarde herself wishes to fight against a friend!", the announcer announced over the PA system. The crowd looked up in surprise before breaking into a load roar of cheers.
"Hey, kid! What's you name?", the announcer asked V.
"Vee." said V.
"Uhh... No. That's not a good name at all. I'll improvise for you.", the announcer responded, V just sighed. He thought his name was a good name.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Hildegarde the 'Genocider' versus Vincent V. Valentine of Night City!", the announcer shouted.
The crowd went wild. V could see Asher and Scotch in the front row seats, the quirky NetRunner holding up a foam finger that just read 'Death' on it. Scotch had an armful of beers in plastic stadium cups, they all had swirly straws in them. At least he'd get to be famous in one way or another. He quickly went to the armorer and had his ammunition exchanged for rubber-tipped bullets and walked into the ring. Hildegarde did the same before entering her side of the arena.
"Rules are simple! First to knockout! Anything goes!", the announcer announced over the PA system. "Let the fight... Beeeginnnn!"
V didn't even have time to react before Hildegarde launched sideways firing a hail of gunfire down onto him. She was way too fast for him to even track and ran circles around him. He took a few dozen gunshots to the chest, arms and head. Despite being rubber-tipped, the gunshots still hurt and knocked him on his ass. The outlaw closed in on him and tackled him to the ground landing multiple punches into his face before he had a chance to raise his arms in an attempt to block. Each punch felt like a jackhammer as they battered him.
"Uhh, V. Might want to do something. We're getting our asses kicked, right now.", Johnny noted appearing on the ground next to V.
"You don't think I know that!?", V cursed. "Do something!"
"Okay, let's try this!", Johnny noted, seemingly pulling a holographic lever.
V's reflexes sped up and his strength grew. He dodged Hildegarde's punches, the outlaw's fists now missing his face. She was still straddling him, though, and that was a problem. He had to get her off of him.
"V. You're going to have to punch her in the tits.", Johnny added, reappearing against one of the columns.
V didn't hesitate. He dodged another punch before returning the blow landing a hit squarely underneath Hildegarde's bust. Her armor hardened and deflected the impact which to V felt like he' just punched the side of a Militech Behemoth, but still sent the one-eyed outlaw flying across the arena. She landed gracefully and stared at him, a sneer curling its way across her face.
"Okay. I can work with this.", V said to nobody in particular.
Hildegarde dodged behind cover and then to cover again, still circling V like a hawk. With his quickened reflexes, he pulled out his Malorian and fired, the rubber-tipped bullet still penetrating the concrete and finding its target. The outlaw brushed herself off a bit before climbing on top of the pillar and launching herself downwards at V, a flying kick connecting with his skull with a solid crack. V saw stars.
"V... Lemme see what this does.", Johnny added as he pulled another holographic lever.
Hildegarde let loose into V again with a flurry of punches and kicks that caused the mercenary to flail around like a wacky-tube-man. But V didn't feel any pain anymore. He waited and grabbed the outlaw's ankle when it soared towards him and spun the woman sideways into one of the concrete pillars. She hit and landed in a heap at the base of the concrete structure. The crowd oohed and ahhed at the display of fighting prowess.
"Okay, V. Time to finish this. You've got all your best cores running. Strength, Reflex and Constitution. Had to kill that empathy bullshit, though.", Johnny mused.
V just walked over to Hildegarde as she staggered to get back up after flying into the concrete pillar at mach speed. His hands and arms already enhanced with Gorilla Arms shot forwards and gripped her throat, he pushed her downwards twisting her neck backwards. Her eyes widened as his grip tightened. He was going a bit too far. She was forced downwards onto her knees as V's grip pushed her down.
"V? Stop. This is supposed to be to the knockout. Not the death!", Johnny prodded. V didn't respond. "V? Stop! If you twist any harder you're going to break her neck!"
Johnny pulled multiple levers and tried to get the Chipset to shut off the cores that were active, but nothing was responding. He scratched his holographic head for a moment. This wasn't good. A feedback loop? Some kind of error? Nothing was displayed on the HUD he was seeing except the three cores currently active. "Oh, right... The Empathy Core... Shit."
V just kept the pressure on Hildegarde's throat. He took his other hand and began to twist her head the opposite direction in an effort to put an end to the Outlaw forever. He had been attacked, beaten, bloodied, betrayed, he watched Jackie die again and again in head. He watched those corporate bastards take everything from him and force him into a corner. He saw nothing but rage and felt no remorse for what he was about to do. She's just another corpo, just like all the rest of them.
Hildegarde was getting fucked in every way except the way she wanted right now. V had her head and neck in a vice grip and wasn't backing down despite the yelling from the announcer overhead. This was definitely the Chipset and V's own internal problems, no doubt Jericho was aware of this problem, but hadn't bothered to tell anyone because that's just the way he was. 'Anything Goes' were the rules, no killing your opponent. Her core was at full power, so she just activated every core-processor on the Chipset. Sorry, V. Her left hand simply grabbed onto V's hand, the one that was intent on crushing her throat and crushed V's hand instead, the cybernetic limb fracturing as she did so with her Strength Core. She pulled forwards and ripped the limb off of V's body before landing a kick into his sternum dislodging his other hand's grip on her head. V just stared at his broken hand in confusion for a moment, still not feeling any pain from the kick. Hildegarde kicked sideways from her position on the ground and broke both of V's legs at the knee, the stunned mercenary tumbling to the ground. She finished the malfunctioning merc with a final strength-enhanced punch to the face which caused the merc's skull to bounce off the concrete floor. V just laid in agony unmoving. Hildegarde just spat on V's body before getting back up and brushing herself off.
"And we have a winner!", the announcer announced.
"Okay... Good. Uh... Empathy thing back on, Aim Enhancer on, Reflex thing on. I think we're good V. V?", Johnny noted, noticing V's unconscious form on the ground. "Aw, hell."
Johnny-V took over for the moment. V's own psyche was out for the count. His legs were broken and he was now missing his right arm. Not too bad... Johnny-V just realigned the broken knee joints as best as he could for the moment before hobbling back upright. His balance was off and the broken legs didn't want to work right. Hildegarde just turned back around to face him.
"You're not done?", she asked.
"Oh he's done. He's gonna be feeling this in the morning. I'm Johnny.", Johnny-V noted.
"Johnny? The AI?"
"Yep. You did a number on him. Looks like I'm captain of the ship until he wakes up."
"Well, I commend you for your brutality. Just don't do it again, or I will use lethal force."
"Yeah, no problem. I'm still getting used to this system, too. Now, I heard Jericho had some replacement limbs for V... I think he needs them right now."
"Yes he does...", Hildegarde sighed as she just looked at the mangled pile of limbs that comprised V's body at the moment. "Let me just claim my prize and then we'll go see Dr. Jericho."
Hildegarde walked out of the ring, rubbing her neck for a moment before heading over to the prize booth. She claimed her prize token, a voucher for a free item of choice from the shopping mall before coming back and collecting Johnny-V and pushing him back towards the elevator. Asher and Scotch followed behind. As the elevator doors opened, Hildegarde just threw V into the compartment and held the door for the two other companions, a few of the other workers already inside the elevator giving them odd looks. The outlaw just pressed the down button and sent them off towards their rooms for the night.
"So what exactly happened?", Jericho asked as Hildegarde laid V onto the bed in his room.
"Fighting Pit. He went a little too hard. I had to stop him.", Hildegarde noted.
"Well, at least he's not dead."
"Johnny, that AI is in control now. You knew that would happen didn't you..."
"A side effect of not having a power core. That and a possible Emotional Feedback Loop if certain cores are activated when others are deactivated.", Jericho noted.
"You know he almost ripped my head off..."
"But he didn't because you went easy on him."
"Sure..."
"Well, best I get to work on him, then. I'm sure he'll feel better in the morning."
Jericho's hands split again, revealing his set of Ripperdoc tools. He inserted his left hand and the various probes into V's skull and began to operate. This wasn't how he'd seen the upgrade process going, but in the meantime, he'd be able to tweak the Chipset a bit and prevent another incident like this happening. V would thank him later.
V awoke with a dull soreness in his arms and legs. He'd been fighting Hildegarde in the arena earlier. He remembered finally getting the drop on her and pinning her down by her throat. He remembered squeezing the life out of her, the look in her eyes as he crushed her neck. The worry in her face as he twisted her head around. The look of anger as she tried to fight back against him. He felt the crack of bone and the squelch of flesh as he twisted Hildegarde's neck to its breaking point. And he remembered the look on the outlaw's face as her eyes went dull and unfocused, lifeless, and her limp body dropping to the ground never to move again. He panicked. He didn't meant to kill her, really. He shot up out of bed and looked around. He wasn't in a jail cell or in captivity, there was no armed guard standing in his room and he still had all of his limbs. He was in a rather fancy room with a large queen-sized bed, a dresser of sorts near a window with a larger fish-tank built into the wall across from the bed. A few clownfish swam among the anemones. This room looked a lot like the one he and Jackie had shared at Konpeki Plaza. He ran over to the window, half-expecting to see Night City, but instead was greeted by London's skyline.
V went to rub his face, but his arms looked different. His Gorilla Arms were gone, having been replaced with dull-black alloy arms just like Jericho's and Hildegarde's. He looked at his legs as well, which no longer looked human, but were three-toed robotic limbs. What the hell had happened? Why were his memories so foggy and cloudy? These were the limbs that Jericho had offered to him, he doubted that the cyborg had installed them immediately after he'd killed Hildegarde as some sort of punishment, but then again, why?
"Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!", Johnny announced, appearing near the fish tank. "Long story short, you went crazy, almost killed Hildegarde and then got your ass beaten seven ways to sunday."
"But... I remember killing her...", V sighed.
"Yeah, almost. I dunno, maybe your dreams are mixing with your memories? Anyways, she broke all your limbs and then Jericho put new ones on. I had to take control again, V. You were in no shape to walk or talk."
"I... Ugh!"
"Yeah. By the way, Jericho played with your brain a bit. That Empathy Core can't be turned off anymore, so you've only got two cores to play around with in addition to it. Hope you know what you're doing."
"I told you not to mess with that!"
"Yeah, but we were losing. We needed the boost."
"Well... Fine. It's probably better this way."
"I guess... Sigmund brought breakfast down to our rooms, might as well get some grub."
V just walked over to the food cart, a Full-English Breakfast awaited him with the addition of American-style bacon. He grabbed a plate and sat on the edge of the bed. He idly wondered how the rest of the team was doing. He was thankful his nightmarish dream wasn't a reality, as Jericho would've probably dismantled him and tossed him into another garbage pit if he didn't straight-up kill him for killing Hildegarde.
Across the hallway, Scotch and Asher shared a room together. The two of them were so similar and got along nicely despite the age gap. Sigmund's breakfast cart was another Full-English with an additional helping of dark stout from a famous brewery in Ireland. The small pony-keg was nearly half-empty in the early hours of the morning.
"Aye. I na even about to bother Jericho. He and Hildegarde shared a room. He probly already knows.", Scotch mused as he drank his breakfast.
"Yeah, but... It just hit the newswire. 'Jean Starhawk Murdered. The Genocider has returned.', You don't think they should at least know we're getting the same attention we did as before?"
"He probly already knows, Asher."
"Ehh... Maybe..."
Scotch just kept drinking. The stout had enough calories to keep him fueled for the rest of the day. Maybe later he'd visit the braindance parlor and play an old war story vid. He glanced back at Asher and smiled, she was like the daughter he never had. He hoped V was doing okay since he'd gotten absolutely wrecked in the pit fight.
Sigmund whistled a tune as he walked down the hallway. This level of the corporate headquarters was basically a five-star hotel for any of the business guests that had decided to stay. He pushed a small food cart with Hildegarde and Jericho's breakfast on it. He'd have usually had some lackey deliver the food, but decided to do it himself since there wasn't anything ever going on. Commander Wejj just kept an eye on him from the elevator as that was his job. He just walked over to their room and opened the door.
"Morning! Time for- JEEZUS CHRIIIST! MY EYES! AAUUUUUUUUUUGGGHHH!", Sigmund exclaimed. He should've knocked. He really, really should've knocked. He regretted his entire life right now. Hildegrade was on top of the bed, fully nude with her eye shut tightly in throes of pleasure. Jericho was in a different position at the foot of the bed with his back turned to the door and was doing something that required his full attention right now. The breakfast cart was hurriedly kicked into the room as Sigmund ran out of the room with both of his hands clasped over his face. He sprinted down the corridor blindly until he slammed into Wejj, who stared at him in surprise.
"Go! Go up! Go away!", Sigmund wailed as he hammered the elevator buttons. Some things were just not meant to be seen. Especially not that. Never that.
As the morning continued, V headed upstairs and back to the bar. There wasn't much for him to do at the moment, but felt the need to have a drink and relax a bit. He wasn't going to enter the fighting pit again unless it was against someone else. He also didn't want to fight Jericho, not that it would've been an option given the cyborg's nature. Scotch sat at the bar a few seats down next to Sigmund who was also having a morning drink. There weren't many corporate workers at this hour and the dance floor was empty. Hildegarde walked in a few moments later and slammed both of her hands down on the bar next to Sigmund surprising the younger man.
"Siggie, It's nothing you've never seen before. Remember when we used to bathe together when we were young?", Hildegarde noted, Sigmund's face reddening.
"I... Yeah... I guess... Sorry... I should've knocked."
"Well now you know not to enter someone's room without knocking. What if you saw something else? Something even more degrading? Don't even get me started on Jericho's kinks..."
Sigmund didn't even respond. He just downed his entire pint in a single gulp before waving to the bartender to serve him another. V just turned away from the two siblings. Coitus Interruptus, as it seemed with the poor man seeing what shouldn't ever been seen.
"Aye, V. It's like tha. Knock before ye enter.", Scotch slurred.
"Yeah, I get it. She told me already.", V deflected. He had already been told of Jericho's... capabilities. He didn't need to know anything else. He was almost sure that there existed some braindance of that exact situation though and shuddered slightly.
"Aye. Well, get yer drink in. Jericho will probably want ta get movin' soon."
"Yeah sure. Where's Asher, by the way?"
"Ahh, she's out and about. Probly at the arcade."
"I think I'm going to go find her."
"Have fun, V. Use protection."
V just side-eyed Scotch before getting up and leaving the bar. He didn't like Asher like that, despite what the NetRunner may have told everyone after their accidental inappropriate contact in the Ragnar on their way into Night City. He just sighed as he walked on into the mezzanine, nearly tripping over his own feet. This new chrome was going to take some getting used to. V found Asher after a short walk into the shopping center. She was browsing various items for sale. She held a coupon in her hand.
"What are you up to?", V asked.
"Hi V! Hildegarde gave me this coupon for a free item of my choice from Monarch! What do you think I should get?", the quirky NetRunner beamed.
"I thought you were getting gigantic breast implants that were bigger than your head.", V noted, remembering a past conversation.
"Hah! I knew you couldn't stop thinking about that! Nope! Not me!"
"Uhh... I dunno, how about a different outfit? You've been wearing that NetRunner's suit for ages."
"Yeah! Cool! I think I'll get a different color! What do you think I should get?"
"Red? It would look nicer on you, I guess."
"Red it is! I'm going to get the one that's lined with velvet! The normal ones get too sweaty after a while... I'll be right back!"
Asher ran off into the Cyber-Store and donned a red and gold NetRunner's suit, this one quite a bit nicer than her old one. It was similar to the one that BugBear had worn and included a cooling circuit for extended runs in the Net. "How do I look!?"
"You look good, Asher. Red suit, black boots... It's a nice combination."
"Cool beans!", Asher exclaimed giving V a hug, the shorter girl's head level with his chest. She let go after an awkwardly long time.
"I'm going to go back to the AV. Jericho will want to leave soon. We've been here and had our fun. Seeeee yooouuu laaaaterrrrr, Veeeee!", Asher concluded before running back into the crowd an disappearing from view.
V just sighed. He just slowly made his way back to the AV as well. Undoubtely, Jericho had already gone back and was waiting for them. He just walked into the elevator, pressed the correct button and headed back to the main lobby they'd originally arrived in a day earlier. He go and make himself useful, maybe help Asher with plotting their next course or get himself familiar with his new chrome on the landing pad. This was turning out to be an adventure to rival the one in Night City all those months ago.
Chapter End.
A/N: More V action to come. I needed a light-hearted break between action-packed fights and stuff. The Revolution comes.