Chapter 35: The Set Up

V and Johnny walked along the long circular hallway that looped around the Monarch Tower on the -4th floor. Hildegarde's 'mansion'. V had his fingers plugging his ears, keeping Johnny's banter free from his mind. He could no longer shut off Johnny since the Rockerboy now had his own physical body. Idly walking, he wandered into Hildegarde's trophy room since the door was open. Several glass cases displayed an array of interesting items from the outlaw's career. A large plaque on the wall noted each set. He stared at the one labeled, "People Who Annoyed Me" and looked at Asher's severed arms, she wasn't kidding. The next set was labeled, "Dumbest Mercs I've Ever Killed". This set included Jean Starhawk's Spellstriker pistol, V's broken Dying Night, the upper torso of a full-borg female, a severed head in a jar, and several other gruesome trophies that probably counted as war trophies. He looked around the the Malorian, but didn't see it anywhere. He just sighed, there wasn't much point in confirming that Hildegarde was Legendary it was blatantly obvious.

"Are you impressed?", Hildegarde noted from the doorway. She'd gotten dressed in her usual attire and leaned against the doorframe.

"Impressed is not what I'd consider this.", V noted.

"You haven't even seen the best part..."

The outlaw just hit a switch on the wall and a sliding section opened up with dozens of weapons displayed alongside a bio-mechanical diamond-encrusted pony. The horse was alive and stared at V as he walked over to it. It whinnied quietly from its pen.

"What the fuck?", V exclaimed.

"Oh that. I stole that from Hyperion, Handsome Jaune particularly before we decided to ally. His team was particularly difficult to defeat. That one chick, Pyrah Xiphos, uses a magnetic entrapment device as her main weapon. A spear, that one, as her secondary.", Hildegarde noted as she pointed over to a red and gold spear. "She's durable, I impaled her on her own spear and she survived."

"Why the horse?"

"Oh, Handsome Jaune used it as a mascot or something. An insult to injury when I raided his corporation. When I went to kill him, he offered to provide me with a set of armor that would protect against anything."

"Yeah, the body-suits..."

"Yes. And then he pledged himself to Jericho and I."

"Preem. Where's my Malorian?"

"That? It's with its rightful owner..."

"Ah, so Johnny has it. Why do you have Asher's arms?"

"Why? Well, to remind Asher every time she visits me down here that I can easily do that to the rest of her limbs, like her head."

"Scare tactics..."

"Yes. V. Scare tactics. By the way, do you like this old gun?", Hildegarde mused as she took a large black and gold pistol off of one of the displays. "It's called Starfall. It was the first gun I ever used. I stole it from my father. It was the Founder's Pistol."

V just examined the highly decorated and futuristic pistol. Its frame was sleek and rounded in areas with a black body and gold-trimmed accents. A reddish colored flame-like engraving encircled the tip of the barrel. It was a thing of beauty, he knew.

"Nice. Why don't you still use it?"

"Oh I do. It's only for special occasions, though. Like killing people who annoy the living shit out of me constantly. You know who those people are, don't you V?"

"Yeah... I'm just going to go now."

"Are you sure? Maybe you'd like to play with my yarnling or eat my breakfast to assert your dominance?"

"You have a yarnling too?"

"No! Get out of my house, V!"

V just hurried along and ran out of the trophy room rejoining Johnny in the elevator. Johnny had waited for him patiently. "Nice. Didn't get yourself killed. Let's go, V."

V just sighed, feeling his heart slamming inside his chest and rode the elevator back up to Monarch's lobby. Already, the day was beginning in here and multiple queues had started around the area with more Night City locals flooding the building. He spied Mitch, Cassidy and Carol again in line for the Monarch Commissioner.

"Hey, guys. What are you doing?", V asked his Aldecaldo buddies.

"Oh hey, V! We're just taking some more work. Another convoy needs protection. We'll be gone for a while. It's a hyper-rail and we're keeping a watchful eye on it until it reaches Oregon. We'll ride back down on another hyper-rail later.", Mitch noted.

"Yeah. Pays a million. Each.", Cassidy snorted.

"Can't even begin to believe it. Monarch pays, V. They pay incredibly well.", Carol added.

"By the way, who's your friend?", Mitch asked pointing to Johnny.

"Oh yeah. This... This is Johnny Silverhand. He's not in my head anymore. He's free.", V noted.

"Huh. Aldecaldos. I ran with you lot back in the day, even knew Santiago Aldecaldo himself... He was a bit of a dick, honestly."

"Really? Maybe you can tell some stories to the younger folk back at our camp- I mean town. I can see how someone like Santiago must've been. From what I've heard he was a bit of a dick.", Mitch noted.

"Yeah, someday. Maybe I'll play some of my old tunes.", Johnny sighed.

"I'll hold you to that! See you around, Johnny, V. We've got work to be done.", the Aldecaldos noted before heading off to begin their work.

V and Johnny just shuffled off, the rest of the day was theirs and they wouldn't be needed back at Rockhalla until later that evening. Johnny, against better judgment, decided that their next move would be to go and visit Rogue at the Afterlife. He was back after all, and now he and Rogue could get to know each-other even better. The Porsche 911 just peeled out of Monarch's parking garage and hit the highway north.

Johnny slid the Porsche into the Afterlife's parking lot, nearly hitting Rogue's car in the process. He swung the door open and hopped out. V followed his lead, he was idly curious if the Rockerboy would just be let into the bar without any resistance. Johnny just walked down the stairs leading into the bar with a strut. He knew who he was and everyone else would as well. Squama stood at the doors as a bouncer again, he stood back in shock as the presumed-dead Rockerboy rocked up to him.

"Hey, kid. Guess who it is.", Johnny mused.

"Silverman... You live."

"Yeah, I do. Knew your daddy, he was a great Solo for his day. Didn't help me out, but held his own until his death."

"Go in..."

Johnny just walked past Squama and flung the doors to the bar open. V just nodded to Squama as he passed, the larger man doing a double-take before resuming his guard duties. V and Johnny were separate people again. Somehow. This was going to be interesting.

As Johnny entered the bar area first, he just swaggered in like he owned the place, should-checking a few mercs out of the way as he gallantly made his way over to Rogue's booth. The older fixer just stared at him as he slid sideways into the booth and sat across from her. Her eyes narrowed on his features and she scanned him up and down. Johnny Silverhand was back, somehow, and it was her waking nightmare.

"Johnny... You're looking good for a dead man...", Rogue noted as she tried to ignore the fact that Johnny had actually come to the bar as himself and not inside V's skull for some reason. Maybe he was the real Johnny after all.

"And you're looking good as well, Rogue. A few genetic therapy doses and you'll look as good as me, not that you don't already."

"Is there something you want from me, Johnny? Where's V?"

"Hey, Vee!", Johnny yelled. V just shuffled over and sat down next to his best frenemy. "Here he is. And yeah, I was thinkin' we could run again. Get out and send a message to the... wait... nevermind."

"Well, it's nice to know that V is alive and you haven't forcibly taken over his body before getting him bio-sculpted to look like you. How in the hell, Johnny? I watched you die!"

"True Resurrection."

Rogue just held the sides of her head and stared at the tabletop for a moment. No, he couldn't really be back. This was just a dream and she'd wake up in a hospital bed in a few hours. She'd had a heart-attack or something and Squama had taken her to the Med-Center. She just looked back up and stared at Johnny again. She slapped him across the face with a resounding 'smack!'.

"Okay, I deserved that.", Johnny quipped.

Unfortunately for Rogue, Johnny wasn't a hallucination and he was actually sitting across from her in her bar and so was V who just whistled nonchalantly to himself.

"V? What happened with Johnny?"

"Not sure... One moment he was in my head and the next, he was punching me in the gut. I can tell you that Monarch did this..."

"Figures... First Jackie comes back from the dead and now Johnny. Jackie was- is and good man. Johnny isn't. It was bad that enough that Arasaka decided to save an Engram of him, worse if Monarch can actually bring the dead back to life.", Rogue sighed.

"It ain't so bad, Rogue! I've changed, really! Hell, I've even got Samurai back together, we're playing at Kerry's bar in London tonight. Why don't you come down and party with us just like old times?"

"Party? With you?"

"We had a good time at the drive-in... And I'm me again."

Rogue sighed. This was the best coma she'd ever been in. Why not? Sooner or later she'd just wake up in the Med-Center, the doctor would tell her she'd had a stroke and then she'd go and retire to a nice little island far away from Night City that certainly wasn't a metaphor for euthanasia.

"You know what? Sure, Johnny. I'll come see you perform."

"Preem. See you then!", Johnny noted before shoving V out of the booth and walking over to the bar. He motioned to a very confused Claire and ordered his namesake drink.

"So uhh... Are you actually going?", V asked.

"V. I think I'm dreaming or in a coma right now. I'll wake up eventually and this will all be a memory. If it isn't... I suppose I'll have to do something about it.", Rogue sighed.

"Yeah, uh... He's really back. You're not dreaming."

"V... Please just leave me alone for a while."

"Okay."

V headed off to join Johnny. They still had a few hours before Kerry was ready at Rockhalla. Might as well pre-game the party a bit. He sat next to the Rockerboy and ordered a Jackie Welles named drink.

"Hey, V. Might want to bring your friends. Invite everyone! We'll party until the break of dawn afterwards... like it's 2013!", Johnny mused.

"Yeah. Think I'll go and see Vik, Jackie, River, and Judy. I'm sure they'd love to see your concert live."

"Good idea. I'm going to stay here for a bit. Maybe talk to Rogue a bit more."

"Not a good idea, Johnny..."

"I know her better than you..."

"Fine, whatever. What you do is your problem now."

"And that's how I like it, V."

Johnny just ordered another one of his named drinks and kept on drinking. V wasn't even sure if their cybernetic bodies could feel the effects of alcohol, so he just went back upstairs and hailed his Aerondight. He'd go and talk to Vik for a while, maybe figure out the ins and outs of this new body. Vik would know. As his car pulled up, he just hopped in a programmed the location, the luxurious automobile taking off across the city.

V's Aerondight just parked on the side of the road as usual. He walked through Misty's Esoterica, taking notice of Jackie's position on one of the chairs, he just looked up at V.

"Eyy, broder! What's going on?", Jackie asked.

"Hey, Jackie. So, I finally got Johnny out of my head... but... He's got his own body now."

"So? What's wrong with that?"

"Ehhh... Nothing, I guess. How are you doing?"

"Preem, amigo. Doing great! Went to see my own grave with Mama a little while ago. Kinda weird seeing it, honestly."

"How are you and Misty?"

"Doing good... She's still getting used to me being alive again. We have our futures planned out already. Monarch took some of my DNA from my ashes, they can take some of hers and we can have a child together. Raise a little nino together."

"Preem. Seems like you've gotten what you wanted."

"Not really, chico. Still haven't gotten to the big leagues. If you ever have a job that needs some latino muscle, hit me up. I'll be there."

"I will, Jackie. Take care."

V just headed out the backdoor and down the alleyway that led to Vik's Clinic. He had to talk to Vik. He'd know what was going on with him. He had to. As he entered the small clinic, Vik was sitting in his usual spot watching V and Hildegarde's fight from the Gladiatorial Games. Multiple camera angles displayed their every move. He looked up at V as his door chimed.

"V... You're back. How are things?"

"Good enough, I guess. I got rid of Johnny. He's got his own body now."

"That's... odd... I guess it's artifical, just like Jackie's."

"It is. You know anything about those things? The Artificial Bodies, I mean."

"I do. Monarch gave me the specs. Why?"

"I think I've got one too. Can you look?"

"Have a seat..."

V just sat down in the familiar Ripperdoc's diagnostic chair. Vik worked his magic and connected V's bio-monitor to his systems. V just sat back and relaxed, jumping slightly as Vik pulled away in shock.

"Jeezus V... Your whole body... You're 100% chrome."

"What? Not even my brain?"

"No, V. You're an android. Plain and simple. You've got a heart, lungs, stomach, intestinal system, liver... All the same as a human, but they're all synthetic. Not even your brain is organic. You've still got that Chipset, though. Takes up your entire cranial cavity."

"How?"

"If I had to guess, you're an Engram of yourself, you just don't know it or feel like it. You're an artificial human, the second one I've ever seen. You've got synth-blood instead of the red stuff, synth-organs and a computer for a brain. You're... transhuman."

"I fell fine, Vik. Same as before."

"I know... It's just... You know who you are. Jackie is still piecing things together, but you're... you."

"Preem. Anything I should be worried about?"

"No. You're the perfect depiction of a human. You're healthy and will stay that way forever."

"Vik? Is something wrong?"

"No... I just didn't think this was possible. I'll have to look into it, V. Maybe this is a solution to the Human Condition. The passage of time and the damage it does. If we only had more time in this world, V. What could we do?"

"Make the world a better place?"

"Exactly!", Vik shouted. "This is incredible. I need to research this, talk to some friends in high places, you know the thing."

"Preem. If I'm good to go, that's all I needed to hear. I know who I am. I'm V. Always will be.", V noted as he hopped off the table. Yes, he was synthetic, but he was still the same boring old V that had started this whole thing way back when he'd promised to sell an Iguana with Jackie in the wastelands.

"Goodbye, V. Take care.", Vik concluded as he turned towards his computer.

V just left the Clinic, heading out of the alleyway and back into Misty's shop. He turned towards Jackie for a moment, the merc staring at him.

"Hey, Jackie! Johnny's got a concert in London. It's at Rockhalla. You coming?"

"Sure, V! Sounds like fun! I'll bring Misty!"

"Preem, see you there."

V continued back to his Aerondight, this time programming the location for Lizzie's Bar. He'd go and see Judy. She was back in NC after hearing that it had become a nicer place. He just hopped out of the car as it came to a stop outside of the bar. The Mox at the door stared at him for a moment before letting him pass, the bar was just opening. As he walked into the building, he paid the cover fee and continued into the establishment. It had been a while since he'd been here. Some of the BD booths had been replaced with Monarch VR-BD stations, some of the patrons playing a variety of games instead of the usual, more lewd fare. He walked over to the bar before stepping back in shock as he spied a familiar, blue-haired woman complaining about something to the shorter Judy Alvarez.

"...But I don't remember that stuff! I just remember doing my thing at Clouds, falling over and waking up in Little China a few years later..."

"That's what I've told you already! You got captured by the Scavs, tortured, beaten! You killed yourself, Evie... I was the one to carry your body to the morgue!"

"Maybe it wasn't really me? Look, all I remember is that gig with DeShawn went south and I had to lay low for a bit. I'm back now, Judes. It's really me!"

"I dunno..."

V just walked over to the two of them. Evelyn Parker was somehow alive again, and he knew why. Monarch's artifical human-like cybernetics. The same as him and Johnny. He just leaned against the bar behind them.

"Hey, ladies... How's it going?"

"V!? You're still in town? How's your head?", Judy exclaimed.

"Better. Johnny is gone. He's taken off on his own, even got a new body."

"What? How?"

I dunno, call it True Resurrection. An Engram in an artificial body. Also, Jackie's back as well, same deal."

"Oh... Well... That makes sense."

"I think Evie is the same thing..."

"No, I'm not V. I'm just having a lapse in memory!", Evelyn noted.

"Sure... Nonetheless, Johnny Silverhand is performing his first Reunion Tour concert tonight. Just wanted to know if you wanted to come along.", V noted.

"A concert? By Samurai? Sure. I'll bring the BD gear!", Judy noted.

"Sounds like fun! It'll be a nice break before I have to get back to work.", Evelyn mused. "Have to get in touch with T-Bug, she's the only one left from the Konpeki job. Well, aside from you and Jackie."

"What? What's going on?", V asked.

"Just some Net issues. The Crystal Palace hasn't been able to connect to the Net in two years. We've been hired to figure out why. You in?"

"Maybe. By the way, T-Bug is dead."

"No she's not. I just talked to her."

"Oh right... Nevermind.", V had forgotten that T-Bug was, in fact, still alive since she'd sold them out to live a lavish life about the Crystal Palace. The Palace itself seemed like it was now adrift in space due to Janus' and his ICE. A fitting end for the entitled pricks like her. "Gimme the deets, I'll followup with you."

"Preem. Sent. Don't leave me hanging, V.", Evelyn concluded. V had two more friends coming to the party tonight.

V sat at the bar for a while, having a few more random drinks before getting back up again. His feet swayed beneath him as he felt the alcohol rush. He could still get drunk, as it seemed, despite being an android. He focused and found his feet before heading back out of the bar and towards the Rockhalla. Getting wasted was not on his schedule as he was needed as Samurai's roadie after their big reunion tour that was starting tonight. He hailed his Aerondight and soon rode off into the setting sun, time to live it up like it was 2013.

V's arrival to Rockhalla was quick and uneventful, the Aerondight parking itself around the rear of the building this time. V just got out and walked up the stairs that led into the loading dock. He noticed the rest of the Samurai band members' vehicles parked back here as well. He wondered how everyone was doing since Johnny was back in the flesh. He just swung the rear door open and walked into the room.

Denny, Nancy and Henry were all seated at a small table, they appeared to be discussing the sudden reunion tour. Nancy looked up at V as he entered.

"Ah ha! The man of the hour! Kerry said he'd gotten Johnny back in the group, guess you're as good as the real thing!"

"Yeah, no... I'm not performing with you guys. Johnny actually is back."

"Look, Johnny's dead. Kerry said he had a surprise for us. You did well the last time, why not take up lead-guitar again?", Denny added.

"He's not. He's alive. Seriously."

"I'll believe it when I see it. I got clean so we could do this thing.", Henry sighed.

"He'll be here... Any moment..."

As if summoned, Johnny Silverhand and Kerry burst through the side doors and into the back-stage area where everyone had assembled. The room itself went dead-silent as the Silverhanded man himself made his appearance.

"Well, looks like the gang's all here!", Johnny noted. Nobody said anything, they just stared at him. "Surprise! Samurai is back, for real this time!"

"Johnny...", the group sighed.

"Yeah, I know. Weird right? I call it True Resurrection. Back from the dead and ready to kick some corpo ass!"

"Y-You're really back!", Henry mused. "I'm not hallucinating, right? Denny?"

"Nope. I'm seeing him too."

"How the fuck?", Nancy sighed.

"Long story... I'll tell you after the gig."

"Blah blah, Engram. Blah blah transferred into a borg body. Blah blah Johnny is back. Pretty much it.", V paraphrased.

"Oh!", the group replied. That made sense. Sorta. Not really.

"Yeeaaahh... So, the mood's kinda icy. Thought you'd all be glad! But hey, we can actually do our thing for real now! Another reunion tour around NC!", Kerry noted.

"Are we getting paid?", Henry asked, ignoring the ghost in the room.

"Of course! Monarch signed us! We'll get a couple mill for each concert, nothing much. They even provided an AV for us to fly around on, not that we'll need it though."

"Wait. A couple million!?", Denny shouted.

"Yeah. A few million eddies for a few concerts here an there. Tickets are selling like hotcakes, too!"

"Hnnghhhrrrbrrbleghhhh...", was the only response Henry gave to the notion of receiving several million Eurodollars before he promptly passed on face-first on the table.

"Shit. Is he dead?", Johnny asked to nobody in particular as he prodded Henry a few times. The former junkie was still alive and groaned slightly. "Nope. He's good."

"How much exactly?", Denny asked.

"Twenty-five million for the whole tour. Five million for each gig. Five gigs around NC, the first one is right here in London.", Kerry noted.

"Hmm... What do you think, Nance?", Denny asked, Nancy had disappeared from the table. She was busy setting up her keyboard and audio system. "Oh, alright then... We're in, but none of that anarchy rebellion bullshit, Johnny!"

"Don't worry about me. I already did my thing. Got rid of Arasaka. Monarch ain't as bad, to be honest. Kerry and I are writing some new songs about this new revolution that's been happening since they've taken over.", Johnny mused. Monarch was still a corporation, but they had done the world some good. His new songs would sing about how bad the old times were and how the world was getting better. A message that no matter how much you fought, the world would keep on turning without you and that change was a good thing, no matter how bad it might've seemed at the time. A Ballad to V and Johnny's misadventure.

"Well. I need to get set up. I was... strange... to see you again.", Denny concluded as she went to unpack her drum set. Henry was still passed on on the table. He'd wake up eventually, it was just sticker shock and not another drug-induced coma. V just walked over to the two Rockerboys.

"So, what do you want me to do?"

"Just go out and announce us, V. Be the host. You're a Knight, after all. I think the people would like it."

"Gotcha. When do we start?"

"5pm. Like we agreed. It's 4pm right now, so we've got an hour to set up before this kicks off. Hope you brought your friends.", Kerry noted.

From around the corner of the stage, a timid young girl with short light-brown hair peeked towards them. She had a Media camera attached to the side of her skull.

"Uhmm. Hello?", the girl asked.

"Oh hey, I met you a few years ago in Oregon. Max, right?", V noted.

"Yes. I'm Max. I'll be recording the show for you... Anything you need me to do now?"

"Get up inside the VIP booth, it'll give you a great vantage point. Keep your camera and BD scroller on us and the crowd. Get a real feeling for the performance.", Kerry stated as he pointed to the VIP booth that overlooked the stage and mosh-pit.

"Oh, by the way, Judy from Lizzie's is also scrolling some BD's from the crowd, hope that won't be a problem."

"Not at all! Bootleg recordings always drove people to see us. Just like old times, huh.", Kerry sighed.

"Yeah. Just like old times...", Johnny also sighed. It was time to start the greatest show on earth.

V just got ready for the show. He peeked through the curtains and looked out at the gathering crowd. He could see Vik, Misty and Jackie close to the front row. Behind them the oval-shaped bar was still running and serving drinks to the crowd. He saw Voaragha acting like a bouncer closer towards the entrance as more people began to arrive. He spied Hildegarde higher up in one of the 2nd floor balconies, she immediately made eye-contact with him. V just looked away, this time staring out around the crowd again noticing Judy and Evelyn close to the mosh-pit. Rogue stood arms-crossed near the edge of the stage. River Ward was also here, but appeared to be on duty, no doubt due to the large presence of both Crown citizens and Night City dwellers. He breathed a sigh and stepped out onto the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen! I, Sir Vincent, welcome you to Rockhalla! Monarch presents... Samurai!", V shouted into his microphone. The curtains behind him slid open as Samurai immediately broke into the opening solo of Never Fade Away.

"We lost everything!", Kerry sang.

"We had to pay the price!", Johnny sang back as pyrotechnics shot off.

Denny and Nancy did their thing, the drums and keyboard slamming into a crescendo as Samurai began to play their greatest hits. V just slid offstage and watched from around the curtain. As their best song played on, he watched as Kerry and Johnny sang the chorus and danced around each-other. Denny smashed the drums and Henry plucked the strings. The whole band rocked out like it was 2023 and Arasaka was burning down.

The band sang together at their own microphones as the final chorus of Never Fade Away began.

"A thing of beauty...", Kerry and Johnny sang.

"I know!", the crowd sang.

"Will never fade away...", the rest of the band sang back.

"Yeah! We'll never fade away!", the entire band sang together as the song closed. Almost immediately, they transferred into the opening of Archangel, continuing on their concert.

V just looked down upon the crowd, Jackie had jumped into the mosh-pit and slammed a few gonks around with his awkward dance moves. Judy had joined in as well with Evelyn getting pushed out after a few moments. Vik just bobbed his head along with the music. Hildegarde just stared at the group on stage. Misty and Evelyn stood next to each-other and idly watched the pyrotechnics and chaos around them. Rogue swayed slightly with the beat.

This was turning out better than expected. V just watched Johnny and Kerry shred chords on their guitars, their chemistry together was unparalleled as the concert continued into the night. Eventually Jackie started an actual fist-fight in the mosh-pit and had to be removed by the Legionnaires that were posted around the venue. Judy was tossed out as well for recording an illegal BD with Evelyn trailing behind as her girlfriend was dragged out kicking and screaming. River just shot V a remorseful glance as he pulled his other friends away from the concert. Hildegarde just grinned at the chaos and stared down at V from her balcony. Rogue had moved away from the chaos, shaking her head while Misty and Vik had disappeared from the dance floor and had taken seats at the bar instead, this wasn't their kind of music. Still, it was going better than expected and the rest of the Crown and Night City gonks partied onward.

As the concert came to an end, Johnny and Kerry tossed T-shirts into the crowd that remained, gonks fighting over the band merch as it flew towards them. V walked back onto the stage to give a closing announcement.

"And thus concludes Samurai's first show of the tour! Only real fans will join us again next week in Night City! Only true fans will know where to go! We'll see you next weekend at the Red Dirt!", V concluded.

The crowd cheered as Samurai made their way back stage, taking a bow before leaving. V just followed them back into the backroom before sighing heavily and composing himself. He was nervous, but thought he did a good job at announcing them and concluding the event. He quickly met up with Johnny and friends as they unwound at the hastily setup card table.

"V! A bit too formal, but you did well enough. Get some enthusiasm in there next time!", Kerry noted, recalling V's opening announcement.

"Just like old times, eh? Rockin' out in dive bars around NC, eating scop and whatever we could scrape together, living between gigs...", Henry reminisced. "Except we can eat filet mignon and fly around in a luxury AV..."

"Next gig is at the Red Dirt, again. This time we're booked solid. Place will be packed.", Johnny noted, scanning their schedule. "Monarch is paying us and putting us up in the best rooms in their Tower."

"Sounds good, Johnny. Better than what we did forty some odd years ago.", Nancy added.

"Yeah, I had fun too.", Denny noted as she laid back in the metal folding chair.

"Well? Let's go get our drink on! I own this place, so drink are on me!", Kerry added.

The rest of the band followed him out of the backstage area and back into the barroom itself. It had calmed down a bit since the show was done, but some die-hard fans still lingered and asked for autographs from all of the band members. Samurai took a seat at the end of the oval-shaped bar with V on the outer edge. Misty and Jackie sat a few seats down next to Vik and Judy, Evelyn stood over Judy and appeared to be complaining about something. Voaragha and Hildegarde were arm-wrestling with the lizard-man losing badly.

"Pick you poison, V. Drinks are free.", Kerry noted.

V just ordered a Jackie Welles named drink, not that he really had to. Jackie himself was just drinking a tequila sunrise. There wasn't any real reason to keep drinking named drinks in remembrance for fallen friends when those fallen friends were standing a few feet away. After finishing that drink, he just ordered a whiskey on the rocks and looked around at the rest of his friends as they hung out at the Rockhalla.

"It really brings me back...", Rogue noted to Johnny. "I feel young again, when nothing really mattered and the next day was just another day."

"Rogue! You came! How'd you like it?"

"It was good, Johnny. Reminds me of yesteryear..."

"You in for a little corpo drama? AV's gonna drop us at Monarch Tower, then we're gonna-"

"What? Not again..."

"No, no, not like that. We're gonna head off to our luxury rooms for the night, run up a staggering room-service bill, pass out, maybe cause a little chaos before our next gig!"

"Yeah, we've got a fucking penthouse at Monarch Tower!", Kerry added.

"Only nuke we're dropping is one in their toilet!", Henry mused. "Urrgh... I should've eaten something else..."

Rogue thought for a moment. It might be fun. Besides, you only got to live once, right? Maybe not, but still. "Okay. Sure."

"Preem. You're going to love it, Rogue! Forget about all your duties for right now, just come and enjoy a nice night out.", Johnny reassured.

"Before you lot start the party and destroy your penthouse, let me just wire you your stipend.", Hildegarde noted walking over to Samurai. "Keep in mind that any damages will be coming out of your pay. It was nice to see you perform, Johnny."

"Hey... Hildegarde... How did you like it?"

"Chrome-punk. Not my thing. Nonetheless, it was entertaining. Until next time, Silverhand...", the outlaw noted before leaving the bar. She was off to go do her own thing, probably Jericho, but perhaps something else.

"So! Anyone wanna take this party to the corpos? I mean we gotta luxury AV and penthouse waiting for us!", Kerry exclaimed.

Everyone else, V's friends and the rest of the band nodded in agreement. They'd ride over to Monarch Tower and Samurai's penthouse. More partying, more drinking, more smoking, and more chaos would reign. Once again, Johnny Silverhand was raiding a corporation. But this time, he was a welcome addition and his raid would involve draining their supply of booze. The entire group followed Kerry up the elevator and towards the awaiting AV. This as going to be great. A party like it was 2023.

Chapter End.

A/N: More fluff. More sidequests. More for V and his life outside of the main storyline. Once again, most of this is an epilogue. The main story ended in Chapter 22. I'll write some alternate endings later.