Thank you again to everyone who continues to read this, thank you especially to those who reviewed with feedback. It really helps knowing the content and writing style is liked and that the story is good on the reader side. Thank you to those who review each chapter also, that's super fucking awesome. You're awesome. I had someone propose posting this to Archive of Our Own, so I'll probably post this there soon as well. I have to make an account on there, so I'll let you know on the next update the username on there. Hopefully my handle and the story title will be able to stay the same. I'll let ya'll know :3
Alright! On to Chapter 3!
Chapter 3
V's Apartment, 1527 hours - V's POV
V was deep asleep when a faint, seemingly distant buzzing caught her attention. It got louder, more frequent, what was that? V jerked awake realizing it was her phone going off. As soon as she opened her eyes she squeezed them shut again, the sunlight through her shitters blinding her. Her hand patted across the edge of the bed before finding her phone. V rolled onto her back, her free hand rubbing her eyes as she squinted them open as much as she could. Saying she was hungover was an understatement. Her head was throbbing, each pulse made her skull feel like it would split open and her actual pulse was like a tiny drum beating in her temples causing a quicker paced, needling type agony. Her stomach was hungry and felt like it wanted to evacuate its contents at the same time, and it felt like she hadn't had water in weeks. Her tongue felt dry and spongy, the taste stale and acrid in her mouth.
V finally lifted her phone and as soon as she saw the time her heart leapt. She slept the whole fucking day away. God damn it. As soon as her heart leapt, it immediately fell into her stomach. The job. Jackie's job was supposed to happen this morning. V's brow knitted together in concerned and intense focus as she opened her phone. She had one new message and a couple older missed calls from fixers with voicemails for gigs. Nothing that couldn't wait. V opened her message. Evelyn of all people had messaged her.
Evelyn: Meet at bar, have a gig for you. High priority.
V was concerned she didn't have any messages or calls from Jackie, or T-Bug, or hell, even Celeste? Nah, that one was probably reaching. This wasn't good. V shook her head and got up quickly chugging a bottle of water with some headache pills, grabbed a beer and jumped in the shower with it. As V was scrubbing the regret from last night off, she drank her beer. The beer in combination with the hot water and the steam was making her feel better.
V couldn't shake her worry for Jackie and it was worse being coupled with not hearing anything from anyone. Evelyn told her she had work. Maybe it was really her asking for help? Maybe she was afraid to ask for help over a message. It dawned on V a little slower because of her hangover, but Evelyn was going to be her update for Jackie and what happened with the job. It may be good news, but it was probably bad if she was reaching out to V for help. That meant it was something Dex and the others couldn't handle on their own. V jumped out of the shower scrambling to dry off and get dressed. Her hair was still wet but she braided the top to keep her choppy bangs back and braided the rest into a low ponytail.
Grabbing her side arms and other weapons, V checked they were all working and loaded as per usual before walking out the door. Something was nagging at V, something unsettled her deep inside that she couldn't place. V walked into her armory and grabbed the large green canvas duffle bag. She loaded it with extra ammo, a couple extra weapons, cash eddies, two extra sets of clothing, medical supplies, mods and daemon programs. She transferred the eddies from her cedir chits to her main account. She didn't know why but she felt like she needed to be ready for anything before she walked out that door. Every hair on her spine was bristled, the beast inside of her was at a constant low growl.
V closed her eyes and breathed, embracing that beast inside of her, becoming the merc completely. Her mindset shifted, she spoke a sort of mantra to herself in her mind. Survive, kill or be killed, trust no one, get your friend, protect, do it by any means necessary, failure is not an option, failure isn't something you're capable of, head on a swivel, go handle your shit.
V's white on black Arasaka cat eyes opened, narrowed and sharp with intent. She slung the duffle bag over her shoulder like it was weightless and walked out the door to her apartment, no hesitation in her step. Night City was always crowded, but the sea of people parted for V today. Everything about her breathed a palpable danger, and no one wanted any of it.
Lizzie's Bar 1618 Hours - V's POV
V lit her second cigarette, slung the duffle bag over her shoulder with the other hand and stalked towards the entrance of Lizzie's Bar. She must've scared them because instead of the usual pink haired, fun bunned bouncer stepping up alone, both women did. V wasn't even fifteen feet from the door when she spoke, no intent of breaking her stride.
"Evelyn called for me. Here for a job." V stalked right up to the door and only stopped when the bouncer stood directly in her path. V stopped, her nose a few inches from the bouncers' but her gaze was looking through her, like she was bored and irritated. "You gonna let me in or not?" V liked all of the women here, but she was on a mission of what she considered the upmost importance, and she wasn't in the mood to fuck around. She could apologize and smooth shit over later when she had time.
The bouncer cocked her head to the side, annoyance lacing her voice "Name's Rita, hun. Try and use it some time. Anyway. Already expected you, but you look like you're headin' in there to kill somebody and see.. That I can't let happen." The other bouncer stood to V's right, she could see her in her peripheral vision. She was shifting every so slightly from foot to foot, anxious. V could smell the fear and inexperience on the second bouncer.
V's eyes are the only thing that moved, and it was only to look down at the slightly shorter woman. V saw RIta's eyes flinch a bit behind her pink holo visor when their eyes locked. V had scared the woman with the look she gave her, and the beast inside V was pleased by it, "Not gonna hurt Evelyn, Judy, or anyone else inside. Got an important job. Came prepared. Now, you gonna let me in or not Rita? Time ain't a luxury to burn right now." V's tone wasn't condescending, but it was definitely to the point, curt and left no room for debate or discussion. V flicked her half finished cigarette off to the side.
Rita inhaled deeply, her scowl of uncertainty never leaving as she exhaled and stepped aside. V strode forward and stalked through the bar with expedient purpose, quickly making her way to the basement. Conversations hushed as she approached and silent stares filled with a mix of curiosity, concern, fear, awe, intrigue and even some lust here and there lingered on her as she passed.
V walked through the illuminated room filled with processing towers and into Judy's office, the doors wide open. Judy was sitting at the closest desk so engrossed in her work, her furiously tapping fingers were louder than V's practiced footfalls. Evelyn was sitting in the chair of the other desk her legs crossed and a long forgotten cigarette, a single shaft of ash, in her right hand, her left arm hugging herself around the ribcage. Evelyn's stare was a thousand yards away, fixated on something on the ground.
V dropped her duffle bag and a moment after the stairwell door closed with a thundering slam. Evelyn and Judy both jumped with curses escaping their lips. Both looked to V, about to say something, but V cut them off. She had no interest in small talk, or how she took them off guard. V intentionally didn't let herself look at Judy. She knew if she did, she'd lose something in her demeanor and mindset that she desperately needed right now. Instead she focused only on Evelyn.
"First thing first, where is Jackie? Tell me, now, or I walk right back out this door and you're on your own."
Evelyn looked at V, and for the first time it wasn't in a condescending way. She was appraising V, and her look bespoke unsettlement. V had taken her off guard, clearly. That look of intimidated unsurety shifted to one of a small hope and an approving nod. V was there for business, in every sense of the word, and it assured Evelyn. V could read it all over Evelyn's face as she stood up and walked over to V. Even the way she walked, she wasn't walking up to a merc. She walked up to V like she was approaching someone who could help her. She desperately needed help. Evelyn was scared and V could see it plainly.
"Jackie is alive, so is Celeste." Evelyn lit a cigarette and handed it to V before lighting another one for her. V took it and watched Evelyn step back to half lean, half sit, against the desk Judy was sitting at. V's eyes remained on Evelyn but she could feel Judy looking at her. V intentionally ignored her peripheral vision on Judy.
"What happened." It was more of a demand from V than a question. Evelyn didn't seem to mind, in fact V's commanding presence seemed to calm Evelyn. She took a drag of the cigarette, still examining Evelyn's every move, every look, every emotion in her eyes and face. She needed to know if Evelyn was lying to her at any point. She wanted to trust Evelyn, because of her affection for Judy, but Evelyn was her own person. A person who would cut out the middleman or anyone else if it meant saving her own or Judy's skin. V respected that, but she was out for her own and Jackie's skin right now.
Evelyn's hand had a tremble to it as she took a drag off the cigarette. "Shit happened that we didn't expect. Yorinobu came back to his room because Soburo himself showed up. I don't have the specifics on the why of what I'm about to tell you happened. I got the cliffnotes myself. But apparently Yorinobu killed Soburo, right there, while Jackie and Celeste were hiding with the relic behind the projection wall. Jackie told me that Celeste just immediately acted and killed Yorinuobu with her mantis blades. The guards had left them alone to talk, or so I was told.. Anyway, both arasaka's were dead and otherwise alone, so no one called for an alarm until they were discovered a bit later. By the time the alarm was raised and the hotel locked down, Jackie and Celeste were gone from the building with the relic. Job was supposed to be an in and out, no deaths. They killed two of the main Arasaka family. The CEO and his fucking son." Evelyn spat the last words out, incredulous.
V's scowl deepened, her mind calculating, "Where they seen? Jackie and Celeste?" V's voice was steady and Evelyn's eyes snapped up to her, latching onto her like a rock in her storm of unease and fear.
"From what I know, no. T-Bug and the others said they had ample protections against that. Camera scrambling tech. And if that didn't work they wore top of the line face prosthetics and wigs, just in case. Those were Celeste's ideas. Dex, T-Bug, and Jackie hadn't thought of the secondary safety net."
V inhaled another drag off of the cigarette, thinking. If they got in and out without raising the alarm, and their identities were protected for the most part, then they should be in the clear. Hopefully. On the flip side, Soburo and Yorinobu were both dead, the fucking CEO and his only son. Arasaka as a corp, and whoever the fuck was left of the family in charge, wasn't gonna just let that shit go. V also knew the corps leads were slim, simply because the team did a good job of covering their own asses. The most they could do was pull scrolls from employees and others in the hotel who saw them. That was only after they had catalogued who'd left the hotel just prior to the alarm being raised. Hopefully they acted cool on the way out. V knew that it was only a matter of time before Arasaka found a way to figure out who it was and locate them. A part of her was extremely relieved that Jackie was alive, but she pushed that feeling of relief, of success, away. She still had work to do to make sure Jackie got to live.
V's eyes snapped back to focus on Evelyn, "We have to make sure Celeste and Jackie disappear. We gotta get them out of Night City, or they have to lay completely low. No connections anywhere, to no one, go completely dark. We're talking possible reconstructive surgery, at the least new ID codes, all of it. They have to become completely new people and even then, should probably still get out of NC. Otherwise they get nabbed. Lemme guess, you're worried about them squealing and pointing the finger back to you? Also, what the fuck is this 'relic' prototype tech anyway? Do Jackie and Celeste still have it? Need to know where Arasaka is gonna be diggin' and how."
"That's what I'd like to know. Been asking over a month now what this Relic shit is." Judy spoke from the side, and V clenched her jaw not allowing her eyes to look at Judy. Shit. She'd have to smooth that over later too. V wasn't looking at Judy to see how she took her cold shoulder, but V could feel the discomfort and tension building from Judy's section of the room. Her stomach twisted from being cold towards Judy but she pushed it away.
Evely was so absorbed in her own fear that she didn't even pick up on the subtle tension from Judy or that V was ignoring Judy all together. "I don't need them pointing the finger back at me, no. The Relic, I…" V watched as a mental battle was ensuing in Evelyn's head. She wasn't sure what to share and what to keep close. V stepped forward finishing her cigarette and tossing it on the ground. She grabbed Evelyn by the shoulders and made her look V in the eyes. "Look. I need to know everything if I'm gonna be able to help them and help you. No more secrets. Tell me everything. Otherwise you could all end up dead, or worse. There are way worse things than death. Trust me." V's look was steady in Evelyn's eyes and she gave her shoulders a slight, reassuring squeeze. She needed to know it all. Everything.
Evelyn had fear in her eyes as she looked into V's and weighed her options. V clenched her jaw watching the debate in Evelyn's eyes. Finally Evelyn sighed and closed her eyes.
"..I don't actually know what the relic is.." Evelyn stepped away and sat down in the chair. V didn't stop her or say anything. Judy was silent as well.
"Remember how you said Dex got dead stopped when he was looking into me? By Pacifica?" Evelyn waited and V gave a small grunt and a small nod. Evelyn sighed, rolled her neck, crossed her arms and stared off into the distance. A peace at finally speaking the truth settled over her as she spoke, but an unshakeable fear laced the edges as she continued her explanation, "I was hired by the Voodoo Boys for a simple job. Go in and seduce Yorinobu, like I usually did, and take a scroll of the room for them. That was it. That's why Dex was told to stop looking into me. They hired me for an important job and they probably thought they were protecting their investment. Hopefully they didn't already know my plan from that point.. Well, I got curious and asked what the scroll was for. I've never been shut down so quickly. Put me right in my place and told me it's not for me to ask questions. So I left, and hid, listening in on a conversation about it. They didn't trust me, knew I was too smart for my own good. Mentioned something about Johnny Silverhand leading them to someone named Alt. That was the important part for them and somehow the relic would do that. So yeah, I'm sorta scared about getting the finger pointed at me and Arasaka hunting me. But I'm more worried about the Voodoo boys.. I took what they wanted from right under their nose.. And they're gonna know it was me. I was the only outside component, as far as I know. I hadn't executed and given them the scroll before this happened. They're gonna come after me physically or on the net..something. I don't know what to do.." By the end of her explanation Evelyn was trembling. She was completely afraid and V knew she wasn't lying about any of it.
All of a sudden V saw the two monsters she had to contend with and somehow outsmart to make sure everyone was safe. V started slowly pacing the room, arms crossed, the knuckles of her right hand up against her lips in contemplation. She looked only at the floor as she paced and thought. The room was silent save for the hum of the computers and other hardware.
Both Arasaka and the Voodoo boys were too large to 'take down', so that option was gone. The Voodoo boys were somewhere in Pacifica, but it was more likely that they owned the entire area. Wait. The Relic. They just want the Relic.
"The Relic. You never answered me. Do you have it? That's all Pacifica wants. We can use it to bargain for your safety. Well..I'll bargain for it for you. You show up or are seen by them, they'll probably just kill you." V said it nonchalantly, but it was the truth, and sugar coating anything at this point wouldn't do any of them any good.
Evelyn looked up, the thought, for some reason, hadn't occurred to her. V understood, when you're afraid, and surrounded by monsters bigger than you it's hard to see your way out past the shadows they cast over you.
"Jackie and Celeste still have it, they haven't communicated with me other than via the Delamain when they were leaving the hotel. Said they'd be radio silent for safety and that they would get the Relic to me when they could, when it was safe to move and that I should stay put, lay low."
Safe to move. "Where are they now? Where was their rendezvous point?" V's eyes cut to Evelyn, her head turning sharply from the floor she was focusing on while she listened and contemplated. V's voice was urgent, she didn't know if Jackie and the others would still be there, but she had to hope they would.
Evelyn sat up at the urgency in V's voice, mistaking it for positivity. Hope blossomed on Evelyn's face, color coming back to her forlorn features, "No Tell Motel, room 207. I was supposed to meet them there before they called and told me to stay put. What's the plan? Where are you going?"
V nodded, "Got it. Take their advice, stay put, keep the word silent that you're here. Last time you were here was..some other day. Figure that out yourself. You grabbed some shit and left in a hurry. That's everyone's story, it's all they know. Spread the word and keep it that way. Otherwise it's business as usual around here." V stalked over to the duffel bag and grabbed it, slinging the heavy contents over her shoulder once again.
Evelyn stood up, "Ok, but what's the rest of the plan?!" She demanded an answer from V this time. V stopped and turned to look at Evelyn and she didn't keep the edge from her voice when she responded. "I'm gonna go find them, get the Relic and figure out how to pull all of your asses out of the fucking fire that you put everyone in because you couldn't leave well enough alone and got fuckin' greedy." V just stared pointedly at Evelyn, letting the finality of the words hand in the air before she turned and quickly walked out of the room.
Judy's Office - Evelyn's POV immediately after V's departure
Evelyn cursed under her breath, crossing her arms and lit another cigarette. She'd need another pack soon, she was chain smoking from the stress. Shit when was the last time she ate or-
Judy cleared her throat and Evelyn started a bit, turning to look at her.
"Oh, sorry. Did I scare you? Forget I was here this entire time?" Judy was all indignation and venom in her tone and body language. Arms crossed, leaning away in the chair and glaring daggers at Evelyn.
Evelyn sighed, "No, it was just business and.. I got focused on figuring out a solution, ok? I wasn't trying to ignore you." she waved her hand in a half assed apology. She honestly had forgotten that Judy was there. She was so wound up in her own worries and fears.. And Judy had been so quiet she just.. Overlooked her.
"Care to explain why I'm just hearin' about this shit? You not knowin' what the fucking 'Relic' is? You got everyone's ass into this fire, V's right. And for what?" Judy sat up, her arms shooting to the sides, gesturing at everything and yet the resounding nothing that she implied.
Evelyn pinched the top of the bridge of her nose before turning to face Judy as she snapped and began shouting. The final straw just broke. All of this outside stress and now Judy, of all people, had to question her too. "To keep our promise! To get out of this goddamn city, Judy! I.. I figured if the Voodoo boys wanted it, it had to be worth a lot! I could, I dunno..sell it to someone else, or make them pay me to get it! Then we would be able to get out of the city with the Eddie's from it! ...This..This fucking city! I hate this fucking city!" Evelyn was shouting, her entire body shook and tears of anger, unshed, formed in her eyes. Her jaw flexed as she grit her teeth and she paced the room clenching her cigarette case so hard it flexed and the lids squeaked under the pressure.
Judy hesitated before she stood up and walked forward, letting Evelyn pace but standing more in her space. Evelyn knew it was a gesture of her opening up but she bristled anyway. "Ev...look I get it. I'm touched you'd go to such.. gonk extremes, to keep your promise to me. Really. But, I don't wanna ruin other people's lives..feed 'em to this city.. Just so we can escape. It ain't right Ev." Judy looked at Evelyn, her eyes full of compassion and understanding as she placed her hands on Evelyn's arms. Evelyn's heart wrenched in her chest before she jerked away, her anger bubbling over.
Evelyn threw her cigarette case onto the ground, it snapped open and her few remaining cigarettes scattered on the ground. "Don't sit there judging what I've done, Judy! At least I'm trying to keep our promise, to get out of this city. What are you doing? Huh?! You just sit here, editing BD's all day, saving fucking pennies that'll get us out of here when? 15, 20 years from now?! Please. I'm the one pushing for the dream here ok? So I don't need your judgement on how I try to make shit happen." Evelyn regretted the words as soon as she said them, but she couldn't take them back. It was honest though, it's how she'd felt for a long time, but was too afraid to say it. She didn't want to hurt Judy's feelings by saying it before. Now though, with everything on the line, her emotions raw, she just didn't care anymore. Saying it felt therapeutic.
Judy was stunned and Evelyn watched as Judy crossed her arms, her look shifting to one of hurt and anger. "Wow, Ev.. Tell me how you really feel. Heh. Ya know what.. Fine. My methods are too slow for you, too goody two shoes, then you do your thing.. and I'll do mine. I'll leave since you gotta lay low." That was not what Evelyn was expecting. A jibe, a barb, a long drawn out argument followed by heartfelt make up sex, something, anything, but Judy walking out the door and leaving her here alone was not on the list.
"Judy, wait!" Evelyn rushed forward and grabbed her arm. "Don't go." Evelyn heard the desperation and pleading in her own voice, and let it show in her eyes. She was raw, emotionally, and was holding nothing back.
"Why?" Judy jerked her arm away, "Because you can't stand to be alone right now? Because you're afraid of laying in the bed you made? Because you need something to distract you? After you ridicule me for not making eddie's quick enough? Because I got morals and don't wanna become the fucked up person this city makes you into trying to escape it? Ya know.. I just.. Don't know who you are anymore Ev... I'll help you and V to get you out of this mess, for old times sake but… I can't do this anymore... There's a wall you put between us a long time ago.. and I'm tired of tryin' to climb it..." Judy slowly shook her head with finality. Tears streamed down Judy's cheeks with a calm sadness.
It was then that Evelyn knew she had lost Judy a long time ago. She had beaten Judy's heart down and used the pieces to build up the walls around herself. Judy was right. She did put a wall up. The funny part was, is that she had done it with good intentions. She wanted to give Judy the world, and then she wanted to do it faster, because she couldn't stand her own lot in this city. Then she didn't think Judy would like her road of choice, so she hid it and what she was doing from Judy. Told herself it was because she didn't want to upset Judy. That was the first lie she told herself. She knew Judy would disapprove and would probably make her stop, but Evelyn didn't want to take the slow route. Evelyn didn't want to stop and play it safe. Somewhere along the line Evelyn decided that getting out of this city by any means was acceptable. That she wanted out more than she wanted anything, or anyone, else. The worst part is that she had even considered at one point that getting out alone, without Judy, would be better than not getting out at all. That thought, that one, she quickly pushed away. But she couldn't deny that it was in her.
She started treating Judy like a thing. Something to keep and take care of, something to mollify her own emotions, not a person to speak with, to plan and confide in like they used to. God those good times, they were years ago, yet somehow they seem so much longer than that.
Evelyn stared back at Judy, neither moving for a long moment. Then, Evelyn let Judy's arm go and gave a small nod. "You're right. I'm sorry..Judy.. I shut you out and chose me over us a long time ago..I didn't mean.. I don't even know when it happened but.." Evelyn looked deeper into Judy's hazel eyes.
They were a swirl of hurt and Evelyn could see the walls shooting up inside of Judy. "..It's too late, isn't it..?"
Judy swallowed once, finding her voice through a constricted throat, "I wish it wasn't...but yeah, Ev. It is." Judy closed her eyes, turned and walked away. The door to the stairwell thudding and echoing the finality.
No Tell Motel 1725 hours - V's POV
V walked into the No Tell Motel, the duffelbag held at her side in case she needed to drop it and move, draw her gun or something else along those lines. V walked in, right past the front counter, and the person there didn't pay her a first glance, much least a second. Perfect. Good spot to flop after a job for sure. She'd keep that in mind.
V walked up to room 207 and knocked on the door making sure she kept her face towards the door so they could see it was her through the peephole. V waited and knocked again when there was no answer. She didn't want to say her own name, or those of whoever was inside. The less other rats in this shithole knew, the better.
The door jerked open, fast, and the next thing V knew she had the barrel of a pistol to her forehead and was being yanked inside, the door slamming behind her. In the flurry of unexpected motion V didn't have her bearings and the next thing she knew she was slammed back into the wall. A strong, but slender forearm was under her jaw pressing her jugular and slowly cutting off circulation. The gun was still pressed firmly to V's forehead.
Celeste's voice cut in, a deadly whisper, "How did you find us."
V's eyes adjusted and Jackie was standing inside the room, his hands up pleadingly towards Celeste, whispering intensely, "Wow, wow, wow, slow down Celeste, jesus! It's V!"
Celeste's lavender eyes were steel, unyielding, and she pressed her forearm bone harder against V's jugular before relieving the pressure a bit so she wouldn't pass out. Her voice remained that calm, deadly whisper, "Tell me now. How did you find us."
V kept her hands down at her sides, relaxed, showing no signs of resisting. Internally though, V was going over how quickly her mantis blades would deploy, how quickly she could move her head to the side with the pressure from Celeste's arm, and if she honestly had a chance in her current position. "Evelyn." She croaked out quietly, the pressure and turn of her head making her voice croak out a bit, "I can show you the text she sent me, met up with her at Lizzie's, heard the story of what happened and came here."
"Why?" Celeste demanded the answer as soon as V finished her previous statement. The merc was a professional. Either she was giving V no time to think of anything other than answers to her questions or she was scared. Probably both.
"Because. Jackie is my friend. In order to make sure he's safe I gotta pull all of your sorry asses out of this mess." V glared out of the corner of her eye at Celeste, trying to convey her frustrated honesty.
Celeste held the pressure on V a moment longer. V was still looking out of the corner of her eye at Celeste, and saw her picking V apart, deciding if she could trust her or not.
"Celeste come on. This is V. She ain't here for anythin' other than what she says." Jackie took another step forward, his hands up palms open, pleading and looking from Celeste to V. He'd seen things about her, seen her do things, that made him nervous about her, V could tell. Good. V would need someone with that level of ability to help get them all out of this. She loved Jackie, but he was more of a follower. He had decent ideas every now and then, but he had more street smarts at reading people than he was a master planner.'
Celeste pulled her pistol back, holstering it at the same time she let her arm off of V's neck. "Sorry, can't be too sure right now."
V cleared her throat and rubbed her neck, looking Celeste up and down, "I get it." V nodded once at Celeste, who nodded back, and V walked further into the room. "Holy shit."
Dex and his bodyguard lay dead on the floor. Slashes from blades of some type, V would guess Celeste's mantis blades from Evelyn's earlier recount of events at Konpeki, accented the necks of both men along with several puncture marks in their torsos. V raised an eyebrow, "Well that seems like overkill."
Celeste stood next to V and crossed her arms casually, "It's not actually. Lung puncture prevents them from screaming, cut throats bleed out quicker because of the femoral artery. Can't struggle, so less noise. It's efficient and keeps a low profile. Not accounting for the sheer amount of blood everywhere."
V inhaled and exhaled deeply in silent agreement. She glanced over at Jackie. He saw the truth of it, and was surprisingly unbothered by it like V expected him to be, at least a little bit. "What happened?"
Jackie chimed in first, clearly still upset, but thankfully keeping his voice down, "The fucker got scared after he found out Soburo and Yorinobu wound up dead. Decided he was gonna cut his losses and kill us both, delta outta town. She was faster."
"I also expected it from Dex. He always has been the type to delta at the first sign of trouble." Celeste was staring down at their bodies in a dissociated kind of way. V wasn't sure if she was compartmentalizing or if she was just tired.
"So.." V walked around the bodies, careful not to step in the pools of blood. She noticed the face prosthetics and wigs discarded on the couch and nodded approvingly. "Got the gist from Evelyn. You used prosthetics and wigs as double coverage so you wouldn't be identified if shit went sideways. Good. But it did go sideways. Can't change what happened, but I'm curious, why kill Yorinobu after he killed his dad?"
Celeste's arms were still casually crossed, her stance relaxed as she looked up to address V. She looked V over once, and then looked in V's eyes for a moment. V could tell she was reassessing her and wasn't surprised. The first time Celeste had seen her was in a casual moment, she'd never seen V working before.
"You're different than when we first met. Not bad." She half smiled approvingly before continuing, "I got a lot of experience in life. There was a lot that went into that split second decision. I saw an opportunity to cut two snakes heads off in one go, cleanly. And I hate Arasaka, so I took it. Also, there was no way we were getting out of that room without being discovered unless Yorinobu was neutralized. He just killed his own father. At the very least Yorinobu would call for his crony Adam Smasher, and that dog bodyguard for Yorinobu wouldn't let Smasher back into that room without him. Not while his precious master was in there. The minute the bodyguard got there and saw Soburo dead, one of two things, probably both, would happen. A fight would break out or a call for a lockdown to report Soburo was dead. The only option for getting out quietly was to kill Yorinobu too and get out before the bodies were discovered. Well. I suppose I could have knocked him out but, I have a special hate for corps...well that corp. and the family especially, so." Celeste shrugged and smiled in a mock, 'what can you do?' type of getsure.
V couldn't contest the logic much. She wasn't there to know and see all the variables herself. She also couldn't change the past. V glanced up at Jackie, just relieved he was alive and breathing. Jackie saw her looking at him and must have taken the look as needing confirmation because he immediately spoke up.
"It's true V. I mean.. I froze. If it was just me, shit I probably woulda been dead up there right now, blamed for Soburo's death an shit. She got us out alive, with the Relic. She's solid. Coulda left me a couple times, or let me die in here, but she didn't. I.. I trust her, V." Jackie nodded solidifying his statement and crossed his arms casually, like he normally did.
V nodded, "I see the logic, 'an got no bad feelin's about what ya did. Fuck corpo's. We just gotta figure out how we're gonna protect your asses. Those prosthetics and wigs, will they really keep your identities safe?" V wasn't sure about them, it was an unknown card for her.
Celeste leaned back against the wall, "We had facial scrambler implants in our optics, black market shit. Arasaka would be able to unscramble their own optic jammers. Least, I don't see why they couldn't so I went third party shit. Supposed to be solid shit, but, I like to play safer than sorry. So I went old school and got top of the line prosthetics and wigs. So theoretically, even if they unscramble us on camera or on a BD scroll, we should be fine."
"What about..you know when we had to check in?" Jackie gestured to get Celeste's attention.
"You mean the handprint?" Celeste raised a questioning eyebrow and her right hand.
Jackie nodded. Celeste started picking at her wrist. "Already knew to expect that too. Standard procedure at high end hotels and other ritzy shit like that." She peeled off a second skin from her right hand, then peeled another off of her left and smiled at V, "Could you imagine how fucked you two would be if I hadn't taken this job with my vast experience?"
V was impressed, but couldn't stop her face from showing the million questions eating at her. "You do have a lot of experience and knowledge, the question is how? Why do you hate Arasaka so much?
Celeste laughed, humorlessly, "I'm sorry, did I give the impression this was bonding and fuckin' sharing time? My experiences in the past don't matter. The only thing they're gonna do is help us get out of this shit mess. Now. You came in here seeming to be a knight in shining fuckin' armor. So, Lancelot, you gonna save us or not?"
1844 Hours, No Tell Motel - V's POV
V had gotten a room, and paid for it in cash under a fake name on the top floor. Once she had the key and checked it herself, she moved Jackie and Celeste up there, leaving the room with Dex and his meatshield's bodies alone. Celeste had done a thorough cleaning of the room for their prints and some other shit 'she had experience dealing with'. V was getting more and more curious about what exactly Celeste's background was.
After securing them in their room, she emptied the contents of the duffle bag. The weapons and cash would be very useful. Celeste was similar enough in size that the clothes would work. The pants were a little short so she cut them into short, but everything else was fine if a little snug. V made a short trip around the corner and picked up some clothes for Jackie, and while she was out she set fire to the prosthetics, wigs and other such evidence in a trash barrel and waited until it was all ash. Once she returned and ensured they were secure and the room paid through the month with a strict do not disturb clause, V placed the container with the relic in it inside of her duffle bag and exited the No Tell Motel.
She had to make calls to Celeste's contacts, since she and Jackie had to stay in the dark. The calls would be to get them new ID's, and then she needed to talk to Vik about his ability to do some minor reconstructive surgery. Nothing major, but enough to throw off a camera or scanner from linking their facial structure to their soon to be old Biometric Data and other such ID's.
V wanted to contact T-Bug but Jackie and Celeste informed her that T-Bug had spoken to them via Delamain after their escape and told them not to contact her. She had gotten her eddie's from Dex already and was leaving NC for good now. Shit was too hot for her liking. T-Bug was probably already half a state away at least. Good for her. V really liked T-Bug and understood her need for a clean break. It would be for the best that way. She'd save her contact info anyway. Probably wouldn't remain the same number but still. Keepsake if nothing else.
Aside from those contact's she needed to reach out to, she needed to figure out how to contact the Voodoo boys in a way that they wouldn't hunt her. She'd love if she could just walk in their front door, but that was just dumb. It would have to be a fixer, and the best one in the city was Rogue at the Afterlife. Problem was she hadn't ever worked for Rogue, so she had no rapport with her. Oh well. She didn't have another choice. She had to help Evelyn get out of this, because V knew that if it put Evelyn in danger, it put Judy in danger, and she wasn't havin' that. Part of her had begrudging respect for Evelyn at this point, though she did still think she was gonk as hell.
She needed a place to stash this Relic, in the meantime. She took the Relic for a couple reasons. One, none of them knew if this case or the relic itself had a tracking chip or code in it. Two, even if it didn't have a tracker, she didn't need to lead the VD Boys to her friends just to pick it up for an exchange and inadvertently give her friends up as pawns to use against her. Wait did she just refer to Celeste as a friend? V audibly grumbled, she didn't have the desire or energy to dissect that slip of thought just now. She was probably just lumping her in with Jackie.
V put the duffel bag with the Relic in her trunk and got into the driver's seat, turning her car on. She was racking her mind on where she could hide this thing. Her mind circled the drain for about five minutes when her phone rang. It was Judy. Fuck. Well maybe it'd be ok if she didn't see her. Just her voice would be fine right?
"Judy? What's up?"
"V." There was panic in that single syllable. Hearing Judy say her name had never brought her such worry and she hated it. Her knuckles turned white gripping the steering wheel.
"Judy, what's wrong? Where are you?"
"V, Evelyn is gone. We got in a fight and I went upstairs to the bar. I just came back down and Ev is gone. I didn't see her leave, no one at the front did, she must have snuck out the back."
"Fuck." V did not need this moody shit from Evelyn right now. V almost asked what the fight was about. Partially because she was being nosy, the other half was because she was worried about Judy. She didn't sound ok at all and V wanted to comfort her. For the first time that day, she let her tone soften just a bit, "Judy, I know you're upset but I need you to focus. Where do you think she would go? Any ideas? Anything at all?"
Judy was silent a moment, "I, I dunno. I mean, I can send you her apartment address, and you can start there. I honestly have no idea.. she...kinda shut me out the past couple months.." The dejected tone of Judy's voice pained V. How could anyone shut her out? V bit the inside of her cheek, she almost said that shit out loud and it was not the time for that.
"Listen, Judy. Just stay at Lizzie's ok? I know I'll be able to find you there if I need to. Send me Evelyn's details and I'll go check her place out, see if I can track down a lead."
"I don't think I can stay here.. I'll send you my address. If I'm not here, I'll be at home. ..Thanks, V. Really. Even if I am a little mad at you for completely ignoring me earlier." Judy kind of mumbled that last bit and V had to replay it in her head to be sure she heard it right.
V sighed and the words fell out of her mouth before she could think about it, her tone thick with sincerity, "I'm sorry. You just make it hard for me to focus when I'm around you and I needed to be focused today." V's teeth clicked as she snapped her mouth shut and she let a stream of silent curses go. She didn't mean to say that out loud. Damn it she just couldn't keep her shit together around Judy. It was frustrating as hell, but V kinda' liked it in a weird way too. It made her think it meant something special, and anything special in regards to Judy was..perfect.
"Oh." There was a brief silence on the line, before a small laugh, was that an embarrassed laugh? "Hah, I didn't expect that answer, not gonna' lie. Thought I did something to make you hate me or somethin."
V squeezed her eyelids shut and decided to just jump off the edge of this verbal cliff, her voice soft but still sincere, her expression relaxing with the thought of Judy "Nah, could never hate you." Before Judy could reply V cleared her throat, "Ah, there i fuckin go again. Puttin' my nose where it doesn't belong. Sorry, Judy. Send me her address and I'll go check her place out."
Judy was silent and V didn't know why because she couldn't see her, it was driving her nuts and the two second felt like eternity. "Thank you, V." There was a smile in Judy's tone and holy shit, the warmth V got from that simple thing was almost laughable. "Sendin' it now. I'll see ya later."
"Later, Judy." V plopped her head against the seatrest, a data download bar indicated her receipt of Evelyn's address. V sighed remembering what Celeste called her earlier, and V let out a laugh that was part sarcasm, and part disgust because here she was, fitting the role.
"Alright, Lancelot, let's go save your love interests girlfriend." V rolled her eyes with another heavy sigh and peeled wheels pulling out of the parking lot in frustration at her general lot in life in regards to..well everything. Why the fuck did she have to play the hero?
And there's chapter 3! Thank you so much to everyone for reading and reviewing. Please review, lemme know what you think!
I'm also sorry this chapter took so long. I literally wrote and deleted this entire chapter, deciding to change the events in a completely different way than the first draft. Also the fight with Evelyn and Judy wasn't planned, I just kinda started writing how their convo would go after V left and it just kinda happened. I'm having a lot of fun with their dynamic and I think i'm staying true to the characters, but lemme know what you think! Cheers!
-Fateful
