So first off I am very sorry that I haven't updated in like…a whole ass year. I don't have some fancy excuse I just lost my creative muse in all aspects this year. But they're coming back and I loved this story and couldn't let it just die. SO many of you liked it and even after such a long hiatus reached out asking about this story.

So thank you so much to each and every single one of you. I will do my best to keep writing an amazing story. And I hope you enjoy.

-Fateful

Chapter 4

1730 Hours - Evelyn's Neighborhood, V's POV

V drove once past Evelyn's building. Thankfully it wasn't a megabuilding so she could scope it out better before her approach. A simple four story apartment complex along a reasonably busy street. After looping around the backstreet, V parked a few blocks down and walked back around, approaching from the direction she drove from. It took more time, but being overly cautious always paid off for her. V kept her pace normal, scanning with her eyes and being sure to not make moving her head and looking around obvious. There was an art to looking like you belonged in a city. She even made a show of checking her phone and taking a selfie to check her back without having to turn. A fake smile and chuckle while she looked like she was posting it on the net, when in reality she was looking at a map of the area and running a ping to see if there was anyone conducting surveillance.

V was confident there was no one posted outside keeping an eye out, physically or digitally. Satisfied with her check, she entered the building and took the stairs to the third floor, opting out of an elevator ride. Too easily trapped if she was already made and didn't know it.

V casually approached Evelyn's door and knocked like she was expected, a slight rhythm to the knock. More casual than authoritative. V turned her head, listening to any sound of movement from inside. Silence. V ran a quick ping on the locking mechanism. No one inside that was jacked to the apartments local connection. Evelyn's apartment was the last door at the end of a long hallway. V looked over her shoulder once, no one in sight. Good.

V entered the guest entry code and the door slid open. It was dark inside but her optics quickly adjusted. Well worth the eddies.

The inside seemed normal, like a lived-in apartment. Nothing out of the ordinary in the front room. A table with scattered papers, snacks and other usual household items. Dishes in the sink in the small kitchen. Blinds were all closed and there was a door on the left side of the room past the open bathroom door. That must be the bedroom, door was closed.

V walked over and the door opened with a soft whir of air. The bedroom was dark, but she could still see inside. It looked like the room had either blown up or been ransacked. The closet was wide open. Dresser drawers pulled free and two of them were scattered on the floor. Some clothes were obviously missing, hangers sitting empty, unmoving. Folded clothes on the shelf hung off haphazardly, as if clothes on the top of the pile were snatched off in a hurry. V activated her optics, scanning the room from ceiling to floor, taking in as much of it as she could before she stepped inside.

No blood or other signs of a struggle or altercation. Evelyn was here. It looked, most likely, that she packed a bag in a hurry and left. Damn it. Where would she go? V instinctively wanted to call T-Bug for an assist, but she was out. Fuck. Having a netrunner to call on was a commodity V was going to have to learn to live without. V clenched her jaw and tapped her thumbs against her fingertips, trying to follow Evelyn's reasoning.

The problem was that Evelyn was smart. Even when she was being stupid. She didn't leave a clue as to where she was going. She knew someone was gonna follow her, whether that was V, Arasaka, or the VDB's. She did not want to be found. V did another scan of the room, hoping beyond hope for anything, any clue.

V had an idea and started scanning for footprints. After she locked in Evelyn's footprint she set the scanner and walked out of the apartment. The fibers and bacteria on her shoes left a distinct print here and there, enough for her to follow for now. The prints led outside to a parking lot. But it had rained recently so the prints faded after a few feet heading left. V lit a cigarette while she tried to analyze the tire marks in the general direction. Unfortunately there were several. She tried to look up what kind of vehicle was registered to Evelyn. Nothing came up. V cursed under her breath. The tire marks were identifiable, but there was no way for her to tell which were new, which were old and which were hers. She couldn't manage to find anything further to follow. Evelyn's trail ran cold. Either Evelyn had an unregistered car, or she got into a car with someone else. Either way V was out of luck.

V breathed deeply and took her time walking back to her car. As V got in, the music kicked up and she revved the engine. Her frustration was building as she began driving. V hit the steering wheel with the butt of her palm and took a moment to breathe. She couldn't handle Evelyn doing her own thing. It was a variable she couldn't control. V pulled to the side of the road and pulled up a map, turning the music down.

Evelyn's apartment wasn't near anything glaringly obvious she, or anyone, would go to. Evelyn probably wouldn't stay close, or would she? Fuck. V didn't know Evelyn well enough to make a good guess on where she would go. So again, no leads. Maybe Evelyn just ran, and cut her losses. It didn't make sense to V though, she wouldn't just leave Judy like that. Well, V wouldn't, anyway. Then V tensed, and she remembered Judy said they had a fight. Maybe…if Judy was what was keeping Evelyn in town.. If their fight was bad enough, maybe she did cut her losses and run. V exhaled and pulled her phone out to text Judy. V's fingers hovered over the keyboard and she chewed her lower lip. Sure, she could text this, but it would be quicker just to call her and have the conversation. Plus, she really needed to hear Judy's tone in the response. She was finally, in a roundabout way, gonna get to ask the question she wanted to the other night at the bar.

V's fingers thrummed the steering wheel as the dial tone rang in her ears. She started driving. Not having to maintain looking at Judy for the entirety of this conversation would help her get through it.

The screen popped up, V's heart sank at the worried yet hopeful look peaking through Judy's features. Her tone was level though, a barely stitched together calm. "V. What's up. Tell me you got good news."

"Unfortunately, I'm the bearer of not so great news. But, on the bright side it could be worse." V tried to let her tone remain light but reassuring. She knew Judy felt like she was lost at sea right now. Shit, so did V. But she would be the rock Judy needed.

"Lay it on me. No sugar coating. I can take it." Judy's hazel eyes leveled on V. That look made V want to melt in a weird way. Not the time V, focus.

"Easy. I said not so great news. Not bad news. So, she wasn't at her place. Looked like she packed a bag and left. No signs of a struggle or anything else fishy. So, that leads me to my next question.. I gotta ask."

Judy just stared at V in silent urging. When V didn't immediately ask Judy nodded her head slightly exaggeratedly. "Well, go on. Jesus I'm not gonna bite ya."

V shoved down a desire to say 'what if I asked you too' and shook her head a bit. "So, the question I wanted to ask the other night, at the Afterlife. It's…oddly a helpful question now."

"Alright." Judy seemed confused but curious, "Out with it. Don't make me drag it out a ya like last time. I don't mind chasin' but chasin' every time can be exhausting."

V felt the slight blush rise to her cheeks and cleared her throat. Judy wasn't even trying to flirt with her, and she was still getting under her skin. Holy shit she had to get herself together. V wove in and out of traffic, focusing mainly on the driving would make asking this easier. "Alright. I'll just get right to it. You and Evelyn. You a thing? I'm askin' cuz you said you two got in a fight earlier before she delta'd. And depending on that…maybe she cut her losses." V's mouth pulled into a grimace, showing that she didn't want to rub salt in the wound, but it might be the answer they're looking for.

Judy went silent, her stare going distant, and her line of sight dropping. Judy's eyes closed and her brow furrowed. "She..I.. we had a fight. I..it ended..we ended. Long story short, that's it. So.. you think she just.. Bounced? Left Night City, me, everyone she fucked over, behind.. Just like that…" The statement shifted from a question to a sullen realization as Judy spoke. Judy didn't lift her gaze to look at V and hand absentmindedly rubbed her other arm. That's all V needed to hear. Evelyn left once her only real tie cut itself from her.

V sighed. It made a selfish kind of sense. A sense that Night City put into you. Survival. No one would look out for you but yourself at the end of the day. V fought to disprove that every day with the handful of people she held dear. But she's been burned enough times in the past to know better. V drifted through a turn, channeling her frustration at upsetting Judy into her driving instead of her tone.

"Judy.. I'm sorry. I know it's probably not what ya wanna hear. But it looks like she got out of town.. The good news is, she probably wont say anything to anyone, it'd risk her getting caught. It's.. a messed up way to look at it but it's one less person we gotta worry about right now.. I'm sorry about your break up.. That's rough. If there's anything I can do just, lemme know." V tried to convey her sincerity and genuine desire to be there to support Judy. She realized how it might sound, like she might be trying to move on Judy already, but she couldn't take back what she said. V hoped her tone showed her true intent and worried at her lip.

Judy let out a breath of a laugh, but her meek smile was genuine. Her sad hazel eyes still held an appreciation when she looked up at V. Thank god V stopped at a red light or she might have crashed because she damn sure wasn't looking at the road. "Thanks V. For checking on her place.. Fixing all this.. Everything.. I have a lot to process and I know you got work to do, so I'll let you go. I'll call you later. K?"

V smiled, "Absolutely any time, Judy. Sorry I didn't have better news.. Wait. I lied." V held up her finger and looked up like she was digging deep for a memory, "I know this bartender at Afterlife that can give us a preem deal on booze. I can also personally attest to their quality. Also the company would be preem too." V smiled, letting the humor slip into her voice. If she could lift Judy's spirit even a little, she could die happy today.

Judy let out a lilted laugh, a smile. Her piercing hazel gaze slowly rose from her lap to look in V's eyes. There was still sadness, but a small speck of happiness, hidden deep within them. "I'll take you up on that. Later, V."

"See ya later, Judy." The line cut

V stared at her phone and felt a rare heat rise to her cheeks. Holy shit. Ok, she didn't have time for this exactly right now. But, looking forward to drinking with Judy later was a preem incentive to succeed with her work.

V was pulling onto the highway when she pulled up her contacts and called the number Celeste had given her for the new ID data.

A woman with desert born skin answered the phone. She had on dark sunglasses, her thick pink hair swept to one side, the other side of her head was shaved down. The woman wore a tattered, dirty grey tank top with a couple holes around the collar and had a few facial piercing. Shit, wait. Was it a woman or a man? The longer V stared the harder it was to tell. The big sunglasses made it hard to tell. The facial features were a perfect divide and could go either way. The person just stared at V for a few heartbeats. The backdrop of them was dark, nothing to give any information away. V raised a confused eyebrow.

"So. Who're you? How'd you get this number?" The person's voice was scrambled, sounding deep, demonic, yet casual in the delivery. Fuck, now V really couldn't tell anything about who she was dealing with, great. V felt like she was about to make a deal with a devil for her friend. And a merc who made her feel inadequate and oddly aroused sometimes, but mostly for her friend. The person popped a lollipop casually into their mouth, cheeking it.

V nodded her chin slightly towards the screen in informal greeting, "Names V. Was told by a friend to let you know I got a couple friends looking for a 'life changing experience'."

"Name the friend. No exceptions." The person didn't hesitate. The question was immediate and brokered no room for debate in their tone.

V pursed her lips, she didn't like giving the name out. But, well, Celeste gave her the contact info so it should be fine. And she had to get her friend out of harm's way. So fuck it. "Celeste." No sense in giving more info than needed.

The person's face remained completely stoic. V couldn't get a read especially with the large, black and boxy sunglasses. "Alright. Meet at the Sunset Motel Bar just outside of town. You know it?"

"I've heard of it. Sure I can find it."

"Be sure you do. Sunset, at the bar. Don't be late." The call ended before V could reply, and ask their name. Oh well. V looked at the time. She had a couple hours. She decided to head over to Vik's. She'd need to get him to agree to the surgeries, and she could let Misty know Jackie was ok. V sighed, she didn't enjoy the idea of being the bearer of this news for Misty. V cranked her music, lighting another cigarette. The tires of her Javelina peeling out as she hit the gas.

1812 Hours, 30 Minutes later, Misty's Esoterica - V's POV

V went to walk into Misty's, but stumbled a bit when the door didn't open for her automatically. V's eyebrows furled in concern and confusion. She hit the manual open button. Locked. She must be downstairs with Vik. V walked around to the alley entrance, the gate announcing her entry with its grating wail. Normally that would bother V, but no one in this alley was a stranger. They lived here so she saw them all the time. Vik paid them to be his silent eyes. They agreed and used the money to fuel their addictions. She walked past the people passed out from alcohol or drug use, past the cat she could never remember the name of, and down the stairs. Vik's door was locked too, so she pounded the heavy door with the side of her fist.

"Vik you there? It's me, V." She hovered her ear close to the door. Her brow slightly furrowed in a mix of focus and concern.

Silence greeted her on the other end. Weird. It wasn't like Vik not to be in his shop. V knocked again. Had she slipped up somewhere? Did someone find out she was involved, and track her regular haunts? When no one answered, V jacked into the door and began hacking it immediately.

A slight splash of a boot hitting a puddle. "Breaking into my shop? What the hell, V?" V jumped a bit at the sudden voice behind her. She turned around and saw Vik standing at the top of the stairs with Misty.

"Where have you two been?" She couldn't keep the edge out of her voice and she clenched her jaw trying to reign herself in.

Vik crossed his arms in mock annoyance and tilted his head towards Misty. "Took this little lady to dinner, trying to keep her mind occupied so she won't keep worrying. Haven't heard from Jackie." Vik walked down the stairs, Misty in silent tow, "You heard from him? Last he spoke to us was yesterday when he said he was takin' some big job. Couldn't give details, but he couldn't stop talking about how it was gonna change everything for him. Surprised me when he said you weren't on it with him."

Vik unlocked the door and V walked inside behind them and closed the door, locking it, before she responded. Vik walked over to his work station, the dim lights flickering to life and casting a comfrotable light to the 'office'. Misty leaned against a counter, her arms crossed and her fingers picking at the fabric of her sleeve.

"That's why I'm here. Jackie and his partner are in the shit. I didn't take the job because I'm not a fuckin' gonk. Couldn't get Jackie boy to see reason.. They're gonna need your help with something Vik. I'm here for them." V looked Vik right in the eyes, holding none of her stress or concern in her gaze back. Vik was one of the only people she'd let see her emotions. He looked out for her when she was growing up, when she was all alone. He was her family, so was Misty. V set her jaw, waiting for Vik to say something. He was silent for so long V started wondering who she would be able to go to if he said no. What her other options were. She didn't plan on him saying no, but this silence was making her wonder.

Vik just held her gaze for a few moments longer before he sighed and lit up a cigarette. Misty's arms were still crossed in a self comforting way as she walked up to V. She was worried but still cared about V and was putting V's needs before her own. Typical Misty. She loved the girl. V sighed as Misty closed the distance and V hugged Misty, who returned it with a tight embrace of her own.

Misty's tone was always calm, open and never accusatory. She expected the truth, even if the truth was that you couldn't tell her something. V loved and respected Misty, she could never lie to her. Her voice was muffled against V's shoulder, a whisper choked by her fear, "Is Jackie alive?" Her words were soft but direct, brokering no room for coddling or beating around the bush, even with their fear.

V nodded, "Yeah, he is. He's safe, for now. That's why they need a little help from you Vik. I'm doing everything I can, but this has to happen." V squeezed Misty one final time before ending the embrace and holding her at arms length, giving her as much of a reassuring smile as she could.

Vik nodded, "Well, let's hear it then." Vik sat in his chair, his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward, listening intently.

V leaned against the wall, crossed her arms, one foot lifted back and resting on the wall. Misty took a seat on Vik's couch.

A thick silence filled the room as V debated how to approach this. For the sake of time she just decided to be direct. It was more her speed anyway. She didn't like beating around the bush when she didn't have to. "I'm working on getting Jackie and Celeste new ID's. The connect was someone Celeste gave me the info for. So my half of the bargain is coming to you. They're gonna need some face modding, before the ID's can be made. They can't have facial recognition for their old faces. Can you do it?"

Vik scoffed with mild indignation sitting up and crossing his arms. He leaned back in his rolling chair, his brow furrowed. "Sure, I can do it. But who the hell did they piss off to need all this? To need to disappear? And is this the Celeste I think it is?" Vik's tone elevated just slightly at the remark about Celeste. V knew him well enough to pick up on the tone change.

V's brow furrowed in intense curiosity, her head cocked. She would have to tell him the truth, but she wanted to know what he knew about Celeste. That woman was one of the few people V met that was a legitimate, cold hearted killer and gun for hire. Professional and big leagues for sure. It breathed off of the woman. The way she grabbed V and so quickly had a gun to her head… V prided herself on her speed and reaction skills. V had proven on many occasions she was far quicker than most. To be beaten so handily, even if she wasn't ready..

V cracked her neck, and sighed. "Well, I'm sure you've seen the assassination news on Arasaka. So let's count the big, pissed off bads, shall we? For starters, one of the biggest corps on the planet, Ara-fuckin-saka. Second, and no slouch, the Voodoo Boys, potentially. I didn't see that one comin'.. And last, but wide fuckin open for grabs, anyone else who may be interested in the bounty when Jackie and Celeste's identities are found out and spouted from every news outlet and tabloid stand in NC. They took precautions, but I don't trust that'll keep 'em safe forever." V let out a heavy sigh and a crease formed between her brows, "Actually, when their identities break, we're all gonna be questioned. Anyone they know will be under a microscope.. Shit." V didn't have the energy to think about that right now and switched her focus back, "What do you know about Celeste? We are thinkin of the same woman right? Blonde, Lavender eyes, Two thin scars running up her face?"

Misty rubbed her arm, obviously uncomfortable with the new information, and slowly sat back on the couch, her eyes zoned out and focused on the floor. V's stomach clenched and she worked her jaw. She hated that Misty was involved in this at all. Vik rubbed his hand over his face, sighing before pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers.

"So you're telling me, Jackie boy is wound up in all that mess? I heard about that fiasco, its everywhere, can't hear about anything but that. I never imagined he'd be involved in..that.. That's the job he was on.. Holy shit."

"Yeah, holy shit is right, and well.. he is. Unfortunately we don't have time for you to process that on a normal time table. ..Sorry 'bout that." V stayed silent and let Vik have at least a moment. There wasn't much more to say anyway, and she wasn't completely heartless. She did note that he avoided answering the question about Celeste. Curious. He's never withheld information from her when she's directly asked before.

"Alright, I'll do the work on 'em. Jackie is free. Celeste, and she is the one I thought you meant.. she's gonna have to pay this time." Vik turned his chair around to his work area, digging around for something.

"This time?" V's face showed her concern and surprise. The curiosity was thick in her tone, almost demanding. She couldn't help herself.

"Yeah, not the first time I've had to do this for her. Also, not my place to share. I like my neck just how it is; untouched and still securing my head to my body. Sorry kid, can't tell ya any more this time." Vik's tone had a finality to it and V let the topic die. She knew how to pick her battles with him. Vik turned back around and tossed a key fob to V.

V caught it mid air and looked at it curiously.

Vik jerked his chin towards it, "I haven't had to use it in.. years. It's a safehouse. Download of the address is in the fob. It's got prime security protocols and all the homeless are in my pocket in the area.. Just in case… this is big V, much bigger than anything you've been in before…Once you get their new ID's and I do the surgery, take them there. It'll be safer long term than wherever they are now."

V nodded, she knew he was concerned and the best thing she could do for him was play the confident role. But Vik? Having a safe house and that many homeless people working for him? Just how much about Vik did she not know. Still, she couldnt help the appreciative smile. "Thanks Vik, I'm being extremely cautious, but any little bit helps. And don't worry Misty. I'll get Jackie out of this city alive. Somehow I will, I promise.. But.. he's gonna have to be gone for good. You need to think about whether you're gonna ghost with him or not.. Like I said before. The heat is gonna come down if and when they figure out who they are. I don't know if you wanna be here for that, or out runnin' with him. Just.. think about it and lemme know." V gave Misty an apologetic look as she took a few steps towards the door to leave. She paused for Misty's answer.

Misty held V's stare and her face was blank, unreadable. Misty was good at that when she wanted to be. "I know you will. ..and..Thanks, V. I'll think about it and let you know when you bring 'em both here."

V gave a small, understanding nod, and checked the time on her phone. She wouldn't have time to do anything else without risking being late for her meeting with the contact. So she pocketed her phone and her light footsteps were the only sound as she made her way to the door to leave.

"Be safe, kid. Stay alive." The gruff, but caring voice of Vik echoed faintly off the walls towards her. V turned her head slightly and nodded before the door whirred open and she stepped out into the slightly cool, pungent air of the Night City.

1906 Hours, About 30 minutes before sunset, Sunset Motel Bar - V's POV

V pulled up into the parking lot. It was busy, people leaning against their cars, tailgating and lining the balconies of the upper tier where the bar seemed to be located. The sun cast a golden hue on everything. V stepped out of her Javelina, the dirt kicking up a bit of the desert sand. V locked her car as she walked to the stairs leading to the bar. She smiled at a few of the cat calls and grimaced at most others. They sure were bold in this city.

She didn't know who she would be meeting but she was confident they'd find her. She was tense, but trying not to show it. As she lit a cigarette, her twenty-something-one of the day, she took a moment to breathe and slid back into her inner merc. The beast inside of her. It felt uneasy, on edge. It was up against monsters bigger than itself and.. She had to admit it scared her. This was uncharted waters. Waters she didn't really wanna be in to begin with, but was dragged into em anyway.

V pushed back against that fear. She refused to lose, to be bested, to not measure up. To not be good enough meant more than just her own ass this time. It was everyone she cared about on the line. Fuck. Maybe she should have taken the damned job, maybe this all could have been avoided? V shook her head as she walked into the bar and sat on a bar stool. No sense in lamenting over the past, wouldn't change a damn thing. Only thing she could control was this moment. Today.

She let herself settle into the energy and gentle thrum of ambient noise. She ordered a beer from the bartender. Something that would take the edge off without ruining her reflexes or senses. Usually V refused to drink when she was working, but she needed to take the edge off and she needed to blend in, at least a little. She opened her pack of cigarettes. Fuck. Last one. V plucked it out, crushed the pack in her fist and tossed it on the bar. V lit the cigarette and relished the first drag. Chasing it with a sip of beer V let herself just listen to her surroundings. Mindful and aware but able to relax just a little.

The barstool next to her screeched a bit against the floor. A woman casually spoke to the bartender, familiarly, asking for a beer. V turned her head as the beer was delivered. The tanned woman lifted the beer to her full lips, and freckles adorned her face. She brushed her long brunette bangs back, turning on her stool to face V. He expression was bored, bothered and seemed to be fed up already.

"You must be V." Her voice was attractive, brokering no room for any shit, but she spoke softly enough that no one would hear them. "Panam Palmer. Heard you were lookin for a life changing experience. I'm here to help. Any questions?"

—-

Alright! A little shorter than my norm but the chapter's are what they need to be, whether that be long or short. I sincerely hope everyone enjoyed it.

I do understand that I am taking liberties with things like Evelyn and Judy dating, when in game they were not. I am gonna kinda tweak small things like that around to fit my fic. I try to balance between the same, similar and slightly different things in a way that makes sense and lends themselves to my story.

I apologize to any that bothers, but I also ask that you understand, it is a fanfic after all. So, just so everyone is clear, I will be taking liberties with some details, and as the story progresses it will deviate further and further from the game story in certain ways, and will be reminiscent of it in others. I do have a plan and a rhyme to my reason. I promise. I hope I did not offend anyone with that, that was not my intent. I just dont want to set up false expectations for what will happen or wont happen with this story.

Anyways! Please review, let me know what you think! I truly hope it was an enjoyable chapter, I am working on the next chapter now. Cheers!