It's been one week since V and the Aldecaldos escaped from Night City, as well as the Arasaka and Militech death squads pursuing them, now camped five kilometers southwest of Chandler, Arizona.
Despite the fact that Johnny Silverhand's engram had been ejected from V by Alt Cunningham, there would soon be another voice reaching out to him, which would claim he could offer him an escape from certain death, brought upon by his deteriorating neurological condition. As he snuggled closely with Panam, his life mate, the voice spoke to him from afar.
This mysterious voice was that of an older man, but stern and forceful all the same, "So far your struggle has been insignificant. If you continue as is, your death will be the same."
V could barely make out anything in his subconscious, save for a cloaked man, and his eyes which glowed an unholy shade of crimson. "Assist me, or certain death will come to all who are close to you, including the one you love above all."
"It's just a dream," V tried to assure himself.
"It is not," the voice spoke yet again before his eyes began to glow even brighter. "Seek out answers at the government's secret underground research facility, beneath the Intel plant."
V awoke from his dream, his torso shooting off the bed.
Panam was awoken abruptly by this, and could see his frustration. "Hey V, what's wrong?"
V replied, "It was just a creepy ass dream."
However, both were startled when they both heard the voice. "I can assure you, this is no dream."
Both reached for the closest weapon; Panam an M179 Achilles, V the Malorian 3516.
V was flabbergasted. "You hear it too?"
"I do hear it, V."
"Don't waste your energy looking for me. You will not be able to see me, my physical form was compromised long ago."
"Netrunner?" V inquired.
"Not quite."
"What the hell do you want?!" Panam asked.
"I need you to procure a something that's being stored at the government research facility, underneath the Intel plant in Chandler. Here they research… Extraterrestrial artifacts."
V fiercely hissed. "Why the hell should I help you?"
"I can reverse your neurological degeneration."
"Oh yeah? I've had many others promise me the same thing, yet they all fell short on their promise."
The would-be employer elaborated, "I am not of your world. I come from a civilization far more advanced, one from another galaxy. If you can help me, I will ensure your lives are preserved."
"To hell with this Gonk, V, we can't fucking trust him!"
"I agree, Panam. There's no way I'm going to trust some invisible nut job."
"Ah," the mysterious entity continued, "I foresaw this happening, thus I have alerted both Arasaka and Militech to the whereabouts of your nomad camp. They should be swarming upon you… Now!"
War cries and screams soon echoed across the camp.
A joint task force, indeed composed of both Arasaka and Militech soldiers, were opening fire on the Aldecaldos. The nomads were vastly out-manned, and they soon all were all incapacitated, save V, Panam, and Mitch.
Tears began to fill up Panam's eyes as she saw the enemy squads to go work. "V! We're being over run!"
The mysterious entity gave his ultimatum. "For now they are only using tranquilizer rounds… However, should you not agree to assist me, I will command them to switch to lethal rounds."
Panam begged, "V! Do something!"
"If you promise not to harm my people and call them off, I will do whatever you ask."
"Very well."
With that, the soldiers withdrew immediately, swiftly merging with the shadows that surrounded the nomad campsite.
V barked, "What the hell did you do? Who the fuck are you? What the fuck are you?!"
The mysterious being chuckled before he continued. "I am able to control the minds of the weak. As you have now agreed to assist, I have called them off."
"That doesn't answer my question!"
"You may call me Emperor Valkorian."
"Emperor Valkorian?" both V and Panam answered simultaneously.
"Yes. Emperor Valkorian, the Dragon of Zakuul. And I am a god."
"Panam! V!" Mitch, the only other Aldecaldo still conscious was running to them.
Panam ran to and hugged Mitch. "Mitch! I'm glad you're okay!"
"I will leave you to it," Valkorian spoke. "Remember, do as I command or soon I will have more death squads knocking at your door, and next time they will be trying to kill rather than incapacitate!"
"What the hell happened?" Mitch inquired.
"Did you not hear the voice!?" Panam replied.
"What voice?" Mitch was confused.
V explained, "The one controlling those hit squads, called himself Emperor Valkorian."
"I didn't hear a damned thing!"
So much for that, V thought. "In any case, he threatened he would have more corpo goons attack us if we didn't take up a job for him. There's a top secret government research facility, five miles northeast in Chandler."
Panam, still in shock by what just happened to them, weakly chirped, "V…"
"Panam, it's okay. Stay here with Mitch and try to help the others regain consciousness. I'll get the goods for our new… contractor."
Panam leapt into his arms and embraced him tightly. "Be careful, V. I don't trust him."
"I don't either, but he was able to hack the minds of all those soldiers like it was nothing. Netrunning skills like that are insane, even by Alt's standards."
V parted ways with Panam and Mitch, got into his Herrara Outlaw GTS, and ripped like hell down the road towards his destination.
For several minutes he traveled in the dead of night without any notable events, until he arrived. An imposing figure was blocking the research facility's parking lot entrance. Someone he recognized. Someone who was close to him. One who he thought were dead for good.
This figure drew a hand gun, a gold-plated Tsunami Nue, and took aim at him.
V hastily stopped the car and got out. "It can't be… Hey, it's me, V!"
He did not answer him.
"Jackie!"
The person resembling Jackie smirked. "Better not think of betraying me, otherwise I will end the existence of you and your loved one with this body."
V could somehow sense his ominous intent. He growled, "Valkorian!"
The emperor, assuming Jackie's form, grinned. "You're not as stupid as you look. As you can see, I was able to restore him to life, albeit I now control his actions. Perhaps if you fulfill your end of the bargain, I can restore his consciousness as well."
The merc sneered. "If you're really a god, why do you need my fucking help?!"
"A god always needs loyal pawns to do his bidding."
V was tiring of Valkorian's attitude real fast, especially since he had the audacity to possess the body of his dearest friend.
"Why the hell would I ever agree to be your pawn?!"
"Look to that tree, allow me to show you…" Sparks began to form at his fingertips as he made his gesture.
V looked to the adjacent tree that Valkorian pointed out, before Valkorian set it completely ablaze by shooting lightning out of his hand. The tree was complete vaporized within seconds.
V fell to his knees, now knowing that Valkorian was not bluffing. He was in fact a god.
"Should you fail to obey me, that is the fate that awaits your precious nomad family, including your dearest Panam."
The former merc sweat heavily as fear sank in. "Why? How could you make such threats when I've done nothing to you? And why does it have to be me?!"
The emperor of Zakuul raised his hand and V suddenly felt as if a strong pair of hands were squeezing his neck, strangulating him. "A god need not justify himself to his slaves! However, I will explain it."
Valkorian continued, "You are… Extremely competent. And so very desperate. The desperation to save your self. The desperation to save those you love, especially your dear Panam. Yes, your desperation amuses me greatly!"
The emperor released V from his hold. "Now, I will explain what you are looking for. For one, my space craft crashed landed on this planet sometime ago, and it's being stored at the government facility I mentioned prior. My mortal enemy, who has been a thorn in my side for millennia, was also on board and in cryostasis. I want you terminate his existence."
"Mortal enemy?"
"Indeed. His name is Revan, and I need him to die. Next, there's the matter of my actual host body, also in cryostasis. I need you to release it so I may return to it. These fragile earthlings are not suitable to conjure the force to its fullest."
While V wasn't 100% sure of the nuances surrounding Valkorian's power, he could piece together that the emperor would be vastly more powerful should be be allowed back into his originating host, and under no circumstance should that be allowed. He thought to himself, that this enemy he spoke of, Revan, might be his best chance to defeat this sociopathic god.
